If the legend is true, Gasparilla was extremely successful and plundered more than 400 ships. It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. Jose Gaspar (aka: Gasparilla) was a quasi-mythical Spanish pirate who roamed the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. He is even said to have buried treasure somewhere on the island near where the lighthouse now stands. I have never found any real evidence he lived. Similar Names. The American Continents have a rich treasure history dating back to ancient civilizations of the Toltecs and Aztecs who understood the mining and smelting of gold and silver from which they made ornaments shields and household utensils. On one occasion, his right-hand man Lopez had become tired of the pirate life and desired to return to Spain to see his love, Sanibel, after 13 long years. Over and out from somewhere south, RumShopRyan. When it comes to spring cleaning, its always nice to have a spare hand to help. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. "We do have some treasure maps, and we're working on them," Gattuso said. They will be focused on the Florida coastline, right in my back yard. The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. They gave him a first name, Jose Gaspar, and they really gave him the full backstory to create that in 1904. All had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. A Net Inceptions project. Location & Hours 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd Flagler Beach, FL 32136 Get directions Edit business info You Might Also Consider Sponsored Purple Haze 22 23.4 miles away from Jose Gaspar Treasure Marcus E. said "Hand crafted glass smoking utensils. One of his ships has been discovered in the waters off of North Carolina and definitely proven to belong to Blackbeard. Upon returning he discovered that he had been labeled a pirate by the British government. He spent nearly 30 years plundering ships in and around the gulf coast. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. And she actually had maps, and she had stories that were passed down to the family about these treasures. When a ship was taken, the people aboard were not immediately murdered but instead offered the option of dying or joining Gasparillas crew. History Gattuso will keep them busy on Useppa and across Florida. As the story goes, the pirate Jose Gaspar was hunting for the USS Enterprise in 1821; onboard was Juan Gmez, the man who lived to tell the tale. Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Company are said to have distributed the brochures. "We are not sure what we're going to do with it," said Lopez. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 10 Bookstores Music & DVDs Toy Stores (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If anybody wants to start a treasure seach team, WTF Florida? During the final combat, the majority of Gasparillas crew was killed, but there were 12 survivors 11 men and a cabin boy called Juan Gomez. . His flagship was eventually ran aground and he was ultimately killed by English warships off the East Coast of America. He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. Treasure hunter Michael Gattuso paddles a boat toward the dock where part of his crew Stacey Hunt, Erin Melcher and Lauren Gattuso wait for him near Nav-A-Gators Bar and Grill. The ship contained $1,000,000 in assorted treasure, and should be there today. But they know long-lost treasures and artifacts are out there. One day Gasparilla prepared to attack a merchantman, but to his surprise, it turned out to be a United States man-of-war. The team searched the waters at low tide for a canon buried in the sand. He weighed in on the treasure map as well and believes it was a blueprint for the area during the 1920s and 1930s, but nothing more. Other possible locations of Kidds treasure include Maryland in Druid Park, and Money Island off the coast of Connecticut is also claimed to be used by Kidd. After that, they searched his cabin and found a jar of gold coins and a small sheet of copper engraved with a code indicating the location of buried treasure. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. Okay, that was. Just like most pirates, there is little known about his early life. Hand in Tampa Attic Stirs Up Memories of Dread Pirate Gaspar When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. The story of the famed pirate may have been the tall tale of a U.S. naval officer. "Maybe my great-grandparents were pirates," Mike Lopez said. "The reason I believe in Gasparilla is because I believe in Juan Gomez," Mike Gattuso, a member of The Real Treasure Hunters, told Paluska. Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State Some say it reveals compass bearings around Lettuce Lake. Ill post one a week Treasure Tuesdaysthis that lame? And that's what we've been chasing. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co - Tripadvisor According to the sources we studied, Gaspar was probably born in Spain in 1756. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. However, there is another story, that has some validity, of what happened to his treasure. Sometime later a large sum of gold coins was found near the Spanish Homestead. Gattuso leads a a small group called the The Treasure Hunters who spend their weekends hiking the wilderness near the Peace River in search of lost treasure believed to have been left behind by Jose Gaspar. He did what all retired people do in Florida he fell ill one day and died. Afterwards, he sailed his ship, the Floridablanca, to the Gulf Coast and set up a pirate base on what is now known as Gasparilla Island in Southwest Florida. History of Gasparilla: Jos Gaspar & his krewe. In the 1690s a war broke out between England and France. Many say he buried treasure here during this time. The Story of Gasparilla by ABC Action News on Scribd. The San Jose galleon was believed to have been . Captured ladies were not raped and murdered, but instead had the option of marrying one of his crew members or being transferred to Captiva Island in Florida. Texas is also a logical location for this pirate to bury treasure. He then sailed back across the world, landing on what we now know as our home of Tampa Bay. Legends tell how he amassed a huge fortune, and hid an enormous treasure before dying a hero facing the might of the US Navy. JOSE GASPAR: Kern County makes history, and in a good way Dec 18, 2022 The 8-year-old student was curios so she wrote a letter. Jos Gaspar - Wikiwand Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. Jos Gaspar, also known by his nickname Gasparilla , is an apocryphal Spanish pirate who terrorized the Gulf of Mexico from his base in southwest Florida during Florida's second Spanish period . Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gaspar, Sachs, S, 2022. 5 Popular Mai Tai Recipes and How To Make Them, Mango Tango Cocktail Recipe Boat Drinks, Taste the New St. John Brewers Love City Hard Seltzer, A Day With Stormy Pirates Charters US Virgin Islands, An Island Interview With Caribbean Adventure Author, John H. Cunningham, Love Pets and a Free Place To Stay? No Result Found. Although Gasparilla was a well-educated, well-dressed pirate and ladies man, things did not always go as planned. What year did Gasparilla start? This was around the 1870s, after the Civil War. Jose Gaspar Treasure 2119 N Ocean Shore Blvd Flagler Beach FL 32136 (386) 439-3061 Claim this business (386) 439-3061 Website More Directions Advertisement Photos See More Hours Wed: 11am - 5pm Thu: 11am - 5pm Fri: 11am - 5pm Sat: 11am - 5pm Sun: 12pm - 5pm Website Take me there Jewelers Nice Shell Shop. " Mar 2021 We really enjoyed shopping here! While doing some spring cleaning a few weeks ago, Maria Lopez made an unusual discovery in her grandfathers attic. Accept Read More. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Gasparilla Season | Visit Tampa Bay During his 38 year career as a pirate, Gaspar attacked over four hundred ships in the Gulf waters of Florida, including supposedly the vessel carrying $11.75 million in gold bullion that the United States had paid Napoleon for the Louisiana Purchase. This treasure as well as the tunnels remain lost. We actually located the great great, great, great-granddaughter of Juan Gomez. A few years later, he fell out of favor with the government and turned to a life of piracy. (386) 439-3061. When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. Lesser and Greater Antilles / Windward and Leeward Islands What is What? According to historians, it was a real man named Juan "Panther John" Gomez from Gasparilla Island, or as he was known locally, John, or Panther Key John. JavaScript is disabled. Ye be walkin the plank if ye so think. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. In fact, we dont even know for certain his real name. "But if you're gonna make up the myth, you know, go big, and so why not make him, you know, all pirates rolled into one and, you know, the baddest of them all," Rodney Kite-Powell, a historian at the Tampa Bay History Center and Director of the Touchstone Map Library said. Mike Lopez said his sister was not expecting to find a human hand, a treasure map, and gold coins. His piratical career always starts with an injustice and he is seen as a lovable rogue rather than a murderous monster. We lived not far from Gasparella Island and Charlotte Harbour.where the legend supposedly ended. Oak Island: Legends of Pirates and Treasure, Barbarossa the Pirate: Scourge of the Mediterranean, Flying Dutchman: Phantom Ship, Legend and Sightings, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gaspar, https://www.wfla.com/news/gasparilla/history-of-gasparilla-jose-gaspar-his-krewe/, https://ymkg.com/the-legend-of-jose-gasparilla/. He was wanted until 1815 when opinion of him changed. So, a real figure or a tall tale told by Floridians? He's rumored to have had a secret base in Charlotte Harbor and would sail back and forth to Spain as well as roam around the Gulf of Mexico until his death in 1821, at the hands of the U.S. Navy. Though details about his early life, motivations, and piratical exploits differ in various tellings, they agree that the 'Last of the Buccaneers" was a remarkably active pirate who amassed a huge . Before deciding to pursue this ship, Gaspar left some of his men behind with the treasure. Tampans have embraced Gasparilla for more than a century, whether or not the pirate Jose Gaspar ever came to town It's a huge juxtaposition from the quiet of the Touchton Map Library at the. 3. Paluska and ABC Action News photojournalist Reed Moeller took a 20-minute ferry ride from Pine Island to Useppa Island, the location where Gaspar is said to have beheaded a Spanish Princess. Jos Gaspar. For one, there is no evidence of his pirate empire. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Shipwrecks: Who owns the treasure hidden under the sea? First of all there was a Spanish Catholic missionary named Gasparillo that had a mission on the island that bears his name. There are many differing versions about the pirates origins and life, but there is no real historical evidence that he ever existed. Jose Gaspar has come in handy for parades and celebrations. JavaScript is disabled. Mysterious box containing a map, coins and a mummified hand found in Tampa Bay attic. A few months ago, Gattuso found a Calusa bone tool that is now part of the Useppa Island museum's collection. WFLA | What is Gasparilla? Just a salty pirate looking to explore and document the wonders of the Caribbean. Or at least thats what Florida folklore would have you believe. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Named for legendary pirate, Jose Gaspar, who terrorized the coastal waters of West Florida during the 18th and early 19th centuries, Tampa Bay's destination-wide annual Gasparilla celebration kicks off each January with a full schedule of exciting pirate-themed events. Do secret rooms conceal unknown treasures? A Treasured History: The Story of Gasparilla, Tampa's Most Prized By booking through these links, the small commission we earn helps us bring you more Caribbean content so that you can save money and have a better island vacation. His death seems to come straight from Hollywood. Tampa family finds pirate treasure in grandpa's attic Box found in Tampa attic has coins, a map, a hand and a mystery - WFLA News Channel 8 Share or comment on this article: Tampa family finds. "Possibly keep it forever. According to the story, Gaspar had underestimated the USS Enterprise as an easy target. Many took the deal. Once he was a few hundred meters away, the British flag came down and the American flag rose up the mast. He would then sell these items to local customers in east Texas. Top Image: Real pirate or later fiction? He was said to have been extremely active for many years, attacking merchant ships and evading justice, and in this time he won himself a huge fortune. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesnt believe that the legendary figure was even real. It does not store any personal data. There are multiple stories about his life that vary greatly depending upon the source of the information, leading some to conclude that he was not a real person. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. Kidd set sail for England and was commissioned as a privateer by the English government. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. The San Jose, a Spanish treasure ship, was attacked and sunk by a British warship in June 1708. Blackbeard also spend some time in North Carolina, in fact he secured a Royal Pardon in the town of Bath. We" more 2. Pirate Photo byScott UmstattdonUnsplash, Lafitte Photo By Anonymous Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas, Public Domain, Skully Photo byLuke SouthernonUnsplash. If there is one thing pirates are known for it is treasure. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. Lopez wasn't a fan of pirates when he was growing up. Blackbeard captured an estimated 40 different ships and vessels in a little less than 2 years off the east coast of America and across the Caribbean. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Leading a group of escaped convicts, Gaspar with his stolen ship established a home base in 1783 in the area of Charlotte Harbor, north of the present day Fort Myers on an Island he named "Gasparilla." He is said to have also taken that name for himself as it means "Gaspar the outlaw." Source: Theartofphoto / Adobe Stock. This Plantation is said to be roughly 5 miles West of the town of Iowa. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. Is this your business? When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. Rogers is said to have hidden huge amounts of gold and silver bars worth a fortune today. Gasparilla: Was the Legendary Spanish Pirate Jose Gaspar Real? There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. What we do know is that he is considered a hero to some and a villain to others. Another report states that he hid several chests in a small river somewhere in the vicinity of the Bay. Lets do this. He ignored this order and stayed in Galveston for about another year before the Army returned forcing him to leave. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. Inside, bound to the box by copper wire, she found a dessicated hand wearing a ring with the word "Gaspar" on . Have you ever hunted a treasure story? | Friendly Metal Detecting Forum But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. Years ago I hunted the fabled Jose Gaspar treasure pirate who, as the story goes, was a pirate on the gulf coast and when attacked by a US Navy vessel, wrapped the anchor chain around him and jumped in while his crew escaped up Peace River with treasure to a property owner named Lady Boggess near an area called Lettuce Lake. Jose Gaspar Treasure 6 Jewelry Gift Shops Bookstores $ "We went in looking for a lite shark tooth for our son. Though that treasure has never been discovered, the story of the swashbuckling Gaspar was unearthed and his memory revived in 1904 when Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla was formed and adopted the pirate as patron rogue of their city . If marriage was selected, there would be a ceremony, and the marriage promise would be strictly enforced. Theyve done this every Sunday for a year, looking for the booty of 19th century pirate Jose Gaspar. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. This allegedly infuriated the young lady who devised a plan to essentially frame Gaspar for stealing some jewels. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns.