His treasure might have been on the ship with him during this battle. link to A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. $ 6 reviews. The San Jose galleon was believed to have been . ", The story said Gaspar hid in the Charlotte Harbor area, and "while taking the census of 1900, two gentlemen stopped at Panther Key and spent the night with *John Gomez. Gasparilla, if he existed, wrapped himself in chain and jumped overboard with both hands still attached. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. We're back to the hotel brochure. The treasure: Slave-turned-pirate Henri Caesar stole a ship in Haiti to seek his fortune on the Spanish Main and Florida waters. 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. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". "I'm considering it," he said with a big smile. If there is one thing pirates are known for it is treasure. Texas is also a logical location for this pirate to bury treasure. Do you think there's buried treasure out there? These tunnels converged into a large chamber underground. The men were executed but Gomez was to be the final survivor of this piratical outfit. One such account concerns Maria Louise, a lovely Spanish princess, who was returning to Spain after a journey to Mexico with 11 Mexican princesses who were to be educated and married in Spain. Toward the end of his pirate career, Bowlegs was being pursued by an English warship. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. He told where the body would be found and a sketch was prepared under his direction, and in recent years in the exact location as described, the skeleton of a beheaded woman was found.". He eventually retired and settled down on Shell Creek near Lettuce Lake in DeSoto County, where he lived for many years. Gasparilla began on horseback in 1904 as a way to add a little pirate-themed fun to the city's May Day festivities. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Jose Gaspar is not the only mythical pirate character that has. If you choose to embark on a hunt for any treasure do so at your own risk. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. There have been many stories told of treasure Captain Kidd buried back in America. Go find it, unbury it, take tons of pictures, bury it back again, and prove to the world that you found it. will support that mission. The team used metal detectors and shovels but didn't find anything. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Okay, that was. Kidd set sail for England and was commissioned as a privateer by the English government. Once it was in print, people kept spreading it as absolute truth. Another report states that he hid several chests in a small river somewhere in the vicinity of the Bay. As with any treasure hunting adventure, be sure and obtain permission from any applicable parties before your hunt begins. We thought that was awesome. However, like Billy Bowlegs, Jose Gaspar the lack of historical evidence suggests he never existed.21 Although most Tampa residents and several books claim Jose Gaspar was authentic, so far no documentation has proven he was real.22 The Gasparilla Pirate Festival started in 1904, and since it started a full fifty years before the Billy Bowlegs . He claimed to be one of the few crew members to escape a fateful attack by American pirate hunting schooner USS Enterprise in 1821. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. I love this place built around 1640 . Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. We actually located the great great, great, great-granddaughter of Juan Gomez. By clicking Accept Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. I love this place built around 1640 . At The Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. visitors and locals can find treasures of all kinds. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. The story of the famed pirate may have been the tall tale of a U.S. naval officer. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. This activity is a great way to enjoy some peaceful quite time outdoors or can be a unique experience for 8 Super Fun Family Treasure Hunt Ideas: With Real Treasure. Some say it reveals compass bearings around Lettuce Lake. His ship soon followed him to the watery depths. 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. Jose Gaspar, the legendary buccaneer who inspired Tampa's Gasparilla Pirate Festival, as well as fantastic tales of lost treasure, most likely never really existed. The poem, maps, comments from other searchers, and other guides to finding the treasure are online and easy to find. These recommended links below will help you save money and book your trip: We use all the companies listed here or on the resource page. Name of The Day. 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. A band of pirates in Wisconsin operated out of a cave on Hermit island. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. One of the most popular pirates in Florida folklore is Jose' Gaspar. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Rogers lost interest in the hunt after this and it is said he lived near his treasure to guard it for the remainder of his life. It's located on the north side of town, next door to the Turtle Shack cafe. A Net Inceptions project. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 10 Bookstores Music & DVDs Toy Stores However, even from the first we run into different versions of the story. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. However, perhaps the most famous story of Gaspar concerns his death. So are you juiced up and just caught the gold fever? This hoard was allegedly buried by a group of pirates in the early 1800s. Sign up for our WTFF Newsletter to get weird Florida news delivered straight to your email: WTFF News: Because regular news is depressing. However, if they do, they are still up for grabs. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. 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. The story states that Rogers discovered these lost tunnels and used them to store his treasure. "The Gasparilla Day Parade, the big parade, is the third largest parade in this country after only the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Bowl parade. I'm Clint, the guy behind Treasureunknown. Galleon of Gold. 2 chests are also rumored to be buried on Clarkes Island on the Connecticut River. The Story of Jose Gaspar Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Gaspar apparently did not share this attraction and instead gave his attention to other women of the court. After sustaining heavy damage, the famed Spanish pirate tied himself to his anchor and leaped to his watery death apparently not wanting to be killed at the hands of the enemy. "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. From a four-mile long parade of pirates and period memorabilia on display, to specialty packages and a waterfront half . The allures of Jose Gaspar's mythical treasure and Tampa's giant pirate parade have pulled strongly on producers of reality television lately. Pirate Blackbeard entered the history books in the early 1700s. The prices seem lower, but not my thing. 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. The legend of Gaspar was first recorded in promotional materials for this Boca Grande Hotel. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If anybody wants to start a treasure seach team, WTF Florida? He quickly worked his way up the ranks of the Spanish Navy and became an officer. 3. Treasure hunter and researcher Lauren Gattuso sits on the boat as it heads toward an area where her and a small group of treasure hunters believe lies lost treasure. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. When a ship was taken, the people aboard were not immediately murdered but instead offered the option of dying or joining Gasparillas crew. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. Pirate Photo byScott UmstattdonUnsplash, Lafitte Photo By Anonymous Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas, Public Domain, Skully Photo byLuke SouthernonUnsplash. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. "Possibly keep it forever. Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. (story from treasurelore.com). This is the spot for all of your seaside decorating needs. Legend has it that Gasparilla spotted a huge ship sailing in the distance. Around noon on the Gasparilla Day, members of YMKG set sail across Tampa Bay from near Ballast Point Park to downtown aboard the Jose Gasparilla, a 165' long flat . 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. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. He confirmed that indeed the Lopezes have found a real human hand, but as for Gasparilla, that was a myth. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. What remains of Jos Gaspar today are his stories and legends, but most significant of them all is the secret of these mysterious cherries. Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. 1756 - 1821), was a purported Spanish pirate, the "last of the Buccaneer s," who is claimed to have raided the west coast of Florida during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Youll read about many that are hidden and a few that were found, so it can happen. He was well-liked in court, but when he abandoned one lover for another, his spurned lover falsely accused him of stealing the crown jewels. Tales of love and marriage, an aristocratic captain with nobility in his crew, a handsome and debonair adventurer: all these stories seem too good to be true. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. This happened in the year 1782. Or show us love by sharing articles and leaving great comments. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesn't believe that the legendary figure was even real. Box allegedly containing Gaspars hand and related items Photo Credit. There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Stingy Jack and the History of the Jack-o-Lantern, The Varangians: Viking Conquerors turned Byzantium Honor Guard, The Secret Necropolis of Ancient Varna and the First Goldsmiths. From seashells to lost treasure, this shop has it all. Hitting the scene in the early 1800s Billy Bowlegs Rogers was a pirate to be reckoned with. USEPPA ISLAND, Fla. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. Gaspar caught wind of his coming doom, and escaped via ship to America. Find the treasure, don't report it, melt it down or sell it on the black market using a different name. The Gaspar myth in the very beginning was tied to the Charlotte Harbor area. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Debbie gave us a great tip to hide the tooth in the sand and make our son think he found it. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. Much of his treasure was carried to him up the Peace River. "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. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. The San Jose, a Spanish treasure ship, was attacked and sunk by a British warship in June 1708. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/ferret-iii.htm, Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co 5 1 #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach Speciality & Gift Shops Visit website Write a review What people are saying " Fun shop with good prices! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Jos Gaspar. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! The story of Juan Gomez is also published in the Library of Congress. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. Mike Lopez said his sister was not expecting to find a human hand, a treasure map, and gold coins. According to Floridian folklore, Gaspar was a fearsome pirate that operated out of a secret base in southwest Florida in the late 18th and early 19th . Gasparilla seized their ship, as well as their 11 dowries, but fell madly in love with the Spanish princess. He finally returned with his wife to find all but a handful of his crew had died. We" more 2. Jose Lopez's sister, Maria, was cleaning out the attic of a home owned by her great-grandparents, Eve and Ernesto Lopez, in Tampa's historic Ybor City area, when she stumbled upon the box, WFLA-TV reports. Since the 1870s, treasure hunters have been trying unsuccessfully to crack this code you see below: Some say its Spanish. He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. Santa Rosa Island has been sort of a local hotspot for finding bags of gold and silver coins. Decipher the code, and you might find some of Gaspars lost treasure but as fast as Florida changes, dont be surprised if you find a new shopping mall sitting square on top of it. He found a hillside where he buried 2 pirate chests filled with valuable metals and jewels. This action helped turn opinion of Lafitte from villain to hero. 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. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesnt believe that the legendary figure was even real. The experts dont believe that their find is a real treasure map or that the legend of Gaspar is anything more than children story or a folk tale that adds to the culture of the area.
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