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. Available at: https://www.wfla.com/news/gasparilla/history-of-gasparilla-jose-gaspar-his-krewe/, ymkg, 2022. I'm here writing on Treasureunknown to provide helpful resources so others can get out and enjoy the thrill of the hunt! Save. Treasure on Sunken Spanish Galleon Could Be Biggest Ever - History Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! It's located in Florida, United States.A real, albeit, small treasure chest on a real small island. And indeed there are serious problems with the stories of Gasparilla. Powell showed us museum exhibits full of gold coins recovered from shipwrecks and explained how the legend of Jose Gaspar launched the Gasparilla Pirate Festival we know and love today. They then buried the chests in numerous places along the river and its tributaries and swamps. Evidently, though, the treasure is not. Plundering the high seas and ports alike resulted in vast riches for some of these ruthless criminals. "And it was from that little nugget of information that came from the Charlotte Harbor railroad about a pirate named Gaspar that the whole legend of Gasparilla and Jose Gaspar came about, but it was Ye Mystic Krewe that fleshed it out. 1. There have been many stories told of treasure Captain Kidd buried back in America. 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. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co (Flagler Beach) - All You Need to Know BEFORE 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 . Gasparilla Season | Visit Tampa Bay "They were the ones that profited from the story to attract visitors to their new train stop and hotel (Gasparilla Inn)," Crystal Diff, Executive Director of the Boca Grande Historical Society and History Center, wrote in an email. 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. There are a few theories as to the location of a hidden treasure by Lafitte in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. The poem, maps, comments from other searchers, and other guides to finding the treasure are online and easy to find. He would then sell these items to local customers in east Texas. Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. The men were executed but Gomez was to be the final survivor of this piratical outfit. When he was captured and offered the option of going to prison or joining the navy, he chose the latter, serving with distinction for several years before organizing a mutiny against a dictatorial captain and fleeing to Florida with a stolen ship. However, there is another story, that has some validity, of what happened to his treasure. link to 8 Super Fun Family Treasure Hunt Ideas: With Real Treasure. Just . Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. Over and out from somewhere south, RumShopRyan. Once it was in print, people kept spreading it as absolute truth. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. This endeavor lasted only about 5 years when the us army came to visit Lafitte, asking him to leave. These stories really get your imagination scrambling about finding buried riches yourself. During this time a woman of the royal family, rumored to be the kings daughter-in-law sought the attention of this young naval officer. We actually located the great great, great, great-granddaughter of Juan Gomez. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. The Search For The Real Captain Morgan. He enjoyed telling stories about his adventures on the high seas and a large amount of Gasparillas treasure that was never discovered. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". In fact, we dont even know for certain his real name. Mysterious box containing a map, coins and a mummified hand found in Tampa Bay attic. The final and perhaps most intriguing possibility is around the Spanish Fort San Carlos in Pensacola. Pirate Treasure on Goodland in Southwest Florida - LITTLE BAR Restaurant Debbie gave us a great tip to hide the tooth in the sand and make our son think he found it. Flagler Beach, FL 32136. (2) Most of the islands around Charlotte Harbor were named by the Cuban Spanish fishermen that lived there since the 1600's. Who was this figure, and what was he supposed to have done? 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. "I'm considering it. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesn't believe that the legendary figure was even real. Whether the coins are authentic or not, Mike thinks the hand is real, and may belong to Jose Gaspar himself. This was to prove his doom as the ship he had targeted was no harmless cargo ship but in fact the USS Enterprise, a heavily armed and very dangerous pirate hunter. The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate: With Josh Gates, Shamus Warren, Rodney Kite-Powell, Michael Gattuso. 6 reviews of Jose Gaspar Treasure "This sweet little shell shop is nestled in along A1A and the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. A fisherman at Stafford Point in Connecticut is rumored to have spotted some pirates burying a heavy looking chest at Stratford Point in Connecticut during the late 1600s. Canceled2021 Gasparilla Pirate Festival / Date He apparently helped repeal a British Invasion on New Orleans. Gaspar is presented as dignified, noble in heart and rich and titled in some versions. This treasure as well as the tunnels remain lost. The History of Gasparilla - Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. There is a new book out "Pirates of Southwest Florida, Fact and Legend" by James F. and Sarah Jane Kaserman that debunks some of the stories of Gasparilla. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Jose Gaspar is not the only mythical pirate character that has. These wealthy civilizations flourished for hundreds of years spreading Hand in Tampa Attic Stirs Up Memories of Dread Pirate Gaspar 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 . But they know long-lost treasures and artifacts are out there. Many believe it is Edward Teach, but some claim it is Edward Thatch. Louisiana makes sense because during most of his time here, he was considered a fugitive by the US. On the Hawaiian island of Oahu there is said to be six chests buried along a stone wall somewhere around Kaena Point. This is extremely suspect as this is the same location rumored to hide the treasure of Billy Bowlegs Rogers. Blackbeard also spend some time in North Carolina, in fact he secured a Royal Pardon in the town of Bath. was reading about Jose Gaspar aka Gasparilla Pirate and one story tells of his friend Roderigo Lopez wanting to leave the Pirate life and Gaspar helped him leave, so it seems Maria Lopez great great grandfather may have been Roderigo. 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. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. He relocated to Galveston Island around 1817 where he set up a pirate empire. Caesar was forced to push his pirate pack north to the Gulf of Mexico. The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. Most confirm that the "Floridablanca" was the name of his pirate ship and the one that he served upon in the Navy. Another report states that he hid several chests in a small river somewhere in the vicinity of the Bay. Or they were always togahter. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. ", According to the railroad brochure, the "narrative was compiled by the writer from incidents told by John Gomez, better known as Panther Key John, a brother-in-law of Gasparilla and a member of his crew, who died at the age of 120 years, at Panther Key, Florida, 12 miles below Marco, in the year 1900; also from records left by John Gomez, Jr., the cabin-boy on Gasparilla's ship, who was kidnapped by Gasparilla and who witnessed the death of this pirate and all on board his vessel. "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! This location is said to be on the southern end at False Live Oak Point. You are using an out of date browser. (386) 439-3061. We will discuss a few of them here. A Florida family may have discovered some unusual treasure belonging to legendary pirate Jose "Gasparilla" Gaspar. Another instance of his softer side can be found in the account of Ann Jeffries, an English girl traveling from New Orleans to Liverpool. Box allegedly containing Gaspars hand and related items Photo Credit. On my recent visit, I was on a shell mission to use for a hairpiece for a . 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.". Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. Whilst swimming in Key West, he and a team of specialists find a huge anchor that may have been from Gaspar's vessel. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. Is There Any Pirate Treasure Left? - treasure unknown Jos Gaspar, also known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. 1756 - 1821), is an apocryphal Spanish pirate who terrorized the Gulf of Mexico from his base in southwest Florida during Florida's second Spanish period (1783 to 1821). 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. According to the story, Gaspar had underestimated the USS Enterprise as an easy target. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. 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. History Gattuso will keep them busy on Useppa and across Florida. "So, it's interesting how Tampa, in a sense, stole; we were pirates ourselves. again not sure of the thought process of choosing a tree as a landmark for millions of dollars in treasure, but that is how the story goes. Historic City Memories: Pirate treasure rumors Jos Gaspar - Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias This state also holds another possible location on the banks of Blackbird Creek. He spoke to local TV news network WFLA about the discovery, and the story kept getting stranger. It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. I'm Clint, the guy behind Treasureunknown. He quickly worked his way up the ranks of the Spanish Navy and became an officer. When you go in the attic you expect to find something old. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. From a four-mile long parade of pirates and period memorabilia on display, to specialty packages and a waterfront half . $150 Million Dollar Treasure Found On A Beach By Accident (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If anybody wants to start a treasure seach team, WTF Florida? The San Jose, a Spanish treasure ship, was attacked and sunk by a British warship in June 1708. Still, it was not very soon after that, that Tampa captured that myth," Kite-Powell said. One of his ships has been discovered in the waters off of North Carolina and definitely proven to belong to Blackbeard. JavaScript is disabled. Jose Gaspar Treasure - MapQuest Once again our legend states that he hid 3 large chests among a group of trees on San Jose Island. What year did Jose Gaspar invade Tampa? Texas is also a logical location for this pirate to bury treasure. His work appears here every third Monday; the views expressed. Our Florida pirate "Jose Gaspar enters history's scene in Spain where he was born in the year 1756 and started adult life with a career in the Spanish Navy, serving aboard the warship Floridablanca. 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. Gaspar's Lost Treasure - WTF Florida? His theft discovered, he deserted his wife and children, gathered together a nice lot of cut-throats, stole the prize vessel of the Spanish Fleet, and escaped. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. Having spent some time here, Blackbeard built a fort near a swamp west of Charleston. Tampa family finds 'pirate treasure' in attic including treasure map However, perhaps the most famous story of Gaspar concerns his death. So are you juiced up and just caught the gold fever? Not being able to pass up this giant score, he pursed the ship that was flying a British flag. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. Florida at this time was in its Second Spanish Period which runs from 1783 to 1821. ", "Jose Gaspar, from my understanding, was a name that was made up by Ye Mystic Krewe, which they tied to Gasparilla, which was tied to the railroad pamphlet that you're talking about, which that is not real. His piratical career always starts with an injustice and he is seen as a lovable rogue rather than a murderous monster. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. His treasure might have been on the ship with him during this battle. Pricing is not too high. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. If the legend is true, Gasparilla was extremely successful and plundered more than 400 ships. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesnt believe that the legendary figure was even real. Spain and Great Britain were adversaries in the complex tangle of European politics . 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. A unique legend of pirate treasure in Indiana is intriguing. In the following years, he accumulated a board estimated at $30,000,000. Perhaps this suggested location is merely a case in mistaken identity. Before deciding to pursue this ship, Gaspar left some of his men behind with the treasure. Ancient Viking treasures found in England actually seems to be a thing, as many of relative value have been found throughout the years. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. . These tunnels converged into a large chamber underground. For one, there is no evidence of his pirate empire. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. 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. JavaScript is disabled. 3. (5) The first written version of Gasparilla appeared in an advertising brochure of the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Co. printed in 1900. The legend states that Gaspar terrorized the western coastal waters of Florida in the late 18th to early 19th century. 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. "You'll hear more of us, you know; we'll do this until we're old and, you know, can't do it anymore.". The city of Tampa hosts a Gasparilla Day each year. There are many differing versions about the pirates origins and life, but there is no real historical evidence that he ever existed. There has been a lot of permanent damage to archaeological sites due to the misinformation about buried treasure in prehistoric mounds, and pushing some aspects of this myth may lead to others following suit (leading to arrests and seizures as well as loss of cultural information). 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. Pirate treasure rumors. 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. . Many say he buried treasure here during this time. "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. He was sentenced to prison and eventually released. Born in 1756 in Spain, Gaspar served in the Spanish Navy until a mutiny in 1783. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade won't care. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. For whatever reason, burial of chests laden with gold and jewels seems to be the norm, but is there any pirate treasure left? Later that fall, he captured a large French slave ship bound for some sugar plantations. Gaspar was a rebel from an aristocratic upbringing. Jose Gaspar has come in handy for parades and celebrations. Some say it reveals compass bearings around Lettuce Lake.
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