This treasure as well as the tunnels remain lost. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez. The Legend of Jose Gaspar. Crystal and I greatly appreciate any support! When his attempts to capture Joseffa's heart were met with contempt, Gaspar used Useppa Island to imprison the proud princess, and the isle came to be known as "Joseffa's Island." Barron G. Collier Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. The Gasparilla Inn was a hotel on the island. Gasparilla fell in love with Jeffries while on land, but she informed him that she had fallen in love with one of his crew, Batista Fuentes, a handsome and well-educated man from a famous family. The eerie discovery of a mysterious wooden box bearing a disembodied mummified hand with a ring on the wedding ring finger, an old map of the Tampa area and several coins has stirred up memories of pirate Jose Gaspar. Name of The Day. Legend states they marked a tree by driving a sword into it. Lacking experience in seamanship, he and his crew of escaped slaves limited their raids to smaller ships and coastal villages but managed to amass a large amount of treasure, which was hidden in several caches on the . Just pick any island and start digging, because Gasparillas loot is buried on many of them, including Cayo Pelau. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. What remains of Jos Gaspar today are his stories and legends, but most significant of them all is the secret of these mysterious cherries. To learn more, visit our. Just . Accept Read More. This is believed to be part of the bribe money given to the owner. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He told of the looting of ships, the massacre of innocents, and last of all, when his life had nearly passed, he told the story of 'The Little Spanish Princess,' whose name he did not remember. In his early pirate career, he teamed up with a few other pirates and eventually took over a ship named The Revenge. The gold coins were too thin and too old to pass as authentic Spanish treasure. Whether he was his cabin boy, like it states in the story, or maybe he might have been Gasparilla himself because of all the treasure maps that we have found. A few years later, he fell out of favor with the government and turned to a life of piracy. 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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. There is not much known about his adventures in Florida but there is rumors of him hiding a large treasure around Choctawatchee Bay. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. He is even said to have buried treasure somewhere on the island near where the lighthouse now stands. I love this place built around 1640 . Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. His ship was scuttled in the battle sending the valuables to the bottom of the ocean. 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. Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. This is extremely suspect as this is the same location rumored to hide the treasure of Billy Bowlegs Rogers. When it comes to spring cleaning, its always nice to have a spare hand to help. Many believe it is Edward Teach, but some claim it is Edward Thatch. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. Several local antique stores described the contents of the box as authentic and gruesome, though a Tampa Bay historian says they do not appear to be genuine Spanish coins. 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. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! So, a real figure or a tall tale told by Floridians? We have seven maps.". Fastened inside the box with copper wire is an old wedding photo, 18th century Spanish and Portuguese coins, a 1930s map of the Hillsborough River and a mummified hand wearing a ring. This tale doesnt give the Lopezes a helping hand in solving the mystery of the finds from their grandparents attic. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! They will be focused on the Florida coastline, right in my back yard. 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. While doing some spring cleaning a few weeks ago, Maria Lopez made an unusual discovery in her grandfathers attic. His men, who numbered in the hundreds, also buried their smaller caches on these islands. 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. 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. He would even compensate for injuries if they were sustained while obtaining cargo from another ship. His fleet would capture vessels at sea, and take all the goods back to Galveston. 2. Millions of dollars have been found literally lying in front of people's feet, the world's beaches. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This location is said to be on the southern end at False Live Oak Point. Or at least thats what Florida folklore would have you believe. The Real Treasure Hunters have come a long way from social media in their hunt for the treasure of Jose Gaspar in the Peace River. Rather than be captured by the United States Navy, he wrapped an anchor chain around his leg and jumped overboard, the heavy metal dragging him out of sight into the deep blue waters. 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. Treasure hunter Michael Gattuso digs a hole in front of treasure hunters Stacey Hunt and Erin Melcher in an area where metal detectors notify of gold on a wetland believed to have lost treasure on the Peace River in Arcadia on Sunday, January 13, 2019. In Polish origin the meaning of name Gaspar is : Treasure keeper Spanish Meaning : The name Gaspar is an Spanish baby name. Michael Gattuso and his crew got a cable debut Wednesday night in an episode of Discovery Channel's show "Expedition Unknown." 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. Lafitte was wanted by the US government for they deemed his acts as piracy, not privateering. Always being on the run from mercenaries, armies, navies, and any and all other law enforcement agencies of the day, often resulted in the necessity to hide their riches. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. Some say that as this disguised ship was sailing by, the aging pirate and his crew were in the process of dividing up the spoils as an act of retirement. You must log in or register to reply here. Find the treasure, report it, and go to jail for committing a 3rd Degree Felony. 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. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. This action helped turn opinion of Lafitte from villain to hero. He successfully captured a few ships during his years long voyage. 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. His work appears here every third Monday; the views expressed. 6 reviews of Jose Gaspar Treasure "This sweet little shell shop is nestled in along A1A and the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. New Castle Island in Delaware is said to house treasure hidden by pirates from Madagascar in 1699. This happened in the year 1782. ", 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He stated that it was buried beside 2 wind damaged trees and a large rock (one would think that with treasure this valuable one would choose landmarks a little more cautiously, but I guess trees and a rock is all we have to go on here). The American Government then decided to get into the act and sent a Navy squadron to end his career. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . Mike Lopez said his sister was not expecting to find a human hand, a treasure map, and gold coins. The team, known as the "Temple Twelve," have been . Just like most pirates, there is little known about his early life. "Maybe my great-grandparents were pirates," Mike Lopez said. Gasparilla, if he existed, wrapped himself in chain and jumped overboard with both hands still attached. 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. Icelanders and the Huldufolk: A Nation Gripped by Farinis Great Discovery: Is there a Lost City Top Ten Knights of King Arthurs Round Table. Indian River Shores, Florida A trove of Spanish coins dating back to a 1715 shipwreck during a storm have been found along a beach in Florida. Dropa Stones: Are They 12,000 Year Old Discs? This Plantation is said to be roughly 5 miles West of the town of Iowa. The coins are believed to be 18th century Spanish and Portuguese coins and the ring on the hand's is expected to be from around the same time period. Before we get to the treasure hunt, let's touch on the historical background of Jose Gaspar and how a now infamous fictitious pirate became a Tampa legend. Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. Some more information on the cruise of the USS, I did not find a reference to Gaspar in Gardner Allen's, I was always Told Jose Gaspar, was also known as Juan Gomez. Source of the stories which became inspiration for the legend of Jose Gaspar. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. 11 The Cuerdale Treasures- $2.6 Million. He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. "We do have some treasure maps, and we're working on them," Gattuso said. These stories and locations presented are based on our research but should be taken with some skepticism. "I'm considering it. Supposedly a group of pirates traveled from the gulf inland via river to a spot in Indiana where they hid a bunch of gold coins east of the town of Freedom. Whilst swimming in Key West, he and a team of specialists find a huge anchor that may have been from Gaspar's vessel. "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. First of all there was a Spanish Catholic missionary named Gasparillo that had a mission on the island that bears his name. "You'll hear more of us, you know; we'll do this until we're old and, you know, can't do it anymore.". He vowed revenge on those who had framed him and was forced to turn to a life of piracy. He continued the diving operation, but while they were working, his wife came down with a fever and died. On the Hawaiian island of Oahu there is said to be six chests buried along a stone wall somewhere around Kaena Point. One of the most popular pirates in Florida folklore is Jose' Gaspar. ", The story of Gaspar begins in 1782; the brochure states, "he stood high in the graces of the Spanish Court, so high indeed that he niched the crown jewels. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. 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). It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. 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. Maybe you can find one and claim the fame and wealth that will ultimilty accompany your successful efforts. Jos Gaspar. It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. The ship contained $1,000,000 in assorted treasure, and should be there today.