jose gaspar treasure found

Old Hand Found In Florida Attic With Coins And Treasure Map. The man behind Gasparilla: Who was Jos Gaspar? Sometime later a large sum of gold coins was found near the Spanish Homestead. It was done for tourism purposes," Gattuso said. In the 1690s a war broke out between England and France. The Legend of Jose Gaspar. According to archives, the island community was created by Albert W. Gilchrist, Floridas 20th governor. 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. A Tampa, Florida family going through their grandparent's attic made an interesting discovery: a treasure map, some coins, and an old human hand! 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. The San Jose, a Spanish treasure ship, was attacked and sunk by a British warship in June 1708. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. The Choctawatchee Bay is an area of a lot of speculation of the location of some of Bowlegs hidden treasure. But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. Gasparilla the Pirate and his Charlotte Harbor Treasure There are a few pirates who may have hidden treasure at this spot, including Billy. Instead, he pursued a merchant ship and insisted that it convey Batista and Ann Jeffries to England and that its captain marry them on board after they were out of sight of his ship, the Jose Gasparilla II. He ignored this order and stayed in Galveston for about another year before the Army returned forcing him to leave. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Leaving soon? We will discuss a few of them here. 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. Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez. "I'm considering it," he said with a big smile. Just pick any island and start digging, because Gasparillas loot is buried on many of them, including Cayo Pelau. His headquarters were at Boca Grande, on what is today known as Gasparilla Island. jose gaspar, coins, and treasuremap found. But, now? When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. It may not display this or other websites correctly. A few years later, he fell out of favor with the government and turned to a life of piracy. Despite his brutal reputation, Gasparilla was supposed to have a soft side as well. But they know long-lost treasures and artifacts are out there. 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 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 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. It's located on the north side of town, next door to the Turtle Shack cafe. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. This action helped turn opinion of Lafitte from villain to hero. Subsequent retellings of the Gaspar tale are based on this imaginative account, including the unintentional inclusion of Jos Gaspar in a 1923 book on genuine pirates, which has created ongoing debate regarding his historical veracity. Before deciding to pursue this ship, Gaspar left some of his men behind with the treasure. Hitting the scene in the early 1800s Billy Bowlegs Rogers was a pirate to be reckoned with. Pricing is not too high. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. Legend states they marked a tree by driving a sword into it. According to the story, Gaspar had underestimated the USS Enterprise as an easy target. We actually located the great great, great, great-granddaughter of Juan Gomez. Jose Gaspar | bakersfield.com The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate: With Josh Gates, Shamus Warren, Rodney Kite-Powell, Michael Gattuso. He vowed revenge on those who had framed him and was forced to turn to a life of piracy. All had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. In Polish origin the meaning of name Gaspar is : Treasure keeper Spanish Meaning : The name Gaspar is an Spanish baby name. https://wtfflorida.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/17-Oru-Para-Todos-Los-Santos-Part-1-Eleggua.mp3, Its gonna be really f*cking cold in Florida; impending snow, death, mayhem, Andrew Van Sickle assigned as prosecutor in the infamous shark case, Lets Make Florida Slightly Less Fucked Up, Alligator attacks Peace River swimmer in Arcadia, Florida Man Cuts off Gator Tail to Impress Girlfriend and Tries to Sell it to Neighbors, Traffic stop leads to meth arrest in Silver Springs. No Result Found. Box allegedly containing Gaspars hand and related items Photo Credit. USEPPA ISLAND, Fla. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. 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. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. No contemporaneous mention of his existence or achievements has ever been found in Spanish or American ship logs, court documents, newspapers, or other archives, and no tangible items associated with Gaspar have been unearthed in the area where he is said to have operated. 3. Rumor has it, that the stolen goods are still hidden somewhere on the island. 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. 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. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesnt believe that the legendary figure was even real. 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. And he's fueled a cottage industry of treasure-hunting books, guides and metal . It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co - Tripadvisor Here Lafitte had a very fair treasure distribution policy that everyone seemed to like. These tunnels converged into a large chamber underground. "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. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Hand in Tampa Attic Stirs Up Memories of Dread Pirate Gaspar The team used metal detectors and shovels but didn't find anything. A Treasured History: The Story of Gasparilla, Tampa's Most Prized Although Gasparilla was a well-educated, well-dressed pirate and ladies man, things did not always go as planned. "Either my great-grandfather made the best, most elaborate pirate hoax ever and never shared it with anyone or he really did find some treasure on the Hillsborough River. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. John Gomez, also known as Juan Gomez and Panther John. Save. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. Jos Gaspar. The leaflet establishes Gaspars legend, claiming that he chose Gasparilla Island as the best of the islands in Charlotte Harbor to establish his base. 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. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/ferret-iii.htm, Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story. Name of The Day. He would even compensate for injuries if they were sustained while obtaining cargo from another ship. The tale of pirate captain Jos Gaspar who, according to the stories, ravaged the west coast of Spanish Florida for 40 years is the inspiration for a bombastic plundering that continues from 1905. He wished to return to America to retrieve this treasure after Kidds execution but he never made it back. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. "So, it's interesting how Tampa, in a sense, stole; we were pirates ourselves. will support that mission. (2) Most of the islands around Charlotte Harbor were named by the Cuban Spanish fishermen that lived there since the 1600's. 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. Perhaps this suggested location is merely a case in mistaken identity. There is not much known about his adventures in Florida but there is rumors of him hiding a large treasure around Choctawatchee Bay. Finally Pirates Cove, which is on the southern tip of Connecticut may house these valuable chests. 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. "We go after Juan Gomez because everything, all the treasures and everything we've come through, is tied to him. Available at: https://www.wfla.com/news/gasparilla/history-of-gasparilla-jose-gaspar-his-krewe/, ymkg, 2022. Jose Gaspar Treasure - Flagler Beach, FL - Yelp This does not stop the legend of Gasparilla from living on in the Florida folklore; the story of his life is even retold in a hotel brochure at the site where supposedly his treasure was buried, The Huffington Post reported. Therefore hiding treasure might have seemed like a logical choice. Some say it reveals compass bearings around Lettuce Lake. It's located in Florida, United States.A real, albeit, small treasure chest on a real small island. Hand in Tampa Attic Stirs Up Memories of Dread Pirate Gaspar Contributing columnist Jose Gaspar is a news anchor/reporter for Telemundo Bakersfield and KGET. Treasure Unknown is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . Other than news articles, the first story ever published in print about the Story of Gasparilla was commissioned by the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. When Gasparilla requested that they accompany him and his crew on a raid, the two young lovers assumed they would be slaughtered. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. He quickly worked his way up the ranks of the Spanish Navy and became an officer. WFLA | What is Gasparilla? 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. New details have emerged about the San Jose, a Spanish galleon sunk by British ships 300 years ago. "I'm considering it. This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. Legacy | Useppa Island In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. Gaspar apparently did not share this attraction and instead gave his attention to other women of the court. However, perhaps the most famous story of Gaspar concerns his death. Useppa Island was a military outpost, resort, Confederate stronghold, and CIA site to train Cuban exiles for the Bay of Pigs invasion and was continuously inhabited for 10,000 years by the Calusa Indians. And that's what we've been chasing. 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. Historic City Memories: Pirate treasure rumors 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. 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. Overview. It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 3.5, terrain of 5. Treasure hunter Erin Melcher drives his boat as Michael Gattuso navigates directions to a wetland believed to have lost treasure on the Peace River in Arcadia on Sunday, January 13, 2019. Treasure hunter Todd Stager holds a machete on a wetland where him and a small group of treasure hunters believe lies lost treasure on the Peace River in Arcadia. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. 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." A couple of his rancher buddies found him and buried him. Gasparilla not only granted Lopez permission but also bestowed his blessing on his long-time friend, providing a ship and several men to accompany him back to Spain. The Story of Gasparilla by ABC Action News on Scribd. 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. This allegedly infuriated the young lady who devised a plan to essentially frame Gaspar for stealing some jewels. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. Also check state and local regulations before you begin any activities such as digging or metal detecting. Is There Any Pirate Treasure Left? - treasure unknown He then sailed back across the world, landing on what we now know as our home of Tampa Bay. Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 10 Bookstores Music & DVDs Toy Stores In 1705 the group was killed by French traders who were tired of being robbed by these men. 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). Upon returning he discovered that he had been labeled a pirate by the British government. I love searching for all types of "treasures" with my family. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". So, we stole Jose Gaspar. Texas is also a logical location for this pirate to bury treasure. 6 reviews of Jose Gaspar Treasure "This sweet little shell shop is nestled in along A1A and the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. We have one with Gomez's name on it. The history of Gasparilla and legacy of Jose Gaspar | wtsp.com Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence appears in writing before the early 20th century. A band of pirates in Wisconsin operated out of a cave on Hermit island. 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. The treasure on Money Island is said to hidden in the crevice of a large rock that is only visible during low tide. Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. JOSE GASPAR TREASURE - 16 Photos - 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd, Flagler Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. Is this your business? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. His flagship was eventually ran aground and he was ultimately killed by English warships off the East Coast of America. Do secret rooms conceal unknown treasures? Plundering the high seas and ports alike resulted in vast riches for some of these ruthless criminals. There's really no way to know which is the case," Maria wrote, in an email to WTSP-TV. Jose Gaspar: Myth or Pirate? Quiz | People | 10 Questions - Fun Trivia 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. 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. 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.". The legend states that Gaspar terrorized the western coastal waters of Florida in the late 18th to early 19th century. This state also holds another possible location on the banks of Blackbird Creek. 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. Jose Gaspar: More myth than man - baynews9.com Seeing the writing on the wall, he decided to scuttle his own ship and hide with his crew in the forrest. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. By Geoff Dobson. jose gaspar, coins, and treasuremap found. | TreasureNet The Original Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! He then tied himself to an anchor and jumped in the ocean disappearing for all time. The gold coins were too thin and too old to pass as authentic Spanish treasure. The family thinks the hand belongs to famous Tampa Bay pirate Jose Gaspar. How did the legend of Gaspar begin? This happened in the year 1782. 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. Jose Gaspar commandeered the 'Floridablanca', the ship upon which he was serving, to commence his life of piracy. Shipwrecks: Who owns the treasure hidden under the sea? Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The pirate is one of the most notorious in the history of pirates. 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. His fleet would capture vessels at sea, and take all the goods back to Galveston. Source of the stories which became inspiration for the legend of Jose Gaspar. Galleon of Gold. It's part of our family now.". On my recent visit, I was on a shell mission to use for a hairpiece for a . Louisiana makes sense because during most of his time here, he was considered a fugitive by the US. The final and perhaps most intriguing possibility is around the Spanish Fort San Carlos in Pensacola. 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. Gasparilla Season | Visit Tampa Bay Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Aged Rum. 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. Jose Gaspar (GC3FZAF) was created by seabreezedrive on 4/1/2012. 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. Pirate treasure rumors. It does not store any personal data. Mysterious Pirate Treasure Box Found in Tampa Bay Attic - Cult of Weird This characterization continues through the stories of Gasparilla as a pirate. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The History of Gasparilla - Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla One of his ships has been discovered in the waters off of North Carolina and definitely proven to belong to Blackbeard. Gaspar's Lost Treasure - WTF 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. His sister found a box in their grandfather's attic in Tampa, Fla., a few weeks ago while doing some spring cleaning. Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. History of Gasparilla: Jos Gaspar & his krewe. And indeed there are serious problems with the stories of Gasparilla. The American Government then decided to get into the act and sent a Navy squadron to end his career. They took the box to a few antique stores. 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 (5) The first written version of Gasparilla appeared in an advertising brochure of the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Co. printed in 1900. Okay, that was. New Castle Island in Delaware is said to house treasure hidden by pirates from Madagascar in 1699. Theyve done this every Sunday for a year, looking for the booty of 19th century pirate Jose Gaspar. To add more to the story, the treasure map contained the name of the infamous mythical pirate Gaspar. Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. ", 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. 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.