Mysterious box containing a map, coins and a mummified hand found in Tampa Bay attic. The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. History of Gasparilla: Jos Gaspar & his krewe. Tales of pirate treasures are very difficult to substantiate due to many factors. However his name and supposed deeds are still celebrated to this day, not least with the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival, which began in 1904 in Tampa, Florida, which honors his tale. There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. St. Vincent Island off the coast of Florida is said to have been an island frequented by early pirates. He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade won't care. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade wont care. 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. His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. The family thinks the hand belongs to famous Tampa Bay pirate Jose Gaspar. His theft discovered, he deserted his wife. Gasparilla began on horseback in 1904 as a way to add a little pirate-themed fun to the city's May Day festivities. 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). The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. Legend states they marked a tree by driving a sword into it. "Maybe my great-grandparents were pirates," Mike Lopez said. 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). Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. Spain and Great Britain were adversaries in the complex tangle of European politics . Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence appears in writing before the early 20th century. What is the story behind Gasparilla? - Promisekit.org JavaScript is disabled. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If anybody wants to start a treasure seach team, WTF Florida? With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. In this time Spain controlled a huge swathe of the Americas and Gaspar grew rich. He claimed to be one of the few crew members to escape a fateful attack by American pirate hunting schooner USS Enterprise in 1821. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. Jose Gaspar Treasure - Flagler Beach, FL - Yelp Kidd set sail for England and was commissioned as a privateer by the English government. The San Jose, a Spanish treasure ship, was attacked and sunk by a British warship in June 1708. Was there really a pirate named Jose Gaspar? Marias brother Mike believes the couple in the photo may be their great grandparents, Eve and Ernesto Lopez. 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. Legends of Sanibel's Pirate Past - Sanibel Island Myths of Treasure This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Jose Gaspar | bakersfield.com (3) The Spanish kept meticulous records and there is no mention of Gasparilla in the archives. "So, it's interesting how Tampa, in a sense, stole; we were pirates ourselves. This allegedly infuriated the young lady who devised a plan to essentially frame Gaspar for stealing some jewels. Tampa family finds 'pirate treasure' in attic including treasure map 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. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. If we find that buried treasure together, we can split the booty among all of our readers and we never have to work again. What year did Gasparilla start? Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. And that's what we've been chasing. 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. Inside was a tattered map of the Hillsborough River, century-old coins, a family picture and a hand wearing a ring. This characterization continues through the stories of Gasparilla as a pirate. 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. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. The theme and focal point of Gasparilla is a friendly "invasion" by mythical pirate Jos Gaspar and his crew, who are portrayed by members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG), an organization created for this purpose in 1904. Website. But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. Not much is known of his early life before his pirating career. 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. So, we stole Jose Gaspar. The author of the pamphlet readily stated that the spectacular tale was a work of fiction with no genuine facts in it. Bald Point is another hotspot but for rumors of pirate treasure. We lived not far from Gasparella Island and Charlotte Harbour.where the legend supposedly ended. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. 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! 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. Jos Gaspar. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. Evidently, though, the treasure is not. Jose Gaspar (GC3FZAF) was created by seabreezedrive on 4/1/2012. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. He apparently helped repeal a British Invasion on New Orleans. My grandfather had a book on all these when I was younger. "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. 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. Available at: https://ymkg.com/the-legend-of-jose-gasparilla/. Treasure hunters search for Jose Gaspar's lost riches - Tampa Bay Times So are you juiced up and just caught the gold fever? Another instance of his softer side can be found in the account of Ann Jeffries, an English girl traveling from New Orleans to Liverpool. Millions of dollars have been found literally lying in front of people's feet, the world's beaches. We have seven maps.". 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. Still, it was not very soon after that, that Tampa captured that myth," Kite-Powell said. Aged Rum. Is There Any Pirate Treasure Left? - treasure unknown Who created the man who is now a legend? Lets do this. 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. Similar Names. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Ill post one a week Treasure Tuesdaysthis that lame? This is believed to be part of the bribe money given to the owner. This hoard was allegedly buried by a group of pirates in the early 1800s. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. Is this your business? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Flagler Beach, FL 32136. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. It's located on the north side of town, next door to the Turtle Shack cafe. He was wanted until 1815 when opinion of him changed. Josh joins marine archaeologists and treasure hunters working to crack the mysteries of the pirate's life so they can find the riches he left behind. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. The items found by his sister were neatly packed inside a wooden box. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Santa Rosa Island has been sort of a local hotspot for finding bags of gold and silver coins. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. 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 . (4) The person who gets most of the credit for the Gasparilla myth is John Gomez who drowned around 1900 at the age of 122. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL 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. This is the spot for all of your seaside decorating needs. A Tampa, Florida family going through their grandparent's attic made an interesting discovery: a treasure map, some coins, and an old human hand! The Legend of Jose Gaspar. When it comes to the legend of Jose Gaspar, Diff told us to "be cautious that the information you present as there are lots of versions of this story and everyone's version is 'true.' 128 were here. Gasparilla 2023: The pirate party master list. It's part of our family now.". When it comes to spring cleaning, its always nice to have a spare hand to help. (PDF) The Real Pirate Billy Bowlegs: The Origins of the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Photo byScott UmstattdonUnsplash, Lafitte Photo By Anonymous Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas, Public Domain, Skully Photo byLuke SouthernonUnsplash. He enjoyed telling stories about his adventures on the high seas and a large amount of Gasparillas treasure that was never discovered. They bribed the owner with some of the treasure to not divulge their location. The Story of Gasparilla by ABC Action News on Scribd. As with any tale of vast hidden riches, these stories can not be 100 percent verified to even exist. 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. Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story The man behind Gasparilla: Who was Jos Gaspar? What you don't expect to find is treasure. 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. Definitely try, Find our recommended Caribbean hotels, restaurants, charters, & tours. "Possibly keep it forever. He is even said to have buried treasure somewhere on the island near where the lighthouse now stands. 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/. A few months ago, Gattuso found a Calusa bone tool that is now part of the Useppa Island museum's collection. Interesting history topics are just a click away. The prices seem lower, but not my thing. jose gaspar, coins, and treasuremap found. 3. Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story Debbie gave us a great tip to hide the tooth in the sand and make our son think he found it. " Mar 2021 We really enjoyed shopping here! "We do have some treasure maps, and we're working on them," Gattuso said. Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez. 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. Just a salty pirate looking to explore and document the wonders of the Caribbean. Old hand, coins and treasure map found in Florida attic - The Vintage News You'll need a boat or kayak for this cache. The leaflet establishes Gaspars legend, claiming that he chose Gasparilla Island as the best of the islands in Charlotte Harbor to establish his base. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. He vowed revenge on those who had framed him and was forced to turn to a life of piracy. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. $150 Million Dollar Treasure Found On A Beach By Accident Treasure on Sunken Spanish Galleon Could Be Biggest Ever - History Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. You are using an out of date browser. 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. In 1705 the group was killed by French traders who were tired of being robbed by these men. 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. Just like most pirates, there is little known about his early life. He subsequently set fire to all his buildings before sailing out to sea, never to be heard from again. There is not much known about his adventures in Florida but there is rumors of him hiding a large treasure around Choctawatchee Bay. ", 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. He supposedly buried large amounts of treasures on the islands around the bay. How did the legend of Gaspar begin? Thread starter seeker41; Start date Apr 29, 2015 Apr 29, 2015 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. Source of the stories which became inspiration for the legend of Jose Gaspar. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. Many believe it is Edward Teach, but some claim it is Edward Thatch. So that's why we believe that it was Juan Gomez. Shopping, Gift & Specialty Shops. 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. To add more to the story, the treasure map contained the name of the infamous mythical pirate Gaspar. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Starting in 1911, though, the event's founders, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, switched . He met and married his wife in New York and had 2 daughters. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. However there are several problems with the story which have led many to question whether Gasparilla as he was known was a real historical figure. Once again our legend states that he hid 3 large chests among a group of trees on San Jose Island. One day Gasparilla prepared to attack a merchantman, but to his surprise, it turned out to be a United States man-of-war. 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. https://www.cultofweird.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/pirate-treasure-hand.jpg, https://www.cultofweird.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cultofweird-new-logo.png, Mysterious Pirate Treasure Box Found in Tampa Bay Attic, February 17, 2023 - 9:45 pm by dEBRINA bLACKMOON. The prices are great and you can walk more than one foot without seeing some adorable little trinket that you just can't live without. Another logical location said to hide this cache of valuables is in South Carolina. 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. 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. Buumi . Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. WFLA | What is Gasparilla? Plundering the high seas and ports alike resulted in vast riches for some of these ruthless criminals. The Gasparilla Inn was a hotel on the island. They will be focused on the Florida coastline, right in my back yard. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. Treasure hunter Erin Melcher. As promised here is the start of your Pirate Treasure stories. Gaspar was a rebel from an aristocratic upbringing. 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 . Treasure hunting can be a fun and exciting activity. Sarasota's Michael Gattuso and members of his . 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. The poem, maps, comments from other searchers, and other guides to finding the treasure are online and easy to find. Gaspar's Lost Treasure - WTF Florida? 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? Despite his brutal reputation, Gasparilla was supposed to have a soft side as well. Mike Lopez tells WFLA that his sister was. Peace River treasure hunters make cable TV debut in search of Ye be walkin the plank if ye so think. Pirate Treasure on Goodland in Southwest Florida - LITTLE BAR Restaurant Treasure hunters seeking Gasparilla's gold featured on Discovery and A treasure said to be worth $30 million. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Professional blogger, rum judge, consultant, marketer, and consumer of blue water beauty. 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 The History of Gasparilla - Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The legend states that Gaspar terrorized the western coastal waters of Florida in the late 18th to early 19th century. "We are not sure what we're going to do with it," said Lopez. Friendly down to earth staff. Gasparilla, if he existed, wrapped himself in chain and jumped overboard with both hands still attached. 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. While Gaspar chained the anchor of his ship to his waist and dove into the water to avoid giving the enemy the satisfaction of killing him, Gmez lived to tell the tale. He supposedly buried 3 chests under a palm tree somewhere in the vicinity. 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. Gasparilla Pirate Festival - Wikipedia But they know long-lost treasures and artifacts are out there. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. ", "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. What he thought was a British cargo ship turned out to be the USS Enterprise, on a mission to end piracy. New details have emerged about the San Jose, a Spanish galleon sunk by British ships 300 years ago. 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. And she actually had maps, and she had stories that were passed down to the family about these treasures. Here Lafitte had a very fair treasure distribution policy that everyone seemed to like. Toward the end of his pirate career, Bowlegs was being pursued by an English warship. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure - CAROLYN ARNOLD Michael Gattuso lends a hand to his wife Lauren as they dock on a wetland on the Peace River in Arcadia. Canceled2021 Gasparilla Pirate Festival / Date Jose Gaspar Treasure 6 Jewelry Gift Shops Bookstores $ "We went in looking for a lite shark tooth for our son. There are also inherent dangers involved with any of these types of adventures. This particular lost treasure consists of a bunch of silver coins, ingots and even pieces of jewelry. He finally returned with his wife to find all but a handful of his crew had died. He ignored this order and stayed in Galveston for about another year before the Army returned forcing him to leave. We are constantly looking for opportunities to metal detect, magnet fish, pan for gold, and search for real life lost treasures. Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesn't believe that the legendary figure was even real. 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. Historic City Memories: Pirate treasure rumors "We go after Juan Gomez because everything, all the treasures and everything we've come through, is tied to him. These men witnessed the battle and when the pirate ship began to sink, they loaded this vast treasure onto small boats and escaped unnoticed to a place called Spanish Homestead around the Peace River. The story of the famed pirate may have been the tall tale of a U.S. naval officer. "You'll hear more of us, you know; we'll do this until we're old and, you know, can't do it anymore.". Finding a real human hand is probably not what the Lopezes had in mind, but thats exactly what this family from Florida found in their grandparents attic.
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