Leaving soon? 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. The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. Hiding treasure under a well constructed fort is a much more logical thought than those previously mentioned. . Some historians say Caesar has between two-and-six million dollars of treasure stashed on Pine Island. Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. Jean Lafitte. Jos Gaspar - Wikipedia History of Gasparilla: Jos Gaspar & his krewe. Gasparilla Season | Visit Tampa Bay 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. Find the treasure, report it, and go to jail for committing a 3rd Degree Felony. This hoard was allegedly buried by a group of pirates in the early 1800s. His theft discovered, he deserted his wife. Jose Gaspar Treasure - Flagler Beach, FL - Yelp We have seven maps.". When it comes to spring cleaning, its always nice to have a spare hand to help. 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. From a four-mile long parade of pirates and period memorabilia on display, to specialty packages and a waterfront half . Maybe you can find one and claim the fame and wealth that will ultimilty accompany your successful efforts. JavaScript is disabled. A unique legend of pirate treasure in Indiana is intriguing. This Plantation is said to be roughly 5 miles West of the town of Iowa. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. 5 Popular Mai Tai Recipes and How To Make Them, Mango Tango Cocktail Recipe Boat Drinks, Taste the New St. John Brewers Love City Hard Seltzer, A Day With Stormy Pirates Charters US Virgin Islands, An Island Interview With Caribbean Adventure Author, John H. Cunningham, Love Pets and a Free Place To Stay? Charlotte Harbor is an ideal spot to go treasure hunting. Go find it, unbury it, take tons of pictures, bury it back again, and prove to the world that you found it. From seashells to lost treasure, this shop has it all. Inside was a tattered map of the Hillsborough River, century-old coins, a family picture and a hand wearing a ring. The legend of Gaspar began making its way into other writings after that, without any other historical evidence to back it up. Overview. Friendly down to earth staff. In Polish origin the meaning of name Gaspar is : Treasure keeper Spanish Meaning : The name Gaspar is an Spanish baby name. Ancient Viking treasures found in England actually seems to be a thing, as many of relative value have been found throughout the years. As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. Cleaning the dreaded attic turned up a darling wedding photo of the Lopezes grandparents, but it also uncovered some interesting but creepy finds. Gaspar - Meaning of Gaspar Name, Boy Gaspar Origin and Astrology This allegedly infuriated the young lady who devised a plan to essentially frame Gaspar for stealing some jewels. The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. Jose Gaspar Treasure - MapQuest 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. Josh Gates sets sail for Florida chasing the long-lost treasure of bloodthirsty pirate Jose Gaspar. In his early pirate career, he teamed up with a few other pirates and eventually took over a ship named The Revenge. Photos show a centuries-old shipwreck found off Colombia's coast carrying lost treasure worth billions of dollars, including gold coins and emeralds. The story of Juan Gomez is also published in the Library of Congress. According to the sources we studied, Gaspar was probably born in Spain in 1756. "It's a bunch of heartbreak with little reward and a lot of imagination," said treasure hunter Erin Melcher. The story goes that Lafitte and his men used an old barn on LeBleau Plantation as a gathering location and perhaps buried treasure here. There's really no way to know which is the case," Maria wrote, in an email to WTSP-TV. This particular lost treasure consists of a bunch of silver coins, ingots and even pieces of jewelry. 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. "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. Another logical location said to hide this cache of valuables is in South Carolina. Tampa family finds 'pirate treasure' in attic including treasure map It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. Bald Point is another hotspot but for rumors of pirate treasure. What he thought was a British cargo ship turned out to be the USS Enterprise, on a mission to end piracy. When you go in the attic you expect to find something old. Here is what we have been able to piece together about this controversial pirate. He would then sell these items to local customers in east Texas. Ye be walkin the plank if ye so think. 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. Treasure Hunters May Have Found Jos Gaspar's Pirate Vessel - YouTube Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. History Gattuso will keep them busy on Useppa and across Florida. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. (2) Most of the islands around Charlotte Harbor were named by the Cuban Spanish fishermen that lived there since the 1600's. While in Florida, Caesar palled up with Jose Gaspar, better known as "Gasparilla.". Mysterious box containing a map, coins and a mummified hand found in Tampa Bay attic. All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The American Government then decided to get into the act and sent a Navy squadron to end his career. But, now? The team, known as the "Temple Twelve," have been . Texas is also a logical location for this pirate to bury treasure. He quickly worked his way up the ranks of the Spanish Navy and became an officer. Gasparilla seized her ship, and the hostages were brought to his hideout on Gasparilla Island. Once it was in print, people kept spreading it as absolute truth. Did Grandpa find pirate treasure? He subsequently set fire to all his buildings before sailing out to sea, never to be heard from again. And to this day, Jose Gaspar returns on board his pirate ship every year to capture the city.". When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. The latter two locations being the most logical. The San Jose galleon was believed to have been . Gaspar was a rebel from an aristocratic upbringing. "We are not sure what we're going to do with it," said Lopez. . They bribed the owner with some of the treasure to not divulge their location. And indeed there are serious problems with the stories of Gasparilla. The team found a few nails, a beer can, and a screw during this hunt. 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. You are using an out of date browser. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! Other than news articles, the first story ever published in print about the Story of Gasparilla was commissioned by the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad. 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. 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. Once he was a few hundred meters away, the British flag came down and the American flag rose up the mast. 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. 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. 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). Starting in 1911, though, the event's founders, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, switched . 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. This is extremely suspect as this is the same location rumored to hide the treasure of Billy Bowlegs Rogers. Or they were always togahter. 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.". When he was wrongfully arrested, he hijacked a ship and fled, promising to seek revenge on his homeland. What Became of Anne Bonny, Irish Pirate of the Caribbean? The city of Tampa hosts a Gasparilla Day each year. I'm here writing on Treasureunknown to provide helpful resources so others can get out and enjoy the thrill of the hunt! As the story goes, the pirate Jose Gaspar was hunting for the USS Enterprise in 1821; onboard was Juan Gmez, the man who lived to tell the tale. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth. 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. The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate - IMDb When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. The American Continents have a rich treasure history dating back to ancient civilizations of the Toltecs and Aztecs who understood the mining and smelting of gold and silver from which they made ornaments shields and household utensils. 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. Though that treasure has never been discovered, the story of the swashbuckling Gaspar was unearthed and his memory revived in 1904 when Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla was formed and adopted the pirate as patron rogue of their city . He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. First of all there was a Spanish Catholic missionary named Gasparillo that had a mission on the island that bears his name. Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Company are said to have distributed the brochures. 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: 15 years later, Telemundo is still the only Spanish 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. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. And that's what we've been chasing. Legacy | Useppa Island There are a few theories as to the location of a hidden treasure by Lafitte in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Millions of dollars have been found literally lying in front of people's feet, the world's beaches. Gaspar's Brew: A cup of treasure - Joffrey's 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. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. Source: Theartofphoto / Adobe Stock. 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.' The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. By Geoff Dobson. 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. 6 reviews of Jose Gaspar Treasure "This sweet little shell shop is nestled in along A1A and the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesn't believe that the legendary figure was even real. This is believed to be part of the bribe money given to the owner. Icelanders and the Huldufolk: A Nation Gripped by Farinis Great Discovery: Is there a Lost City Top Ten Knights of King Arthurs Round Table. Just a salty pirate looking to explore and document the wonders of the Caribbean. 1. Enjoy. There is not much known about his adventures in Florida but there is rumors of him hiding a large treasure around Choctawatchee Bay. This characterization continues through the stories of Gasparilla as a pirate. He weighed in on the treasure map as well and believes it was a blueprint for the area during the 1920s and 1930s, but nothing more. Not much is known of his early life before his pirating career. His flagship was eventually ran aground and he was ultimately killed by English warships off the East Coast of America. 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). Source of the stories which became inspiration for the legend of Jose Gaspar. I love searching for all types of "treasures" with my family. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If anybody wants to start a treasure seach team, WTF Florida? Santa Rosa Island has been sort of a local hotspot for finding bags of gold and silver coins. The leaflet establishes Gaspars legend, claiming that he chose Gasparilla Island as the best of the islands in Charlotte Harbor to establish his base. Strap yourself in for a wild ride and buy this international bestselling book today! 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. What year did Jose Gaspar invade Tampa? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Seeing the writing on the wall, he decided to scuttle his own ship and hide with his crew in the forrest. ", 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. Interesting history topics are just a click away. 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. All had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. The battle raged and the story goes that as Jose Gaspar realized the inevitable, he stood on the bow of the ship and stated something like Gaspar dies by his own hands. Jos Gaspar - Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias The ship contained $1,000,000 in assorted treasure, and should be there today. Debbie gave us a great tip to hide the tooth in the sand and make our son think he found it. Is There Any Pirate Treasure Left? - treasure unknown