One day Gasparilla prepared to attack a merchantman, but to his surprise, it turned out to be a United States man-of-war. Another logical location said to hide this cache of valuables is in South Carolina. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. Debbie gave us a great tip to hide the tooth in the sand and make our son think he found it. 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. What is the story behind Gasparilla? - Promisekit.org To learn more, visit our. Have you ever hunted a treasure story? | Friendly Metal Detecting Forum Treasure hunter Erin Melcher. Human hand found in Florida attic with coins, treasure map - ajc These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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 . Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. Legend has it that in the late 1700s, a pirate named Jose Gaspar kidnapped the Spanish princess Joseffa de Mayorga. Jose Gaspar, the legendary buccaneer who inspired Tampas Gasparilla Pirate Festival, as well as fantastic tales of lost treasure, most likely never really existed. Jos Gaspar. Youll read about many that are hidden and a few that were found, so it can happen. A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. Gasparilla seized their ship, as well as their 11 dowries, but fell madly in love with the Spanish princess. 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/. Although Gasparilla was a well-educated, well-dressed pirate and ladies man, things did not always go as planned. What you don't expect to find is treasure. According to the sources we studied, Gaspar was probably born in Spain in 1756. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. Jose Gaspar Treasure 6 Jewelry Gift Shops Bookstores $ "We went in looking for a lite shark tooth for our son. Our knowledge of Jean and his brother Pierre begins in the early 1800s. Jos Gaspar - Wikiwand A team of treasure hunters could be on the verge of unearthing the "world's largest treasure hoard," said to be worth over $20 billion. 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. Another instance of his softer side can be found in the account of Ann Jeffries, an English girl traveling from New Orleans to Liverpool. Gasparilla: Was the Legendary Spanish Pirate Jose Gaspar Real? The story of Juan Gomez is also published in the Library of Congress. Jean Lafitte. One of the most popular pirates in Florida folklore is 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.' It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 3.5, terrain of 5. Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez Jose Gaspar Treasure Co (Flagler Beach) - All You Need to Know BEFORE The San Jose galleon was believed to have been . 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. 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. "Possibly keep it forever. 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. Pirate Treasure on Goodland in Southwest Florida - LITTLE BAR Restaurant 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? Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. They bribed the owner with some of the treasure to not divulge their location. Texas is also a logical location for this pirate to bury treasure. 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. Cleaning the dreaded attic turned up a darling wedding photo of the Lopezes grandparents, but it also uncovered some interesting but creepy finds. Available at: https://ymkg.com/the-legend-of-jose-gasparilla/. In the following years, he accumulated a board estimated at $30,000,000. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. However, perhaps the most famous story of Gaspar concerns his death. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. In it, she introduced herself and wrote that her parents were. 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. Jose Gaspar - A Real Pirate? | TreasureNet The Original Treasure Were There Pirates In Tampa Bay? - On Secret Hunt "I'm considering it. Gilchrist intended to turn the area into a community. . All my curanderos, check out the first word on the second line play the song below for inspiration: Please support WTFFlorida.com by making a donation. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. 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. His treasure might have been on the ship with him during this battle. Jos Gaspar - Wikipedia His death seems to come straight from Hollywood. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan 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. Top 10 Best Bookstores in Palm Coast, FL - February 2023 - Yelp This treasure as well as the tunnels remain lost. Michael Gattuso and his crew got a cable debut Wednesday night in an episode of Discovery Channel's show "Expedition Unknown." What year did Jose Gaspar invade Tampa? The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. This endeavor lasted only about 5 years when the us army came to visit Lafitte, asking him to leave. All had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. You are using an out of date browser. 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. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. 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. There are also inherent dangers involved with any of these types of adventures. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/ferret-iii.htm, Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story. If there is one thing pirates are known for it is treasure. The Gaspar myth in the very beginning was tied to the Charlotte Harbor area. When Gasparilla requested that they accompany him and his crew on a raid, the two young lovers assumed they would be slaughtered. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. However, even from the first we run into different versions of the story. In his early pirate career, he teamed up with a few other pirates and eventually took over a ship named The Revenge. He then tied himself to an anchor and jumped in the ocean disappearing for all time. When a ship was taken, the people aboard were not immediately murdered but instead offered the option of dying or joining Gasparillas crew. The story of the famed pirate may have been the tall tale of a U.S. naval officer. The leaflet establishes Gaspars legend, claiming that he chose Gasparilla Island as the best of the islands in Charlotte Harbor to establish his base. USEPPA ISLAND, Fla. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. As with any treasure hunting adventure, be sure and obtain permission from any applicable parties before your hunt begins. From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . 3. 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. Many say he buried treasure here during this time. 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). Just like most pirates, there is little known about his early life. The Gasparilla Inn was a hotel on the island. "Maybe my great-grandparents were pirates," Mike Lopez said. 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. The San Jose, a Spanish treasure ship, was attacked and sunk by a British warship in June 1708. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. He was sentenced to prison and eventually released. This is extremely suspect as this is the same location rumored to hide the treasure of Billy Bowlegs Rogers.