And to this day, Jose Gaspar returns on board his pirate ship every year to capture the city.". His theft discovered, he deserted his wife. His headquarters were at Boca Grande, on what is today known as Gasparilla Island. Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. Groups gather in St. Petersburg park to shed light on local violence, Tampas St. Josephs Childrens Hospital holds prom for pediatric patients, Photos: Rays back at Trop in spring game against Twins, Photos: Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic, Photos: New York's Naked Cowboy makes brief appearance in Tampa, Photos: Opening day for the Florida Strawberry Festival, Photos: IndyCar Series takes over streets of St. Petersburg, Hundreds of USF students join statewide walkout to protest DeSantis education policies, Photos: Lightning return home to take on Ducks, Photo Gallery: Family mourns Josiah Pinner during a candlelight vigil. Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. There's really no way to know which is the case," Maria wrote, in an email to WTSP-TV. Hitting the scene in the early 1800s Billy Bowlegs Rogers was a pirate to be reckoned with. For one, there is no evidence of his pirate empire. They then buried the chests in numerous places along the river and its tributaries and swamps. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. (3) The Spanish kept meticulous records and there is no mention of Gasparilla in the archives. The Story of Jose Gaspar Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. He was sentenced to prison and eventually released. Rumor has it, that the stolen goods are still hidden somewhere on the island. If marriage was selected, there would be a ceremony, and the marriage promise would be strictly enforced. According to some versions of the story, Gaspar started as a troubled adolescent who kidnapped a little girl for ransom. Many believe it is Edward Teach, but some claim it is Edward Thatch. Not much is known of his early life before his pirating career. When a ship was taken, the people aboard were not immediately murdered but instead offered the option of dying or joining Gasparillas crew. 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. As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. Plundering the high seas and ports alike resulted in vast riches for some of these ruthless criminals. 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. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. The latter two locations being the most logical. They took the box to a few antique stores. This state also holds another possible location on the banks of Blackbird Creek. (5) The first written version of Gasparilla appeared in an advertising brochure of the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Co. printed in 1900. 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. Available at: https://www.wfla.com/news/gasparilla/history-of-gasparilla-jose-gaspar-his-krewe/, ymkg, 2022. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. The legend states that Gaspar terrorized the western coastal waters of Florida in the late 18th to early 19th century. Louisiana makes sense because during most of his time here, he was considered a fugitive by the US. In all, he buried 13 casks and chests of treasure in the vicinity of his headquarters. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Jose Gaspar (aka: Gasparilla) was a quasi-mythical Spanish pirate who roamed the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. (2) Most of the islands around Charlotte Harbor were named by the Cuban Spanish fishermen that lived there since the 1600's. We thought that was awesome. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Jose Gaspar is not the only mythical pirate character that has. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. However, if they do, they are still up for grabs. It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. New details have emerged about the San Jose, a Spanish galleon sunk by British ships 300 years ago. $ 6 reviews. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! RECOMMENDED: The legend of Jose Gaspar and the history of Gasparilla. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". We are constantly looking for opportunities to metal detect, magnet fish, pan for gold, and search for real life lost treasures. TAMPA, Fla. - Docked in downtown Tampa, the Jose Gasparilla II is one of the most iconic parts of Gasparilla and a year-round reminder of Tampa's biggest party and quirkiest tradition. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. "So, it's interesting how Tampa, in a sense, stole; we were pirates ourselves. I'm Clint, the guy behind Treasureunknown. Top Image: Real pirate or later fiction? When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. It's part of our family now.". I have never found any real evidence he lived. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. Is this your business? As with any tale of vast hidden riches, these stories can not be 100 percent verified to even exist. Galleon of Gold. There is not much known about his adventures in Florida but there is rumors of him hiding a large treasure around Choctawatchee Bay. Mike Lopez tells WFLA that his sister was. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Hiding treasure under a well constructed fort is a much more logical thought than those previously mentioned. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. What Became of Anne Bonny, Irish Pirate of the Caribbean? As with any treasure hunting adventure, be sure and obtain permission from any applicable parties before your hunt begins. Source: Theartofphoto / Adobe Stock. Similar Names. 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. Mysterious box containing a map, coins and a mummified hand found in Tampa Bay attic. According to other versions of the narrative, Gaspar was a nobleman who rose through the ranks of the Spanish Royal Navy and became a councilor to King Charles III of Spain. So it would seem that Gasparilla is a fiction, no more real a figure than Mickey Mouse. What we do know is that he is considered a hero to some and a villain to others. If you choose to embark on a hunt for any treasure do so at your own risk. Definitely try, Find our recommended Caribbean hotels, restaurants, charters, & tours. A treasure said to be worth $30 million. His work appears here every third Monday; the views expressed. Or show us love by sharing articles and leaving great comments. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. 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." Born in 1756 in Spain, Gaspar served in the Spanish Navy until a mutiny in 1783. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He finally returned with his wife to find all but a handful of his crew had died. From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . Before deciding to pursue this ship, Gaspar left some of his men behind with the treasure. A unique legend of pirate treasure in Indiana is intriguing. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. He renamed this ship Queen Anns Revenger which gave him one of the largest fleets on the East coast of America and Caribbean. Kidd set sail for England and was commissioned as a privateer by the English government. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book. These wealthy civilizations flourished for hundreds of years spreading The poem, maps, comments from other searchers, and other guides to finding the treasure are online and easy to find. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. According to archives, the island community was created by Albert W. Gilchrist, Floridas 20th governor. jose gaspar, coins, and treasuremap found. 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. 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? Strap yourself in for a wild ride and buy this international bestselling book today! Deleware holds one more possibility around Woodland Beach. Source of the stories which became inspiration for the legend of Jose Gaspar. In fact, we dont even know for certain his real name. (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. 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 . The Gaspar myth in the very beginning was tied to the Charlotte Harbor area. On my recent visit, I was on a shell mission to use for a hairpiece for a . When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. 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. They will be focused on the Florida coastline, right in my back yard. link to A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . 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. Whilst swimming in Key West, he and a team of specialists find a huge anchor that may have been from Gaspar's vessel. 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. So are you juiced up and just caught the gold fever? It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. This treasure as well as the tunnels remain lost. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia: Politician: Capricon: 06 January 1766 AD . Seeing the writing on the wall, he decided to scuttle his own ship and hide with his crew in the forrest. Legend has it that Gasparilla spotted a huge ship sailing in the distance. 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. Treasure hunter Michael Gattuso paddles a boat toward the dock where part of his crew Stacey Hunt, Erin Melcher and Lauren Gattuso wait for him near Nav-A-Gators Bar and Grill. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. Lesser and Greater Antilles / Windward and Leeward Islands What is What? We actually located the great great, great, great-granddaughter of Juan Gomez. 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. What year did Gasparilla start? 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. With Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses, How We Became Mr. and Mrs. Read another story from us:Norways Saint Olaf Uncovered: Archaeologists Believe They have Discovered the Shrine of the Lost Viking King. Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. 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.
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