The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. "You'll hear more of us, you know; we'll do this until we're old and, you know, can't do it anymore.". As with any treasure hunting adventure, be sure and obtain permission from any applicable parties before your hunt begins. 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. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. 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. Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Crystal and I greatly appreciate any support! He did what all retired people do in Florida he fell ill one day and died. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. He claimed to be one of the few crew members to escape a fateful attack by American pirate hunting schooner USS Enterprise in 1821. Pirate Photo byScott UmstattdonUnsplash, Lafitte Photo By Anonymous Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas, Public Domain, Skully Photo byLuke SouthernonUnsplash. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Another instance of his softer side can be found in the account of Ann Jeffries, an English girl traveling from New Orleans to Liverpool. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 3.5, terrain of 5. 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. This endeavor lasted only about 5 years when the us army came to visit Lafitte, asking him to leave. By clicking Accept Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. 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. Santa Rosa Island has been sort of a local hotspot for finding bags of gold and silver coins. He renamed this ship Queen Anns Revenger which gave him one of the largest fleets on the East coast of America and Caribbean. There are numerous legends and tales of buried treasure on this island. 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. If you choose to embark on a hunt for any treasure do so at your own risk. Most stories agree he was an aristocratic Spanish Navy Officer who later. 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. He spoke to local TV news network WFLA about the discovery, and the story kept getting stranger. Bald Point is another hotspot but for rumors of pirate treasure. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. I love this place built around 1640 . ", 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. Though details about his early life, motivations, and piratical exploits differ in various tellings, they agree that the 'Last of the Buccaneers" was a remarkably active pirate who amassed a huge . When he was wrongfully arrested, he hijacked a ship and fled, promising to seek revenge on his homeland. Pirate Blackbeard entered the history books in the early 1700s. Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence appears in writing before the early 20th century. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The Gasparilla Inn was a hotel on the island. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. To learn more, visit our. This location is said to be on the southern end at False Live Oak Point. 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. These stories really get your imagination scrambling about finding buried riches yourself. 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. I'm here writing on Treasureunknown to provide helpful resources so others can get out and enjoy the thrill of the hunt! Source: Theartofphoto / Adobe Stock. Named for legendary pirate, Jose Gaspar, who terrorized the coastal waters of West Florida during the 18th and early 19th centuries, Tampa Bay's destination-wide annual Gasparilla celebration kicks off each January with a full schedule of exciting pirate-themed events. One of the most popular pirates in Florida folklore is Jose' Gaspar. This story seems to border on the outer limits, but a local historian doesnt believe that the hand belongs to the famed pirate. He was sentenced to prison and eventually released. The team used metal detectors and shovels but didn't find anything. Email him at [email protected]. However, perhaps the most famous story of Gaspar concerns his death. The eerie discovery of a mysterious wooden box bearing a disembodied mummified hand with a ring on the wedding ring finger, an old map of the Tampa area and several coins has stirred up memories of pirate Jose Gaspar. A unique legend of pirate treasure in Indiana is intriguing. 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. 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. $ 6 reviews. 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. Hiding treasure under a well constructed fort is a much more logical thought than those previously mentioned. However, there is another story, that has some validity, of what happened to his treasure. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. 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. 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. He confirmed that indeed the Lopezes have found a real human hand, but as for Gasparilla, that was a myth. Was there really a pirate named Jose Gaspar? 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. His treasure might have been on the ship with him during this battle. Who created the man who is now a legend? It's part of our family now.". 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. Millions of dollars have been found literally lying in front of people's feet, the world's beaches. Contributing columnist Jose Gaspar is a news anchor/reporter for Telemundo Bakersfield and KGET. The first recorded reference of Jos Gaspar was in fact over 100 years after his supposed career, in a short biography included in an early 1900s promotional brochure for the Gasparilla Inn on Gasparilla Island in Charlotte Harbor. 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. Toward the end of his pirate career, Bowlegs was being pursued by an English warship. A Tampa, Florida family going through their grandparent's attic made an interesting discovery: a treasure map, some coins, and an old human hand! First of all there was a Spanish Catholic missionary named Gasparillo that had a mission on the island that bears his name. If there is one thing pirates are known for it is treasure. If we find that buried treasure together, we can split the booty among all of our readers and we never have to work again. There are a few theories as to the location of a hidden treasure by Lafitte in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. You must log in or register to reply here. 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! However, like Billy Bowlegs, Jose Gaspar the lack of historical evidence suggests he never existed.21 Although most Tampa residents and several books claim Jose Gaspar was authentic, so far no documentation has proven he was real.22 The Gasparilla Pirate Festival started in 1904, and since it started a full fifty years before the Billy Bowlegs . Gasparilla began on horseback in 1904 as a way to add a little pirate-themed fun to the city's May Day festivities. The story states that Rogers discovered these lost tunnels and used them to store his treasure. The allures of Jose Gaspar's mythical treasure and Tampa's giant pirate parade have pulled strongly on producers of reality television lately. 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. He successfully captured a few ships during his years long voyage. There is another treasure said to be buried on Kelly Island in Delaware by James Gillian, a member of Kidds crew. The final and perhaps most intriguing possibility is around the Spanish Fort San Carlos in Pensacola. Did Grandpa find pirate treasure? The gold coins were too thin and too old to pass as authentic Spanish treasure. The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate: With Josh Gates, Shamus Warren, Rodney Kite-Powell, Michael Gattuso. And that's what we've been chasing. And he's fueled a cottage industry of treasure-hunting books, guides and metal . It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book. These tunnels converged into a large chamber underground. He continued the diving operation, but while they were working, his wife came down with a fever and died. Despite its long history, there is no definitive origin of the name. In or around 1806 the brothers arrived in New Orleans Louisiana and were licensed privateers operating in the Gulf of Mexico. 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. Not much is known of his early life before his pirating career. 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 Treasure Unknown is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. He relocated to Galveston Island around 1817 where he set up a pirate empire. However, this treasure is also attributed to the infamous pirate Blackbeard. 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. He ignored this order and stayed in Galveston for about another year before the Army returned forcing him to leave. link to A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. His piratical career always starts with an injustice and he is seen as a lovable rogue rather than a murderous monster. Jean Lafitte. When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. Texas is also a logical location for this pirate to bury treasure. There are a few pirates who may have hidden treasure at this spot, including Billy. Paluska and ABC Action News photojournalist Reed Moeller took a 20-minute ferry ride from Pine Island to Useppa Island, the location where Gaspar is said to have beheaded a Spanish Princess. "We are not sure what we're going to do with it," said Lopez. But, now? The Gaspar myth in the very beginning was tied to the Charlotte Harbor area. I have never found any real evidence he lived. Josh Gates sets sail for Florida chasing the long-lost treasure of bloodthirsty pirate Jose Gaspar. 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. It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. He then sailed back across the world, landing on what we now know as our home of Tampa Bay. Before deciding to pursue this ship, Gaspar left some of his men behind with the treasure. These wealthy civilizations flourished for hundreds of years spreading We are constantly looking for opportunities to metal detect, magnet fish, pan for gold, and search for real life lost treasures. Once he was a few hundred meters away, the British flag came down and the American flag rose up the mast. Tales of pirate treasures are very difficult to substantiate due to many factors. Jos Gaspar, also known by his nickname Gasparilla , is an apocryphal Spanish pirate who terrorized the Gulf of Mexico from his base in southwest Florida during Florida's second Spanish period . They took the box to a few antique stores. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. Gaspar's legend is one of a murderous, bloodthirsty swashbuckler who stole money from Spain, stole a ship, kidnapped a Spanish Princess, and left a trail of death and gold throughout the high seas. By Geoff Dobson. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. We thought that was awesome. Flagler Beach, FL 32136. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. Youll read about many that are hidden and a few that were found, so it can happen. The legend of Gaspar was first recorded in promotional materials for this Boca Grande Hotel. Tales of love and marriage, an aristocratic captain with nobility in his crew, a handsome and debonair adventurer: all these stories seem too good to be true. The prices seem lower, but not my thing. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. So it is a huge, huge draw for people to come to Tampa.". Gasparilla 2023: The pirate party master list. 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. 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. And to this day, Jose Gaspar returns on board his pirate ship every year to capture the city.". 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. The legend of Gaspar began making its way into other writings after that, without any other historical evidence to back it up. Keep me posted! "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. He finally returned with his wife to find all but a handful of his crew had died. The team found a few nails, a beer can, and a screw during this hunt. Cleaning the dreaded attic turned up a darling wedding photo of the Lopezes grandparents, but it also uncovered some interesting but creepy finds. Jos Gaspar. Whether the coins are authentic or not, Mike thinks the hand is real, and may belong to Jose Gaspar himself. He would even compensate for injuries if they were sustained while obtaining cargo from another ship. In 1705 the group was killed by French traders who were tired of being robbed by these men. Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Company are said to have distributed the brochures. Jose Gaspar (aka: Gasparilla) was a quasi-mythical Spanish pirate who roamed the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. 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. "We do have some treasure maps, and we're working on them," Gattuso said. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. Is this your business? Also check state and local regulations before you begin any activities such as digging or metal detecting. 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. 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. New details have emerged about the San Jose, a Spanish galleon sunk by British ships 300 years ago. Lafitte was wanted by the US government for they deemed his acts as piracy, not privateering. The race of the old buccaneer was nearly run, but all through that night, he told a story of piracy that could scarce be believed, yet it was a dying man that was clearing his soul before his Maker. This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Therefore hiding treasure might have seemed like a logical choice. Seeing the writing on the wall, he decided to scuttle his own ship and hide with his crew in the forrest. In all, he buried 13 casks and chests of treasure in the vicinity of his headquarters. It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In this time Spain controlled a huge swathe of the Americas and Gaspar grew rich. His ship soon followed him to the watery depths. He then tied himself to an anchor and jumped in the ocean disappearing for all time. Perhaps this suggested location is merely a case in mistaken identity. Is this the hand and treasure of Jose Gaspar? This action helped turn opinion of Lafitte from villain to hero. We also participate in programs from eBay, CJ, Bluehost, Clickbank, ShareASale, and other sites. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. "We go after Juan Gomez because everything, all the treasures and everything we've come through, is tied to him. Leaving soon? "I'm considering it. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Jose Gaspar is not the only mythical pirate character that has. He wished to return to America to retrieve this treasure after Kidds execution but he never made it back. Another logical location said to hide this cache of valuables is in South Carolina. A few months ago, Gattuso found a Calusa bone tool that is now part of the Useppa Island museum's collection. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. 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. USEPPA ISLAND, Fla. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. When it comes to spring cleaning, its always nice to have a spare hand to help. From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . Whether he was his cabin boy, like it states in the story, or maybe he might have been Gasparilla himself because of all the treasure maps that we have found. Here are some Metal Detectors for you to start your quest. Shopping, Gift & Specialty Shops. Accept Read More. Gasparilla had decided to retire following the sale of Florida to the United States, and was dividing his treasure (valued at six times the purchase price of the entire state of Florida) between his crew. Just like most pirates, there is little known about his early life. Here is what we have been able to piece together about this controversial pirate. 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 . What he thought was a British cargo ship turned out to be the USS Enterprise, on a mission to end piracy. The story of the famed pirate may have been the tall tale of a U.S. naval officer. We're back to the hotel brochure. Just pick any island and start digging, because Gasparillas loot is buried on many of them, including Cayo Pelau. Lots of shells and jewelry and other gifts. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. Deleware holds one more possibility around Woodland Beach. Gasparilla seized her ship, and the hostages were brought to his hideout on Gasparilla 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. Some say it reveals compass bearings around Lettuce Lake. Legend states they marked a tree by driving a sword into it. His sister found a box in their grandfather's attic in Tampa, Fla., a few weeks ago while doing some spring cleaning. Despite his brutal reputation, Gasparilla was supposed to have a soft side as well. He subsequently set fire to all his buildings before sailing out to sea, never to be heard from again. The latter two locations being the most logical. All rights reserved. Find the treasure, report it, and go to jail for committing a 3rd Degree Felony. It is said that he buried a multitude of treasure along the Pamlico Sound and on Bluff Point. Hitting the scene in the early 1800s Billy Bowlegs Rogers was a pirate to be reckoned with. Lacking experience in seamanship, he and his crew of escaped slaves limited their raids to smaller ships and coastal villages but managed to amass a large amount of treasure, which was hidden in several caches on the . Jose Gaspar has come in handy for parades and celebrations. The story of Juan Gomez is also published in the Library of Congress. Lesser and Greater Antilles / Windward and Leeward Islands What is What? He enjoyed telling stories about his adventures on the high seas and a large amount of Gasparillas treasure that was never discovered. The ship contained $1,000,000 in assorted treasure, and should be there today. This tale doesnt give the Lopezes a helping hand in solving the mystery of the finds from their grandparents attic. We lived not far from Gasparella Island and Charlotte Harbour.where the legend supposedly ended. Michael Gattuso lends a hand to his wife Lauren as they dock on a wetland on the Peace River in Arcadia. On the Hawaiian island of Oahu there is said to be six chests buried along a stone wall somewhere around Kaena Point. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. Legend has it that Gasparilla spotted a huge ship sailing in the distance. May 4, 1904Gasparilla Pirate Festival / First event date. ", Pirate treasure in grandpa's attic includes human hand. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. For whatever reason, burial of chests laden with gold and jewels seems to be the norm, but is there any pirate treasure left? 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).