His men, who numbered in the hundreds, also buried their smaller caches on these islands. The treasure: Slave-turned-pirate Henri Caesar stole a ship in Haiti to seek his fortune on the Spanish Main and Florida waters. By booking through these links, the small commission we earn helps us bring you more Caribbean content so that you can save money and have a better island vacation. May 4, 1904Gasparilla Pirate Festival / First event date. Other possible locations of Kidds treasure include Maryland in Druid Park, and Money Island off the coast of Connecticut is also claimed to be used by Kidd. The treasure on Money Island is said to hidden in the crevice of a large rock that is only visible during low tide. The legend of Gaspar began making its way into other writings after that, without any other historical evidence to back it up. 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. 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. I have never found any real evidence he lived. Another instance of his softer side can be found in the account of Ann Jeffries, an English girl traveling from New Orleans to Liverpool. 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. He was wanted until 1815 when opinion of him changed. 6 reviews of Jose Gaspar Treasure "This sweet little shell shop is nestled in along A1A and the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. He supposedly buried 3 chests under a palm tree somewhere in the vicinity. 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. 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 does not store any personal data. 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 . Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gaspar, Sachs, S, 2022. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". There are a few theories as to the location of a hidden treasure by Lafitte in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. 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. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesnt believe that the legendary figure was even real. link to A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. Jos Gaspar. Not being able to pass up this giant score, he pursed the ship that was flying a British flag. From a four-mile long parade of pirates and period memorabilia on display, to specialty packages and a waterfront half . He found a hillside where he buried 2 pirate chests filled with valuable metals and jewels. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. again not sure of the thought process of choosing a tree as a landmark for millions of dollars in treasure, but that is how the story goes. 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. A Net Inceptions project. One of his ships has been discovered in the waters off of North Carolina and definitely proven to belong to Blackbeard. Jose Gaspar (aka: Gasparilla) was a quasi-mythical Spanish pirate who roamed the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. He did what all retired people do in Florida he fell ill one day and died. Whilst swimming in Key West, he and a team of specialists find a huge anchor that may have been from Gaspar's vessel. Crystal and I greatly appreciate any support! Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. It's located on the north side of town, next door to the Turtle Shack cafe. Who created the man who is now a legend? Ye be walkin the plank if ye so think. Plundering the high seas and ports alike resulted in vast riches for some of these ruthless criminals. This state also holds another possible location on the banks of Blackbird Creek. ", "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. This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. However, perhaps the most famous story of Gaspar concerns his death. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. 11 The Cuerdale Treasures- $2.6 Million. His death seems to come straight from Hollywood. What date is Gasparilla 2021? Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia: Politician: Capricon: 06 January 1766 AD . From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . With his crew of cut-throat mercenaries, the last of the buccaneers terrorized shipping in the Gulf of Mexico for years, striking from his secret Florida base. This is the spot for all of your seaside decorating needs. Professional blogger, rum judge, consultant, marketer, and consumer of blue water beauty. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. We have seven maps.". 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. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. "We go after Juan Gomez because everything, all the treasures and everything we've come through, is tied to him. This happened in the year 1782. Caesar was forced to push his pirate pack north to the Gulf of Mexico. 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. 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. Some more information on the cruise of the USS, I did not find a reference to Gaspar in Gardner Allen's, I was always Told Jose Gaspar, was also known as Juan Gomez. Some say that as this disguised ship was sailing by, the aging pirate and his crew were in the process of dividing up the spoils as an act of retirement. In or around 1806 the brothers arrived in New Orleans Louisiana and were licensed privateers operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Just a salty pirate looking to explore and document the wonders of the Caribbean. The story states that Rogers discovered these lost tunnels and used them to store his treasure. It was done for tourism purposes," Gattuso said. He continued the diving operation, but while they were working, his wife came down with a fever and died. Top Image: Real pirate or later fiction? Or at least thats what Florida folklore would have you believe. Who was this figure, and what was he supposed to have done? On the Hawaiian island of Oahu there is said to be six chests buried along a stone wall somewhere around Kaena Point. 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. 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. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. We" more 2. Galleon of Gold. These stories and locations presented are based on our research but should be taken with some skepticism. 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. Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence appears in writing before the early 20th century. He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. Sign up for our WTFF Newsletter to get weird Florida news delivered straight to your email: WTFF News: Because regular news is depressing. Gasparilla seized her ship, and the hostages were brought to his hideout on Gasparilla Island. . What Became of Anne Bonny, Irish Pirate of the Caribbean? But, now? "Possibly keep it forever. Here Lafitte had a very fair treasure distribution policy that everyone seemed to like. What he thought was a British cargo ship turned out to be the USS Enterprise, on a mission to end piracy. Another report states that he hid several chests in a small river somewhere in the vicinity of the Bay. Pricing is not too high. 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. Most of the suspected locations are in and around the state of Florida. Dodge and Hardee get credit for creating Gasparilla, and Hardee and the krewe more so for crafting Gaspar's backstory (including giving him the first name Jose and a death date of 1821). 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/.