The Legend of Jose Gaspar. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The Severed Hand of Florida Pirate Jose Gaspar Found in Attic! 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. 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. The vessel was said to be transporting gold, silver and precious gems collected in the South . The men were executed but Gomez was to be the final survivor of this piratical outfit. Source of the stories which became inspiration for the legend of Jose Gaspar. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. The team searched the waters at low tide for a canon buried in the sand. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! Mysterious box containing a map, coins and a mummified hand found in Tampa Bay attic. While in Florida, Caesar palled up with Jose Gaspar, better known as "Gasparilla.". The poem, maps, comments from other searchers, and other guides to finding the treasure are online and easy to find. "I'm considering it. 2 chests are also rumored to be buried on Clarkes Island on the Connecticut River. After that, they searched his cabin and found a jar of gold coins and a small sheet of copper engraved with a code indicating the location of buried treasure. The prices seem lower, but not my thing. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. 6 reviews of Jose Gaspar Treasure "This sweet little shell shop is nestled in along A1A and the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. A treasure said to be worth $30 million. (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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In it, she introduced herself and wrote that her parents were. Tampa family finds 'pirate treasure' in attic including treasure map It is said that he buried a multitude of treasure along the Pamlico Sound and on Bluff Point. 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.' JOSE GASPAR: 15 years later, Telemundo is still the only Spanish 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. It's part of our family now.". Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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). Toward the end of his pirate career, Bowlegs was being pursued by an English warship. This story seems to border on the outer limits, but a local historian doesnt believe that the hand belongs to the famed pirate. Jos Gaspar. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. But, now? Decipher the code, and you might find some of Gaspars lost treasure but as fast as Florida changes, dont be surprised if you find a new shopping mall sitting square on top of it. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. " Mar 2021 We really enjoyed shopping here! Jos Gaspar. 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. Human hand found in Florida attic with coins, treasure map - ajc He confirmed that indeed the Lopezes have found a real human hand, but as for Gasparilla, that was a myth. Treasure hunting can be a fun and exciting activity. (PDF) The Real Pirate Billy Bowlegs: The Origins of the Billy Bowlegs Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. Ancient Viking treasures found in England actually seems to be a thing, as many of relative value have been found throughout the years. He spent nearly 30 years plundering ships in and around the gulf coast. Hitting the scene in the early 1800s Billy Bowlegs Rogers was a pirate to be reckoned with. Lopez wasn't a fan of pirates when he was growing up. Story continues below video. (3) The Spanish kept meticulous records and there is no mention of Gasparilla in the archives. Plundering the high seas and ports alike resulted in vast riches for some of these ruthless criminals. WFLA | What is Gasparilla? 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. Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. History Gattuso will keep them busy on Useppa and across Florida. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/ferret-iii.htm, Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story. This action helped turn opinion of Lafitte from villain to hero. 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. Gaspar's Lost Treasure - WTF Florida? 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. ", According to the railroad brochure, the "narrative was compiled by the writer from incidents told by John Gomez, better known as Panther Key John, a brother-in-law of Gasparilla and a member of his crew, who died at the age of 120 years, at Panther Key, Florida, 12 miles below Marco, in the year 1900; also from records left by John Gomez, Jr., the cabin-boy on Gasparilla's ship, who was kidnapped by Gasparilla and who witnessed the death of this pirate and all on board his vessel. He subsequently set fire to all his buildings before sailing out to sea, never to be heard from again. Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez. According to some versions of the story, Gaspar started as a troubled adolescent who kidnapped a little girl for ransom. There are also inherent dangers involved with any of these types of adventures. The team found a few nails, a beer can, and a screw during this hunt. Jos Gaspar - Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias 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). He eventually retired and settled down on Shell Creek near Lettuce Lake in DeSoto County, where he lived for many years. Rather than be captured by the United States Navy, he wrapped an anchor chain around his leg and jumped overboard, the heavy metal dragging him out of sight into the deep blue waters. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. Jose Gaspar - A Real Pirate? | TreasureNet The Original Treasure 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. During the final combat, the majority of Gasparillas crew was killed, but there were 12 survivors 11 men and a cabin boy called Juan Gomez. Is There Any Pirate Treasure Left? - treasure unknown Treasure on Sunken Spanish Galleon Could Be Biggest Ever - History 1. Treasure hunter Stacey Hunt holds an old nail found under the ground on a wetland believed to have lost treasure. Santa Rosa Island has been sort of a local hotspot for finding bags of gold and silver coins. 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! Jose Gaspar (aka: Gasparilla) was a quasi-mythical Spanish pirate who roamed the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Just . He then tied himself to an anchor and jumped in the ocean disappearing for all time. Pricing is not too high. 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. 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 . 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. And he's fueled a cottage industry of treasure-hunting books, guides and metal . In this time Spain controlled a huge swathe of the Americas and Gaspar grew rich.