There are a few theories as to the location of a hidden treasure by Lafitte in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Who created the man who is now a legend? They then buried the chests in numerous places along the river and its tributaries and swamps. (386) 439-3061. Treasure Unknown is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 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. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate: With Josh Gates, Shamus Warren, Rodney Kite-Powell, Michael Gattuso. From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . Mysterious box containing a map, coins and a mummified hand found in Tampa Bay attic. Source of the stories which became inspiration for the legend of Jose Gaspar. 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. Was there really a pirate named Jose Gaspar? Once again our legend states that he hid 3 large chests among a group of trees on San Jose Island. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. "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. The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. If we find that buried treasure together, we can split the booty among all of our readers and we never have to work again. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He successfully captured a few ships during his years long voyage. They will be focused on the Florida coastline, right in my back yard. Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. 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. I'm Clint, the guy behind Treasureunknown. There's really no way to know which is the case," Maria wrote, in an email to WTSP-TV. 1. 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. Or they were always togahter. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. A Tampa, Florida family going through their grandparent's attic made an interesting discovery: a treasure map, some coins, and an old human hand! 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. This action helped turn opinion of Lafitte from villain to hero. Not much is known of his early life before his pirating career. Other than news articles, the first story ever published in print about the Story of Gasparilla was commissioned by the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad. In all, he buried 13 casks and chests of treasure in the vicinity of his headquarters. When Gasparilla requested that they accompany him and his crew on a raid, the two young lovers assumed they would be slaughtered. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. With Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses, How We Became Mr. and Mrs. 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. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. Ill post one a week Treasure Tuesdaysthis that lame? The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. Seeing the writing on the wall, he decided to scuttle his own ship and hide with his crew in the forrest. Is this the hand and treasure of Jose Gaspar? The prices seem lower, but not my thing. Captured ladies were not raped and murdered, but instead had the option of marrying one of his crew members or being transferred to Captiva Island in Florida. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. We lived not far from Gasparella Island and Charlotte Harbour.where the legend supposedly ended. The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. Michael Gattuso lends a hand to his wife Lauren as they dock on a wetland on the Peace River in Arcadia. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. Save. For whatever reason, burial of chests laden with gold and jewels seems to be the norm, but is there any pirate treasure left? Much of his treasure was carried to him up the Peace River. 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. 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. 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. Jose Gaspar, the legendary buccaneer who inspired Tampas Gasparilla Pirate Festival, as well as fantastic tales of lost treasure, most likely never really existed. It does not store any personal data. He was sentenced to prison and eventually released. When he finally realized that it was a warship, it was too late. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. So that's why we believe that it was Juan Gomez. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Over and out from somewhere south, RumShopRyan. 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. 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. 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/. 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. It was done for tourism purposes," Gattuso said. (2) Most of the islands around Charlotte Harbor were named by the Cuban Spanish fishermen that lived there since the 1600's. 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. But they know long-lost treasures and artifacts are out there. 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. Youll read about many that are hidden and a few that were found, so it can happen. He supposedly buried large amounts of treasures on the islands around the bay. And she actually had maps, and she had stories that were passed down to the family about these treasures. A few months ago, Gattuso found a Calusa bone tool that is now part of the Useppa Island museum's collection. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. St. Vincent Island off the coast of Florida is said to have been an island frequented by early pirates. "Maria came across it and once she told me she found a hand in a box. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesnt believe that the legendary figure was even real. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. The allures of Jose Gaspar's mythical treasure and Tampa's giant pirate parade have pulled strongly on producers of reality television lately. This tale doesnt give the Lopezes a helping hand in solving the mystery of the finds from their grandparents attic. link to A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. Gaspar was a rebel from an aristocratic upbringing. Our knowledge of Jean and his brother Pierre begins in the early 1800s. 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. 3. So where did Blackbeard hide his treasures? There is not much known about his adventures in Florida but there is rumors of him hiding a large treasure around Choctawatchee Bay. 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. 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.