FAMOUS BUCCANEERS
Buccaneer originally meant one who hunts wild cattle for barbecue purposes. Later the name meant a pirate who operated in the West Indies. Pirates operated in Florida and Caribbean waters from 1572-1910.
Jose Gaspar (Gasparilla), Florida’s most famous pirate was a handsome, educated Spaniard who had his headquarters at Gasparilla Island, Charlotte Harbor, a few miles from Fort Myers. Gasparilla’s exploits coincide with those of other famous pirates, Pierre and John LaFitte. Since the Golden Galleons Route from Veracruz brought dozens of treasure-laden ships only a few miles off of Charlotte Harbor, Gasparilla found easy targets. He utilized much smaller and faster "caravelle" style of vessels, allowing him to escape into the shallow waters of Charlotte Harbor. Larger vessels chasing him simply ended up stranded on sandbars. A neighboring small island in Charlotte Harbor, named Cayo Pelau, was home to his pirate friends and the last "Pirate Congress" was held here in the early 1800’s. So that visiting pirates could identify the island, Gasparilla’s slaves covered the beach with white Horse Conch shells. Today, remnants of this shell beach can still be seen. Gasparilla reportedly buried several treasures on Charlotte Harbor Island, choosing ancient Indian burial or midden mounds. At Buccaneer Estates, Jose Gaspar Drive, was named after this famous Buccaneer.