Hey, everyone. This week I wrap up the “mission persons” theme of Mystery Monday. Not to say I won’t revisit similar stories in the future, but next week I’m shifting gears since it’s October and the month of Halloween.
The disappearance of English settlers on Roanoke Island in 1590 is one of the oldest mysteries in America. Who were these people and what happened to them?
The Roanoke Colony, also known as the “Lost Colony” was the second attempt by Sir Walter Raleigh to establish the first permanent English settlement in North America.
English explorer Ralph Lane attempted a settlement in 1585. Due to lack of supplies and bad relations with local Native Americans, Lane decided to abandon the colony and return to England.
John White and his group of one-hundred-fifteen people arrived on Roanoke island in August 1587. Later that same year, he returned to England for supplies. But as he arrived in England, war broke out between England and Spain. Queen Elizabeth I called for every available ship to fight the Spanish Armada.
White returned to the Roanoke Colony in 1590. He had left behind his wife, daughter, and infant granddaughter (Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America).
He found no traces of the colony or its inhabitants. There were few clues as to what may have happened—one of them was the word “Croatoan” carved into a wooden post.
Over the centuries, investigations into the fate of the “Lost Colony” have continued without a conclusive answer. “Croatoan” was the name of an island south of Roanoke as well as the name of a Native American tribe.
Some speculate the colonists were killed or abducted by the tribe. Others think they may have tried to sail back to England and became lost at sea. Still others speculate they moved further inland and died at the hands of Spaniards who had marched northward from Florida. There is some speculation they merged with a friendly tribe.
Recent archeological digs haven’t produced enough evidence for a satisfactory answer, and their fate remains a mystery.
22 Responses
Sad tale, but I do love an unsolved mystery like this. Thanks for sharing, Joan. 🙂
It is sad. I’m like you, I love a good unsolved mystery!
I would be annoyed if my husband left and didn’t come back for three years! I like to think they were absorbed into a local tribe – has anyone tried DNA testing on Croatian descendants?
I believe there have been some efforts to do testing. Investigations are ongoing, so new evidence may turn up. Can’t imagine a husband doing that, but we live in a different day and age. Plus, he didn’t intend to be gone that long – just got caught up in a war.
It’s hard to imagine people going away for years at a time, but that happened frequently in history. I can’t imagine taking my wife an children to a new country with hostiles.
I cant imagine being left in such a place. Life was certainly different back then.
That’s definitely an intriguing mystery. And to go unsolved for so many years is almost unheard of with all the new technology. I wonder if the Croatoan tribe were Cannibals?
I wonder about the cannibalism. I don’t think I came across anything to indicate such. There is still research ongoing so if I find more I can post an update. With today’s technology it looks like this could be solved. Them again we can’t find a jumbo jet that disappeared five years ago.
Another fascinating story of disappearances, Joan. We may never know what happened but its great fodder for writers.
So true, Robbie. Especially those who write historical fiction.
This was mentioned in one of the American Horror Story seasons – can’t remember which. Such a mystery.
It is, Teri. After writing this, I subscribed to the History Channel vault. There’s a 90 minute show about Roanoke that I want to watch.
This disappearance has always intrigued me:)
Yes it’s one of the more perplexing mysteries in our country.
I can’t see the husband not searching far and wide. Surely, he would have gone to the village after them? I think they tried to go home (possibly with help from the natives) and capsized at sea.
Sad though. I feel bad for John White.
You know he had to be devastated and probably blamed himself. I think one theory is they tried to sail back to England.
Reblogged this on Loleta Abi Author & Book Blogger.
Thanks for sharing, Traci!
You’re welcome, Joan!
This is one of those mysteries that has the power to entrance people to this day. I read a fictionalized account last year about what may have happened (hostiles) that was fairly well done. It’s a legend I’ve always wanted to play with, creating my own account of what may have gone down.
It’s so strange and so sad. In some ways it reminds me of the mystery of the Mary Celeste, only on land.
I’ll bet that was an interesting read. I can see you writing about this legend! (Hint, hint. 😉 ) The Mary Celeste is another perplexing mystery.
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