The Lost Colony of Roanoke

In 1587, more than one hundred English men, women, and children established a settlement on Roanoke Island, off the coast of what is now North Carolina. Three years later, when ships returned with supplies, the colonists had vanished. No bodies, no signs of struggle, no explanation—only the word “CROATOAN” carved into a wooden post. The Lost Colony of Roanoke became America’s first and oldest unsolved mystery.

The Colony

The Roanoke colony was England’s second attempt to establish a permanent settlement in North America. The first attempt, in 1585, had failed when colonists abandoned the island and returned to England.

In 1587, a new group of colonists arrived under the leadership of John White. The group included families—unlike the previous all-male expeditions—suggesting a genuine attempt at permanent settlement. Among them were White’s daughter Eleanor and her husband Ananias Dare.

On August 18, 1587, Eleanor Dare gave birth to Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the Americas. Nine days later, John White sailed back to England to obtain supplies, leaving the colonists to establish their settlement.

The Delay

White intended to return quickly. Instead, war with Spain and the threat of the Spanish Armada prevented any ships from sailing to America. White was unable to return for three years.

When he finally reached Roanoke on August 18, 1590—his granddaughter’s third birthday—he found the settlement abandoned. The houses had been dismantled, suggesting a planned departure rather than a sudden attack. There were no bodies, no signs of violence, no messages except two cryptic carvings.

On a post at the entrance to the palisade was carved the word “CROATOAN.” On a nearby tree was carved “CRO.”

The Mystery

White had arranged a signal with the colonists: if they left in distress, they were to carve a Maltese cross. No cross was found. The “CROATOAN” carving seemed to indicate that the colonists had moved to Croatoan Island (now Hatteras Island), home to a friendly Native American tribe of the same name.

Bad weather prevented White from sailing to Croatoan Island to search for the colonists. His ship returned to England. He never saw America again, and he never learned the fate of his daughter, son-in-law, or granddaughter.

Theories

For over four centuries, researchers have proposed explanations for the Lost Colony’s disappearance.

The most straightforward theory is that the colonists relocated to Croatoan Island or the mainland and integrated with local Native American tribes. Some historians believe the colonists may have scattered to multiple locations. Archaeological evidence and oral traditions among certain Native American groups have provided tantalizing but inconclusive hints.

A darker possibility is that the colonists were killed—by Native Americans, by Spanish forces from Florida, or by disease and starvation. However, the lack of bodies or signs of struggle makes mass death seem unlikely.

Some researchers have proposed that the colonists attempted to sail back to England on their own and were lost at sea. Others suggest they moved inland and were eventually absorbed into the Lumbee tribe, which has traditions of English ancestry.

Modern Research

Archaeological investigations continue to search for evidence of the colonists’ fate. In 2012, researchers examining a map drawn by John White found patches concealing what appeared to be a fort symbol about 50 miles inland. Excavations at this “Site X” have found European artifacts from the appropriate time period.

DNA testing has been used to search for descendants of the colonists among modern populations. Results have been suggestive but not conclusive.

The Lost Colony Foundation and other organizations continue to investigate, hoping that modern technology will finally solve a mystery that has endured for over 430 years.

Legacy

The Lost Colony has become embedded in American mythology. It has inspired countless books, plays, and theories. The outdoor drama “The Lost Colony,” performed on Roanoke Island since 1937, is the longest-running outdoor drama in America.

Virginia Dare became a symbol of Anglo-Saxon America, her image used (and misused) for various purposes over the centuries. The mystery of her fate—whether she died as a child, grew up among Native Americans, or met some other end—has never been resolved.

What happened to the colonists of Roanoke? The word “CROATOAN” may hold the answer, or it may be a final misdirection in a mystery that will never be solved. The Lost Colony remains lost.