Popular Theories On The Lost Colony Of Roanoke

1280 Words6 Pages

Colony of Roanoke
The colony of Roanoke, the first English colony in America, remains as one of the greatest mysteries in history, after governor, John White, returned to the colony only to discover that the colonists and their homes had disappeared without hardly any trace as to where they had gone. Sir Walter Raleigh, founder of Roanoke, and Richard Hakluyt were the ones who pushed for the expedition to colonize in America. There were several expeditions to the land before the final settlement in 1587.
Beginning in 1584, Simon Ferdinando accompanied by Arthur Barlowe and Philip Armadas led an expedition from England to the coast of North Carolina and Virginia. Within this expedition Barlowe and Armadas claim the land "in the right of the …show more content…

The most popular theory being that the colonists of Roanoke left. After leaving Roanoke the colonists settled to Chesapeake Bay arriving in boats made of parts from their homes. This theory seems the most likely for the colonists would have to begin to make a new life for themselves during the three-year absence of their governor. Approximately 20 years after the colonists disappeared the infamous colony of Jamestown was established by John Smith near Chesapeake Bay where the colonists supposedly settled (Shadowlands). Another theory that ties into the Chesapeake Bay theory is that the colony of Roanoke is the Cedar Island that we know of today. The implication is descendants of the colony still there today (Stick).
One of the most famous theories is that the colonists were killed by the Native Americans. Theorists believe this to be true the leader of one of the Native American tribes was living within the same. The evidence that supports this theory is the dead body of one of the fifteen men who initially attempted to begin the colony of Roanoke. It is said that the body shows the work of Native Americans. Other evidence to prove this theory is the with Raleigh being absent from the colony for several years would give the Native Americans the time to take down the buildings