1587: The Lost Colony

Other Voyages

• 1584: The First English Voyage
• 1585: The Military Colony
• 1590 Rescue Voyage

"...we all of one mind, and consent, have most earnestly entreated, and incessantly requested John White, Governor of the planters in Virginia, to pass into England, for the better and more assured help..." - Roanoke colonists to John White (August, 1587)

 

Artist's rendition of the baptism of Virginia Dare, the first English-born child in the Americas

John Clark Ridpath, "Baptism of Virginia Dare," 1893. Colorized illustration. Library of Congress.

The 1587 voyage to Roanoke, consisting of 118 men, women, and children, faced a difficult task. Investors began withdrawing support for future colonies after the failure of the 1585 voyage. Combined with the lack of precious metals, many believed a colony was not worth the risk. Sir Walter Raleigh still supported the idea of an English foothold in the New World. The colonization attempt had already cost 30,000 pounds, a steep sum in the 1580s. Despite the difficulties, in April of 1587, the new group of colonists began their journey for Sir Walter Raleigh.

Led by John White, the colonists intended to make a new colony in the Chesapeake Bay. They also planned to stop along the journey at Roanoke Island to find soldiers who had been left behind. The colonists arrived at Roanoke in July hoping to pick up the soldiers at the fort. John White and some of his assistants land on Roanoke Island looking for the soldiers, but fail to find them. They promptly returned to their ships on the coast, planning to head to their final destination.

However, the fleet’s captain, Simon Fernandes, refused to take the colonists farther up the coast. He argued it was too late in the year to continue and the colonists must stay at Roanoke Island. The colonists began rebuilding the fortification and buildings left by the 1585 expedition. By the end of July, they had made substantial progress. John White believed he could move the colonists north to the Chesapeake before winter.

Once again, the tenuous relationship between the English and the Algonquian broke down. Shortly after the colonists’ arrival, Native people ambushed and killed a colonist name George Howe. The colonists found him with arrow wounds and believed the Roanoke tribe had attacked him. In retaliation, White and his men attacked what they thought were Roanoke people on the mainland. Instead, they attacked friendly Croatoan people. The attack was only stopped by Manteo, a Croatoan man working with the colonists. Manteo had learned English and worked with the colonists on Roanoke Island.

The one bright spot for White and the colonists was the birth of Virginia Dare, and another unnamed child to the Harvie family. Their births gave hope that the colonists could grow the colony and survive in this new land.

The threat of Algonquian attack, the lack of reliable food sources, and the approaching winter stressed the colonists. They decided to send White to England for more settlers and supplies. White left for England in late-August, having only been on Roanoke for slightly over a month. Before leaving, the remaining colonists split into two groups. One group would stay on Roanoke Island through the winter. Another would go inland to find a better location and more potential supplies. Also, they would leave a message telling John White their new location if they all left Roanoke Island.

John White arrived in England on November 8, 1587, and immediately reported to Sir Walter Raleigh. But setbacks meant that he was unable to return to Roanoke Island until 1590.