The Lost Colony of Roanoke - settlement and disappearance
Summary
TLDRThe script recounts the ill-fated expedition to the New World, where Sir Walter Raleigh and John White attempted to establish a civilian colony on Roanoke Island. Despite initial hopes, the colony faced hostility from local Native Americans, leading to a colonist's murder and the eventual abandonment of the settlement. John White's return to England for supplies was thwarted by the Spanish Armada, leaving the colony isolated. His subsequent return to Roanoke in 1590 found only the word 'Croatoan' carved into a tree, with the colony's fate remaining a mystery. Evidence suggests the colonists may have integrated with local tribes or moved inland, highlighting the impact of small historical events on larger outcomes.
Takeaways
- ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Sir Walter Raleigh and John White decided to send civilians, including families, to establish a settlement in the New World instead of soldiers.
- ๐ข The colonists were supposed to sail to the Chesapeake Bay but were forced to stay at Roanoke Island due to unfavorable weather conditions.
- ๐ค The colonists hoped to live in peace with the Secotans, a Native American tribe, but tensions arose, leading to the murder of an English colonist.
- ๐ Weather and a silver cup incident were significant factors that hindered the success of the Roanoke Colony.
- ๐ณ John White, who had become the governor of the colony, had to return to England for supplies but was delayed by the Spanish Armada.
- ๐ก Upon his return to Roanoke in 1590, White found the colony abandoned with only the word 'Croatoan' carved into a tree as a clue.
- ๐ค The fate of the 'Lost Colony of Roanoke' remains a mystery, but there are theories and evidence suggesting possible outcomes.
- ๐ Archaeological findings, such as English Border ware near Merry Hill, North Carolina, provide clues that some colonists may have lived there.
- ๐ฅ Signals of fires along the coast and later accounts of English coins among Native Americans suggest intermarriage and integration with the Croatoans.
- ๐ฃ๏ธ John Smith of the Jamestown Colony learned of white people living peacefully among Native Americans until a massacre by the Powhatans.
- ๐ถ The colonists included John White's own family, adding a personal and emotional aspect to the story of the Lost Colony.
Q & A
What was the purpose of Sir Walter Raleigh and John White's third expedition to the New World?
-The purpose was to establish a colony and settlement in the New World by sending civilians, including families, as opposed to just soldiers.
Why did the English colonists choose to send families to the New World instead of soldiers?
-They believed that civilians would be better suited for establishing a long-term settlement and would foster a more peaceful coexistence with the native populations.
What was the original plan for the location of the new English settlement?
-The original plan was to sail to the Chesapeake Bay, but due to unfavorable weather conditions, they were unable to go farther than Roanoke Island.
Why did the Native Americans, specifically the Secotans, become distrustful of the English colonists?
-The Secotans became distrustful after an English colonist was murdered, possibly by a Secotan, due to tensions over food scarcity and the English colonists' intention to stay permanently.
What was the significance of the silver cup in the narrative of the Roanoke Colony?
-The silver cup represents a potential point of conflict between the English colonists and the Native Americans, possibly over its theft, which could have led to a more violent relationship.
Why was John White unable to return to the New World immediately after leaving the Roanoke Colony?
-John White was unable to return immediately because all English shipping was cut off due to the threat of the Spanish Armada, preventing any ships from being sent to aid the colonists.
What did John White find upon his return to Roanoke Island in 1590?
-Upon his return, John White found the settlement completely abandoned with the word 'Croatoan' carved into a tree, indicating that the colonists may have joined or moved towards the Croatoan tribe.
Why was John White unable to visit the Croatoan tribe to find out what happened to the colonists?
-Another storm hit, forcing John White to leave Roanoke Island and return to England without being able to visit the Croatoan tribe or find his family and the other colonists.
What evidence suggests that some of the Roanoke colonists may have intermarried with the Croatoans?
-Evidence includes fires seen along the coast by John White, which could have been signals from the colonists, and later accounts of people in the region claiming to have white ancestors with English coins.
What is the archaeological evidence suggesting that some of the Roanoke colonists may have lived in Merry Hill, North Carolina?
-An archaeological dig in Merry Hill found English Border ware, which was only made during the time period before the colonists left, indicating that some of them likely lived in that area.
How does the story of the Lost Colony at Roanoke highlight the impact of small historical events on larger outcomes?
-The story shows that even minor events, such as the theft of a silver cup, can escalate tensions and lead to significant historical consequences, potentially altering the course of colonization in the New World.
Outlines
๐ฐ The Lost Colony of Roanoke: A New World Endeavor
This paragraph discusses the final expedition to the New World led by Sir Walter Raleigh and John White, who decided to send civilians instead of soldiers to establish a colony. They dispatched 90 men, 20 women, and 10 children to start a settlement, hoping to avoid conflict with the Native Americans and establish a base in the Chesapeake Bay. However, due to unfavorable weather, they were forced to remain on Roanoke Island. Tensions arose when an English colonist was murdered, leading to a breakdown in relations with the Secotans. John White was sent back to England for supplies but was delayed by the Spanish Armada, leaving the colony isolated and vulnerable.
๐ณ The Fate of the Roanoke Colony: Speculations and Evidence
The second paragraph delves into the mystery of the Lost Colony at Roanoke. It recounts John White's return to find the colony abandoned, with only the word 'Croatoan' carved into a tree as a clue. The paragraph explores various theories about what might have happened to the colonists, including the possibility that some joined the Croatoans, others moved inland to Merry Hill, and some went north. Evidence from fires along the coast, English coins found among Native Americans, and the discovery of English Border ware in an archaeological dig suggests that the colonists may have intermarried with local tribes and lived among them until they were eventually attacked by the Powhatans. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the importance of small events in history and the impact of choices on historical outcomes.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กNew World
๐กSir Walter Raleigh
๐กRoanoke Island
๐กSecotans
๐กChesapeake Bay
๐กJohn White
๐กSpanish Armada
๐กCroatoan
๐กPowhatans
๐กEnglish Border ware
๐กLost Colony
Highlights
The final expedition to the New World involved a shift in strategy, opting to send civilians and families instead of soldiers.
The settlers were tasked with establishing a colony and settlement in the New World, with the aim of creating more than just a trading post.
The initial location for the colony was problematic, situated next to Native Americans who were hostile towards the settlers.
Plans to move the colony to the Chesapeake Bay were thwarted by unfavorable weather conditions, forcing the settlers to remain on Roanoke Island.
The settlers' arrival was marred by the murder of one of their own by a likely Secotan individual, signaling a tense relationship with the Native Americans.
The settlers' lack of trustworthiness was evident to the Native Americans, who saw them as potential threats to their resources.
The tragic diplomacy and ultimatum movements between the settlers and the Native Americans could have had different outcomes.
Weather conditions and the loss of a silver cup were critical factors that hindered the success of the Roanoke Colony.
Governor John White, also an illustrator and the only remaining member of Raleigh's original group, was sent back to England for supplies.
John White's personal connection to the colony was profound, as some of the settlers were his own children.
The Spanish Armada's threat to England resulted in a blockade that prevented any ships from reaching the New World to aid the settlers.
Upon John White's return to Roanoke in 1590, he found the colony completely abandoned with only the word 'Croatoan' carved into a tree.
The agreement between the settlers and the Native Americans to leave signs of their relocation was a strategic move to ensure potential reunion.
John White's forced departure due to a storm left him without answers about the fate of his family and the other colonists.
Archaeological evidence and historical accounts suggest that some colonists may have intermarried with the Croatoans and lived among them.
The possibility of other settlers moving further inland to Merry Hill, North Carolina, is supported by the discovery of English Border ware.
John Smith's encounter with Native Americans who claimed to have had white ancestors and English coins adds to the theory of intermarriage.
The tragic end of some settlers living peacefully among the Native Americans until their massacre by the Powhatans is a grim reminder of the colony's fate.
The historical significance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke lies in the insights it provides into the potential outcomes of historical events and the choices made by individuals.
Transcripts
- [Kim] So that takes us to our third
and what will be final expedition to the New World.
- [Man] And this is where the spooky part comes in.
- [Kim] This is where the spooky part comes in.
Sir Walter Raleigh and John White
realized that a whole group of soldiers was probably
not the right group to send to the New World.
Instead he thinks, alright, this is what we're gonna do.
We're gonna send civilians.
- [Man] Okay.
- [Kim] We're gonna send families.
So they send about 90 men,
about 20 women, and maybe about 10 children.
And say okay, you are going to start a colony
and a settlement in the New World.
So it's not just a trading post.
- [Man] Yo, but back up, like still on Roanoke Island
next to the Native Americans
that hate them? (laughing)
Is that where they're still putting the colony?
- [Kim] Well, they were really hoping
since they've discovered that this is a terrible place
to sail--
- [Man] Uh huh?
- [Kim] That they can actually head up
to the Chesapeake Bay
and make that their place of operations.
- [Man] Why not just make landfall there?
- [Kim] Well, they usually started
by going from England all the way down to Bahamas.
- [Man] Mm hmm.
- [Kim] Where they could refuel.
So this was an area where they already had power.
So instead of going to the unknown land first,
they would go down to the West Indies, meet up,
- [Man] Get fresh water, get food.
- [Kim] Get fresh water and supplies and then come up
to Virginia, AKA North Carolina.
Unfortunately, as the weather worked out,
they couldn't make it farther than Roanoke Island.
- [Man] Oh.
- [Kim] So they are hanging out
with what they hope are their friends, the Secotans,
and right after they get there
one of the English colonists is murdered
by probably a Secotan person,
and it's because they say to their translators,
we don't have enough food, you're gonna steal more food
and we just can't have you here.
It's obvious that they brought women and children,
they're intending to stay,
and the Native Americans have decided
that the English are not to be trusted.
- [Man] So this is just a whole series
of tragic diplomacy by ultimatum movements, right?
- [Kim] Yeah, it's really interesting
because I think there are a couple of places here
where things might have gone very differently.
- [Man] You can see the inflection points
if both sides decided not to play hardball
with each other so much.
- [Kim] Yeah, I think there are so many places here
where ships get lost or they get grounded
on the shoals outside North Carolina
so they can't get more supplies.
Or later storms will prevent reinforcements.
Weather and a silver cup are kind of the things
that keep the Roanoke Colony from succeeding.
So right away after this new group of colonists arrives,
one of them is murdered
and so they ask their governor, John White,
to go back to England and get them more supplies.
- [Man] John White, the illustrator
who made these images on the right.
- [Kim] And he's now governor.
- [Man] Okay.
- [Kim] He's the only one of the original Raleigh's 11
who's still part of this venture.
So he's now moved up in the ranks.
So John White sails back to England,
and then he runs into a big problem, the Spanish, basically.
He wanted to get supplies.
Some of these colonists, including the Dares,
are actually John White's children.
- [Man] Oh, snap.
- [Kim] So this is his actual family that's here
that he's trying to protect.
So he goes back to England and he says,
Sir Walter Raleigh, I need more reinforcements.
But all English shipping is cut off
because of the threat of the Spanish.
The Spanish Armada is coming to England at this time period
and so not a single ship can be spared
to go try to bail out these colonists in the New World.
- [Man] Oh, wow.
So they're alone and entirely isolated
on this new continent among people that do not like them
because of stuff that people before them did.
- [Kim] Exactly, yeah, that's about the size of it.
So it's like 1588
when John White sails back to England
and because of the Spanish Armada it's not until 1590
that he can finally get back
and try to find these colonists including his family.
- [Man] Right.
- [Kim] When he gets there this is all he finds,
the word, Croatoan, carved into a tree.
- [Man] What do you mean all he found?
What happened to their town?
- [Kim] It was completely abandoned.
- [Man] Whoa.
- [Kim] So it looks as if they'd left of their own volition.
- Okay. - Because it doesn't look
like there was an attack there.
And they had agreed beforehand
that if they decided to go somewhere else,
remember, they already knew that they were
in unwelcome territory,
so they thought maybe they'd go farther inland,
they would leave traces,
they would carve something in a tree
to say where they had gone.
Unfortunately, another storm hit,
and so John White was forced to leave
and go back to England without ever going
to see the Croatoans, this other Native American tribe,
along with their town called, Croatoan,
to see where the rest of his family
and the rest of the colonists were.
- [Man] Did he ever return in his lifetime?
- [Kim] No he did not.
- [Man] Oh, that's heartbreaking.
- [Kim] So he never found out what happened to his family,
and technically we never found out what happened
to the Lost Colony at Roanoke,
but there's some pretty good evidence
about what might have happened to them.
- [Man] Tell it to me, Kim.
- [Kim] Alright, so here's what we think may have happened.
So there are about 130 people, right?
- [Man] Right.
- [Kim] Assuming that none of them died from disease.
- [Man] That's a charitable assumption.
- [Kim] Yeah.
Not all of them could have gone to see
and live with the Croatoans.
- [Man] Okay.
- [Kim] Right, because they were
a much smaller tribe than that.
So they could never have been all supported by these people.
What we think happened is that some of them went
to live with the Croatoans who are along the coast.
So if John White comes back
then they can connect up with him again.
So that's what we think happened to some of them.
We also think that some of them went further inland
to a more stable environment
around what is maybe called, Merry Hill.
So about 15,
oh sorry, about 50 miles inland from Roanoke Island.
- [Man] Okay.
- [Kim] Today Merry Hill, North Carolina.
And we think some of them may have gone north.
So here's the evidence about these various things.
- [Man] How do we know that these colonists went there?
- [Kim] So when John White was sailing to Roanoke
he saw big fires along the coast where the Croatoans lived.
So we think the English may have been there
trying to signal them, but he went straight to Roanoke,
and then because of his troubles with his ship
had to go back to England.
So there's strong evidence there.
Also, later an Englishman heard a legend
from the people who lived in that region
that some of their ancestors had been White people,
and they had English coins.
So I think it's probably safe to say
that some of them did actually intermarry with Croatoans
and lived there for most of the rest of their lives.
The ones who went north
we know about because John Smith,
the captain of the Jamestown Colony in 1607,
met up with some Native Americans who told him
that there had been White people living in the area
who had lived peacefully among the Native Americans
until just recently when they were massacred
by the Powhatans.
Powhatan was the father of Pocahontas, right?
So there's some overlap here.
- [Man] So he was trying to get the lay of the land,
how the local people felt about the English,
and the intelligence that he got was,
oh, everyone's cool with the English
except for the people that you're living right next to.
- [Kim] (laughs) I think it was probably intended, yeah,
to be maybe a warning.
- [Man] Yeah.
- [Kim] We think what might actually have happened
was that the people from Roanoke had intermarried
with another Native American tribe
and had become kind of indistinguishable from them,
and then the Powhatans, who were kind of a larger empire,
actually attacked them.
So they were killed off in a raid
against other Native American groups.
- [Man] I see.
- [Kim] And the last thing that we think
that they probably went inland
is from a recent archaeological dig
which has discovered, it's called English Border ware.
- [Man] Okay.
- [Kim] In this town near Merry Hill, North Carolina,
and it was only made in this time period
before these English colonists left.
So we know it has to have dated before
1588. - [Man] 90 or so, okay.
- [Kim] Yeah, so it's highly likely that at least some
of those people had been living in this area
because we have an archaeological record of them.
- [Man] That's so cool.
- [Kim] What I think is really interesting about this
is we actually know a lot more about this
than I think popular legend says that we do.
- [Man] Yeah, I always thought
that the Lost Colony at Roanoke
was one of those unsolvable secrets of history.
- [Kim] I think it tells us a lot
about the historical process.
In some ways we know a lot about this.
In other ways we don't know much at all.
There are some things in history
that we don't have records about, and perhaps never will.
But if I had to say that there's one thing
that's really haunting about this Colony at Roanoke
is just how different things might have been
had they chosen to be friendly
about the theft of a silver cup,
that may or may not have happened,
rather than angry and violent.
We could be talking about the Colony of Roanoke
as the very first successful English Colony
in the New World.
- [Man] You and I could have been speaking
an Algonquian-English dialect right now.
- [Kim] Quite possibly.
So it shows us just how important
even the smallest events in history can be
to the way that things turn out,
and how much people's choices really do matter.
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