The Lost Colony of Roanoke Remains an Unsolved Mystery

by Joseph Zheng, age 11

One cold winter in the late 1500s, an entire English colony disappeared from modern-day North Carolina, never to be seen again. The lost colony of Roanoke remains one of history’s biggest unsolved mysteries.

Sir Walter Raleigh was a wealthy man whom British Queen Elizabeth favored. He obtained her permission to seek land that was yet to be colonized by Europeans and gather resources. Raleigh wanted to obtain more treasure, wealth, and destroy enemy fleets.

Raleigh sent fleets of ships to scout the eastern coast of what is now the United States. During late April in 1584, he sent two fleets of scout ships that were led by Philip Amadas and Artur Barlowe. The fleets found islands that were full of timber and animals.

That is when they spotted Roanoke Island, a huge island just off the coast that was inhabited by an Algonquian indigenous tribe. After discovering Roanoke Island, Raleigh sent a large fleet containing five ships and about 600 soldiers and sailors led by Sir Richard Greenville. The fleet established a fort on Roanoke Island.

But soon after that, about 500 soldiers left the remaining people behind. Due to hostilities, disputes over food and a hurricane, the remaining group was forced to also leave Roanoke Island and sail back to England.

Lane debated with Raleigh over exploring a different island, one located in the Chesapeake Bay. They debated the advantages and resources of the two locations. Raleigh decided to send one last fleet back to Roanoke, this time led by John White.

White brought 118 men, women, and children including his family and friends on the expedition. Although the crew was supposed to head toward Chesapeake Bay, the master pilot instead dropped them off at Roanoke Island and refused to go further. After some time building up the colony, White and some his men decided to go to England for supplies. They left some men and most of women and children, including White's family, behind on Roanoke Island.

The journey was rough, and their return trip was delayed by three years. When the group did return, the island was deserted and the buildings were gone. While searching for clues about what happened, someone found words carved on two trees: “CRO” and “CROATOAN”. While the group wanted to explore more of the island, a huge storm forced them to head back.

There are some theories about the letters engraved on the trees: First, they were attacked by Powhatan warriors and taken hostage, and the letters were a message about the attack. Second, they were desperate and got on a boat to go to Croatoan, leaving a message for the group on where they went. Lastly, they made peace with the Croatoan people, and the letters were made to show the group of their alliance.

The lost colony of Roanoke remains one of history’s unsolved mysteries. Even today, archaeologists and historians don’t know what became of the colonists left behind on the island. What do you think happened?

[Sources: First Colony Foundation; East Carolina University]