Roanoke Colony

In 1584 Sir Walter Raleigh had was granted a patent by Queen Elizabeth I to colonize America.

The first British Colony of Roanoke, originally consisted of 100 householders, was founded in 1585. In July, 108 men went on shore at Roanoke Island. Their leader like guy was Sir Walter Raleigh. They built a fort and houses, planted crops, and looked for gold. Around a year later hurricanes and Indians forced them to go back to England. Also the survivors began starving because the Indians had stopped giving them food. This first colony of Roanoke lasted a total of 10 months.

Two years from the first attempt in 1587, John White led 118 colonists to Roanoke. John White, had an idea to get people to go to Roanoke Island. It was to attract settlers who would bring their families with them and invest in the colony. Each settler would receive 500 acres of land and some view in the government of the colony.

In the spring of 1587, they set sail. When they got there they started repairing the old fort and the houses. It was clear that White would have to go back and get more supplies in order for the colony to survive the winter. So several weeks later he went back to England. He got delayed when coming back because all the marine sailors and ships were needed to defeat the Spanish Armada.

When he returned in 1591, all he found was Roanoke deserted and "CROATOAN" carved on a tree.

Roanoke's so-called "Lost Colony" of 90 men, 17 women, and 9 children were discovered to be missing. Although both the English and Spanish searched for clues to the colony's disappearance for many years, the mystery has never been solved. Some people believe they were killed by Indians or Spanish troops in Florida. Others believe that the went, peacefully or by force, with the Indians to the nearby Croatoan Island. White thought they went to Croatoan Island also!