Sir Walter Raleigh sent Arthur Barlowe across the Atlantic to find a site for a colony. He found Roanoke Island in July 1585. The soil was fertile; the AmerIndians, friendly.
Roanoke's Lost Colonies
Scientist Thomas Hariot and artist John White were two of the colonists. Hariot set up a science laboratory and White made detailed maps and drawings of the Indians and the environment. All seemed well, but major problems were to happen. The AmerIndians became angry because of the harsh tactics of colony commander Sir Ralph Lane and responded with hostility. Supply ships from England didn't arrive. Food became scarce. When Sir Francis Drake, on his way home from a voyage arrived at Roanoke Island in the summer of 1586.
When the supply ships arrived after Drake's departure, the crews found the deserted settlement. Sir Richard Grenville, commander of the fleet, left men behind. The AmerIndians attacked. The colonists fled and were never seen again.
In August 1587, over one hundred settlers, including women and children, went to Roanoke to establish a second colony. The AmerIndians were more hostile, but Manteo, a member of the Croatoan Tribe, was able to establish friendly relations with them and his tribe. Soon, Governor White's daughter, Eleanor, gave birth to a daughter, Virginia. John White, governor of this colony, returned to England to obtain more supplies. He intended to return to Roanoke, but the war between England and Spain delayed him. In August 1590, when White returned, he discovered the colony had vanished. Only the word "Croatoan" carved on a tree remained. It, most likely, was reference to the tribe of friendly Indians.
Roanoke's First Lost Colony
After English supply ships failed to reach Roanoke Island, the settlers returned to England and missed a supply ship arriving. Her crew discovered that the colony was deserted and left fifteen men at the location to wait for their return. They never did, so, finally, the men returned to England.
The remains of an old well thought to be from the 16th century were discovered in an area that indicated serious erosion on the northern end of Roanoke. National Park Service archaeologists’ ground-penetrating radar discovered rectangular-shaped objects buried beneath several feet of sand. There was no excavation. A 16th-century ax head was found in shallow water just off the northern end of the island. These created speculation that the village eroded away and is submerged. The problem is that any discoveries, most likely, won’t reveal what happened to the members of this lost colony.
Theories - Second Lost Colony of Roanoke
Governor White and his men tried to find the colony. Later, others tried to find the lost colony including Sir Francis Raleigh and Jamestown colonists without success, but there are theories.
- The most popular and prevailing theory is that the AmerIndians killed the colony members and disposed their bodies so none could be found. Question: Why would people take the time to do so?
- The colonists simply left. No documentation supports this.
- The colonists were victims of a disease or natural disaster. If so, there should be at least one body remaining.
- The one theory that makes sense is that the colonists lived with AmerIndians. Evidence: the Lumbee tribe is linguistically, related to Croatoan, the cryptic named imprinted on the tree. Reality is that NC teachers have children who are members of this tribe and the children have hazel or blue eye and English surnames.
Could Psychics Solve the Mystery of the Lost Colonies?
Applied psi is using psychic abilities in practical fields such as solving crimes and finding missing people. Psychic archaeology uses psychometry, reading a place or objects, and retrocognition, psychic knowledge of the past. Frederick Bligh-Bond successfully used a psychic to find two lost chapels. It's llikely that psychics could help solve Roanoke's mysteries.
Related articles:
Peter Hurkos Psychic Crime Solver, Psychic Criminology and Paranormal_Realm/117522 Glastonbury, Place of Legends and Psychic Archaeology
Source:
Strange Stories, Amazing Facts, Eds. not listed, (The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc., 1976)
Jill Stefko - I'd rather deal with the paranormal than human abnormal - having dealt extensively with both.
Join the Conversation