Essay On The Disappearance Of Roanoke Colonis

A mystery that has perplexed the world for centuries is the peculiar disappearance of the Roanoke Colonists. Countless investigations and extensive research have been done to gather more information in order to figure out what happened to these people. To this day, no one is certain of their fate. There are multiple theories that explain what possibly happened. Theories of what caused the disappearance of the Roanoke Colonists include: the colonists moved to a different location, Native American tribes took in the colonists, or the colony was attacked and the colonists failed to defend themselves.

This mystery all began in 1584 when English explorers decided Roanoke Island was the ideal place to set up a permanent colony in America (Farquhar).

England wanted to establish this settlement to compete with other countries in the race to colonize the new world; they especially wanted to compete with Spain who already had colonized parts of Florida (Farquhar).

By 1586, two attempts of colonization had failed, partially because of the location of the island (Basu). Roanoke Island is located just off the coast of present-day North Carolina; surrounded by a raging sea and by Native Americans, who did not want people invading their land (Farquhar). The third and final mission to colonize Roanoke Island was in 1587 (Lawler). A group of 115 English men, women, and children voyaged to Roanoke Island (Lawler). This group was led by John White, who was an English cartographer and explorer (Britannica). With the intention of living here for the rest of their lives, the colonists constructed forts and other things necessary to civilization (Lawler). A few months after the colonists arrived in America, John White left with the intention to go back to England to gather more supplies and return

to Roanoke promptly (History.com Staff). Unfortunately, White’s journey back to Roanoke was delayed for three years because of the naval war between England and Spain that was occurring (“America’s Lost…). White returned to Roanoke on August 18, 1590, only to find the island deserted (“Roanoke Colony…”). All signs of civilization had completely vanished, except the word “CROATOAN” that was carved into a tree and the letters “C-R-O” that were engraved into a post (Basu). This mysterious situation has captivated people all over the world, and has made all wonder: what happened to the Roanoke Colonists?
One theory that serves as an explanation of the disappearance is that the settlers were failing to thrive in Roanoke, so they decided to move to a different location. Researchers believe that the colonists may have sailed fifty miles south to live on Croatoan Island, which is now called Hatteras Island (Basu). This is sensible because the word “CROATOAN” was carved into the tree on Roanoke Island. The colonists may have carved that into the tree as a clue for John White to come find them when he returned from England. Another area the colonists might have moved to is near present-day Bertie County, North Carolina (“Site X.”). On a map created by John White, there is a red-and-blue symbol located fifty miles inland, indicating that White told the colonists to move to this area if they could no longer survive on Roanoke (Basu). The symbol was not found on this map until 2012, due to the fact that it was hidden under a patch (“Site X.”). Immediately after it was discovered, archeologists began to dig at this site, which is now known as Site X. English style pottery from the 16th century has been found at Site X, making it highly probable that at least some of the colonists resided in this area (“Site X.”). If the colonists purposely moved to some other place, they likely dismantled their settlement and took all their stuff with them; this would explain why the island was completely empty when John White returned. No matter where the colonists could have moved, they likely had a very good reason to leave Roanoke Island.
Inhospitable weather conditions could have been a contributing factor that caused the colonists to leave Roanoke Island.

Evidence from tree-ring data shows that extreme droughts occurred in this region during the late 1500’s (Stevens). During this drought, it would have been nearly impossible to plant crops to establish a food source. Other food sources, such as wild berries already growing on the island, were sparse. Freshwater sources were already limited on the island and could have completely evaporated because of the drought. Moving away from Roanoke Island would not have allowed the colonists to escape the drought, but they could have moved to an area with better food and water sources. Poor resources also could have caused the colonists to reach out to Native American tribes for

help.
Another theory of the disappearance involves the colonists adapting to the Native American way of life. Without their leader, John White, the colonists might have felt lost when it came to dealing with issues caused by the unfamiliar land. For example, the colonists might have experienced diseases in America that they were never exposed to in England. A rational solution to this problem would be to ask the Native Americans for their assistance. Eventually, the colonists might have been absorbed into various tribes to increase their chance of survival (“Roanoke Colony…”). One of the local Native American tribes was called the Croatoan (“Roanoke Colony…”). If the English combined into this tribe, it would explain why “CROATOAN” was engraved into the tree on Roanoke Island. The Native Americans would have wanted to make good use of all resources available, so the colonists would have brought all of their belongings with them if they joined into a tribe, which could explains why nothing was on the island when John White returned.
As the leader of the expedition and the only member of the colonists that was somewhat familiar with the land, John White left the colonists in the dark when he went back to England. The drought, disease, and all other new things the colonists faced in America was without leadership. The colony was doomed without guidance, and they were essentially forced to get outside help from the Native Americans. Assimilating with the Native Americans would have been extremely beneficial for the colonists. Even though the Native Americans could have helped the colonists, they also could have been the main reason for the colony’s downfall.
The final theory is that the colony’s downfall was caused by a raid. In the event of an attack, the colonists were probably not capable of defending themselves. Some Native American tribes in this area were very hostile towards the English people (Basu). A particular tribe, the Secotan, was responsible for driving a previous group of English explorers back to England (Basu). The Native Americans might have found out that the Roanoke Colonists were trying to set up a permanent settlement, and wanted to get rid of the English people once and for all. The Native Americans were afraid the English would steal their food, land, and other resources, which were already sparse during this time because of the drought. After defeating the colonists, the Native Americans could have looted the island, which would explain why all of the buildings were torn down and all signs of civilization were gone. The colonists also could have been attacked by the Spanish troops, which is logical because of the ongoing naval war between England and Spain ( “America’s Lost…”). If they were attacked by the Native Americans or the Spaniards, it could have been a very violent end for the Roanoke Colonists.
One hundred fifteen men, women, and children would undoubtedly be overpowered by the Spaniards or Native American tribes. The colonists were not necessarily prepared for war, in the sense that they did not have enough people to protect themselves against huge groups of warriors. The Native Americans had chased the English back to England once before and were not afraid to attack again. It is possible that the colonists tried to flee back to England, but they could have gotten lost at sea or could have been captured by the Spaniards. Regardless if the colonists were prepared for a possible battle or not, any attack would be extremely detrimental.
The theories of the colonists moving to a different area, a nearby tribe absorbing the colonists, and the colonists failing to defend themselves are all very probable. With new technology, it is becoming easier find more information and make new discoveries that contribute to deciphering this mystery. Recent investigations are leading researchers closer to figuring out what actually happened. Meanwhile, Roanoke Island has become quite the tourist attraction because of its rich history. The complete fascination of the world with the Roanoke Colonists has kept their story alive throughout the years, and will forever be a momentous part of America’s history.