The Roanoke colonist predated the Jamestown colony of British settlers in America. Roanoke Island is off the coast of North Carolina. This was 20 years before the Jamestown. the governor of the colony, John White, only stayed a short time. His daughter gave birth to the first English baby born in America, Virginia Dare. He then returned to England to negotiate for more supplies and support. He returned three years later, and the colony had disappeared. they left carved in a tree the word, Croatan. Perhaps the left and joined the Native American on Croatoan Island. However they had been told to go north, and the island was south.
Sir Walter raleigh was the money behind the project. However he fell out of favor with the queen, and was off on other adventures. the colony was somewhat forgotten.
There in fact was even an earlier colony by two years. However this colony faded into the mist as well. However this colony was rescued just in time. they had alienated the locals, and were short on food. Sir Walter raleigh appeared with ships, and took them aboard, making room by leaving some slaves and Indians who had been rescued from the Spanish. Those left also disappeared.
With regards to the lost colony, it is generally felt the majority went north, and were killed when they allied themselves with the Chesapeake Indians. This group was wiped out by Powhatan. A for the few who had been left to guard the original settlement, it is believed the did go to Croatoan and mixed in with the Native Americans.
the governor of the colony, though not much of a governor (he left) he was an artist, and consequently we have from him the first pictures by and Englishman of Native Americans. these were painted in 1585.
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