The Lost Colony

Eleanor and Ananias with their baby Virginia, and all of the other colonists, would be on their own, out of touch with their home country.n n8 Before leaving, Governor White and the colonists planned that, if the colonists had to leave the Cittie of Raleigh for some reason, they would leave a message by carving a sign into a tree trunk.

They left behind only 15 men to guard the fort that they had built on Roanoke Island.n n3 Their reports were enough to stir up more interest in settling a colony in America.

Maybe the looming war between England and Spain make them decide not to make a stop.n n4 The three ships arrived at Roanoke Island, in the large area of North American land that Queen Elizabeth had named Virginia.

As they approached North America, they sailed past Haiti, where ships had stopped in the past for supplies, but they sailed on past without stocking up.

If they were being forced to move, or if they had been captured, they would also carve a cross on the tree.n n9 Upon Governor White's return to England, his ships became involved in the war with Spain, and he could not return for several years.

They found the fort and the houses built by the first expedition, but the fifteen men left behind had either left Roanoke or died.

He called his colony the Cittie of Raleigh.n n5 American Indians helped provide the settlers with food.

Nevertheless, the settlers did not always respect the Indians' way of life, and relations between the settlers and the Indians were not always on friendly terms.n n6 Soon after their arrival, on August 18, the colonists had a reason to celebrate.

John White's daughter, Eleanor, and her husband, Ananias, became the proud parents of a baby girl.

Maybe they were anxious to get to their destination.

Maybe the looming war between England and Spain make them decide not to make a stop.n n4 The three ships arrived at Roanoke Island, in the large area of North American land that Queen Elizabeth had named Virginia.

Their appearance includes European features like light eyes and light hair.

The English settlers became part of the Croatan tribe, which still exists today.n n12 Evidence seems to support the story.

Later colonists at Jamestown searched for the missing settlers but never found them either.n n10 For many years, the English story stopped there.n n11 The second story, the one from the Croatan oral tradition, tells of English settlers from the doomed Roanoke colony who were taken in by the Croatans.

The English settlers became part of the Croatan tribe, which still exists today.n n12 Evidence seems to support the story.

If they were being forced to move, or if they had been captured, they would also carve a cross on the tree.n n9 Upon Governor White's return to England, his ships became involved in the war with Spain, and he could not return for several years.