What Really Happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke?
The Legend of the White Doe
There is a story that has been told for many years of Virginia Dare being turned into a white doe. The story claims that Dare joined and grew up being a part of the Manteo Tribe. When Dare fell in love with a handsome, young Indian chief, this angered an old witch doctor that was also in love with her. Because Dare chose the love of the young chief over the witchdoctor, he used his evil magic to turn her into a white doe. Many people to this day have reported seeing the ghostly white doe (Boyd, 2000).
Points of Interest
(Image courtesy of Boyd, Virginia Dare and the Lost Colony: Fact and Legend)
Governor John White
Governor John White was actually a member of the first group of colonists who came with Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585, however he was not yet governor. The group of settlers only lived there 10 months before leaving due to threats from the natives and lack of food sources (Clark 2008).
(Image courtesy of Derby, The story of Ponga and Puhihuia)
Ralph Lane
Ralph Lane was the governor during the first trip led by Sir Walter Raleigh. Lane was ill tempered and often very violent with the Native American tribes. After a disagreement with Indian chief Wingina on June 10, 1586, he ended the dispute by killing the chief. It is believed that Ralph Lane may have had a lot to do with the bad blood between the English settlers and the native tribes. Even though there is not much proof, Lane is also credited as the one who introduced England to tobacco (Shirley, 2014).
(Image courtesy of Boerner, The Lost Colony of Roanaoke)
Lumbee Tribe
Even though the Lumbee Tribe are a well-known tribe and own their own land, they are still not federally recognized like many other Native American tribes. A tribal council and chairman govern the tribe. They along with many modern day Lumbee Indians are working and fighting hard to change this situation. The Lumbee tribe gets its heritage from many origins including: Tuscarora, Siouan, and Algonquian Indians. They have also through the years intermarried with whites, blacks and Cherokee Indians (Redish & Lewis, 1998).
(Image courtesy of Woods, Lumbees contribute diversity to campus)
(Image courtesy of Maggie Smith, NG Staff. Source: First Colony Foundation)
Colony Location
There has been much debate about the exact location in Roanoke where the Lost Colony settled. This may be one of the reasons evidence of the colony has been so hard to find. Historians and scientists debate and can’t agree on an exact location. Some believe the location of the colony may be underwater in the Great Dismal Swamp. A few artifacts have been found, including an 80-foot piece of wood resembling a boat. Nothing has been proven and nothing is for certain at this point (Dobra, 2007).
There is also the theory that maps have been hidden or altered to hide the true location. The maps of today do not completely match with the maps of the 1800s. Matching them up can be quiet a challenge.
According to Clark (2008),
Not only were the colonists themselves lost, the colony was as well. Poor record keeping among White and others as well as years of abandonment have kept the exact whereabouts of the 1587 colony a mystery. Numerous digs on Roanoke failed to produce any evidence of the lost colony. Remnants of the 1585 settlement have been discovered, but no evidence of the lost colony has been found. One problem is that primary sources tell different tales. From Gov. White's writings, the second settlement should be located near the first on the north end of the island. But a 1589 affidavit of a Spanish sailor puts the settlement near the center of the island where the cannons were stationed. (p. 2)
(Image courtsey of Evans, Croatoan Indians)