1. The Lost Colony of Roanoke

2. Queen Elizabeth I In 1558, she became Queen of England
She wants her country to be as powerful as Spain
She wants new resources, wealth, new land
She gives Sir Humphrey Gilbert a charter to claim land in the New World

3. Charter Written list of rights granted by a government or ruler
Gave permission to take land that was not owned by another country or another Christian

4. Sir Humphrey Gilbert
In 1578, Gilbert takes the charter and sails across the Atlantic. His first voyage is unsuccessful
Second attempt is successful.
In 1583, he claims Newfoundland for the Queen
In 1583, he drowns and dies

5. Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Gilbert’s half brother
Given charter to claim land in North America
In July 1584, Raleigh sends Arthur Barlowe and Philip Amadas
They claim Roanoke Island in the name of Queen Elizabeth I

6. The Voyage
England
Roanoke Is.
Santa Cruz

7. The Voyage
Flagship - the fleet’s largest, safest, and best boat (the commander rode on this ship)
Flyboat - a large boat with 1 or 2 masts
Pinnace - a smaller, faster, and more manruverable boat that had oars

8. Roanoke Colony – Attempt #1
1585, Raleigh sends Sir Richard Grenville & 100 men to colonize Roanoke
Settlers rely on Natives for help and food
Relationship between the English and Indians goes bad
English steal food and go to battle with the Natives

9. The New World

10. Roanoke Colony – Attempt #1
Sir Richard Grenville returns to England for supplies
He leaves Ralph Lane in-charge
Things were so rough during the winter, the colonists returned to England on Sir Francis Drake’s ship

11. Roanoke Colony – Attempt #2
Grenville returns to a deserted colony but leaves 15 men behind to keep claim of the land
In May 1587, Raleigh sends another group of 150 settlers: men, women, and children
John White leads the expedition. They will settle in Chesapeake Bay area instead of Roanoke

12. Roanoke Colony – Attempt #2
Ships return to Roanoke island to pick up the 15 men that were left behind
The captain of their ship refuses to enter the shallow bay
Settlers stay at Roanoke
White’s daughter, Eleanor, has a baby - Virginia Dare
White returns to England for supplies

13. White’s Return…
White cannot return to Roanoke Island for 3 years (England was at war with Spain)
When he returns, Colony was deserted of all inhabitants
The only clue was the word “Croatoan” carved on a gatepost and tree

14. And they were never seen again…
What do you think happened to them?

15. Theory #1- No Survivors Theory
Colonists were killed by the Native Americans or
Colonists were killed by the Spanish

16. Theory #2- Absorbed by Native People Theory
Colonists went to live with the Native Americans and became members of the tribe through marriage or
Colonists were captured as slaves

17. Theory #3 – The Lost at Sea Theory
Colonists tried to sail back to England
Did they drown?
Did the Spanish capture them at sea?

18. Theory #4 – The Split Community Theory
Some colonists took the boat to the Chesapeake Bay
Some colonists went to Croatoan Island
Why would they split up?

19. Theory #5 – The White Doe Theory
A legend that states Virginia Dare was raised by the Croatoan people
An old medicine man who loved her turned her into a white deer when she refused to marry him

20. Resources: Books & Websites
Roanoke the Lost Colony: An Unsolved Mystery by Jane Yolen and Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple

21. Resources: Websites & Videos