What Happened to the Lost Colonists?

White, who was the governor of the colony, went ashore, hoping to find 113 people, among them his daughter Eleanor; her husband, Ananias Dare; and their child, White's granddaughter, Virginia. The whole world knows what he found instead. There was no happy reunion, no colonists, just three letters, C-R-O, carved on a tree and a bit further on, carved on another tree, the word, "Croatoan".

When White had left the colony three years before, the colonists had been discussing a move north to what we now call Chesapeake Bay. An agreement had been reached that if the colonists did indeed move, they would carve their destination on a tree, with a cross if they had been in distress when they moved. White assumed that the "Croatoan" was a reference to where they had gone, and since there was no cross, White further assumed that the move had not been made in desperation, but that, in itself, was a further puzzle. Croatoan Island was south of Roanoke Island, and Chesapeake Bay to the north. It made no difference to White. He prepared to go to Croatoan, but fate, which had kept White away for so long, again interfered. A sudden gale blew up and battered the ships. Mooring off the coast was now too dangerous, and the ships were forced to return to England. White was never able to return to mount another search, and subsequent searches found no trace of the missing colonists. The mystery of the "Lost Colony" had been born.

clipped from nj.essortment.com John White and the others were sure the colonists were there. They had seen smoke from the area they expected the colonists to be the day before, but since it was late in the day, the small fleet of three ships had decided to wait until the next day before landing. The next morning the ships fired their cannon to signal to the colonists that, after three years, relief had finally arrived. But there was no answer, no sign of life from Roanoke Island. White, who was the governor of the colony, went ashore, hoping to find 113 people, among them his daughter Eleanor; her husband, Ananias Dare; and their child, White's granddaughter, Virginia. The whole world knows what he found instead. There was no happy reunion, no colonists, just three letters, C-R-O, carved on a tree and a bit further on, carved on another tree, the word, "Croatoan".

Virginia Dare Faire

Virginia Dare Faire
August 18, 2007
Manteo, NC

Members from the The Lost Colony Center for Science and Research http://www.lost-colony.com/ will be at the Virginia Dare Faire August 18, 2007, at 11:00 AM! You can join with them in the celebration of Virginia Dare’s 420th birthday with events happening all day at Fort Raleigh and attend a day of free activities for the family at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo NC. Evening performance cameos infant actors as baby Virginia; reservations are required for the outdoor drama, for tickets call: 252-473-3414. This outdoor drama is held in Manteo, NC, it plays in Waterside theatre, which is located in Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, four miles north of Manteo, NC on US Highway 64 Business on Roanoke Island. Roanoke Island is nestled between the North Carolina mainland and the Outer Banks.
More information here: http://www.thelostcolony.org/productions.html#VADare

Names used in the Lost Colony Project

Names used in the Lost Colony Project
Surname-Source

Allen -- Colonist roster
Alligood -- Families of Interest
Archard-- Colonist roster
Archard -- Families of Interest
Armstrong -- Families of Interest
Arthur -- Colonist roster
Austin -- Families of Interest
Bailie -- Colonist roster
Barber, Barbour -- Families of Interest
Barrow -- Families of Interest
Beasley -- Families of Interest
Bennet -- Colonist roster
Bennet -- Families of Interest
Berde -- Colonist roster
Berry -- Families of Interest
Berrye -- Colonist roster
Bishop -- Colonist roster
Blount -- Families of Interest
Borden -- Colonist roster
Boyd -- Families of Interest
Bragg -- Families of Interest
Bridger -- Colonist roster
Bridger -- Families of Interest
Bright -- Colonist roster
Bright -- Families of Interest
Brooke -- Colonist roster
Brooks -- Families of Interest
Browne -- Colonist roster
Bryant -- Families of Interest
Buck -- Families of Interest
Burden -- Colonist roster
Butler -- Colonist roster
Butler -- Families of Interest
Cage -- Colonist roster
Cahoon -- Families of Interest
Cain -- Families of Interest
Carawan -- Families of Interest
Caroon, Carron -- Families of Interest
Carrow -- Families of Interest
Chapman -- Colonist roster
Chapman -- Families of Interest
Chavis -- Families of Interest
Cherry -- Families of Interest
Cheven -- Colonist roster
Collins -- Families of Interest
Colman -- Colonist roster
Cooper -- Colonist roster
Cooper -- Families of Interest
Cotsmur -- Colonist roster
Cox -- Families of Interest
Crisp -- Families of Interest
Croom -- Families of Interest
Cuttler -- Families of Interest
Daniel -- Families of Interest
Dare -- Colonist roster
Darige -- Colonist roster
Darige -- Families of Interest
Dixon -- Families of Interest
Dorrell -- Colonist roster
Durrance -- Families of Interest
Durrant -- Families of Interest
Dutton -- Colonist roster
Earnest -- -- Colonist roster
Edwards -- Families of Interest
Elks -- Families of Interest
Ellis -- Colonist roster
Ellis -- Families of Interest
English -- Colonist roster
Evans --Families of Interest
Farre -- Colonist roster
Farrow -- Families of Interest
Fitspatric -- Families of Interest
Florrie -- Colonist roster
Forbs -- Families of Interest
Gaylord -- Families of Interest
Gibbes -- Colonist roster
Gibbs -- Families of Interest
Glane -- Colonist roster
Gramme -- Colonist roster
Griffin -- Families of Interest
Gurganus -- Families of Interest
Gurkin -- Families of Interest
Hardison -- Families of Interest
Harris -- Colonist roster
Harris -- Families of Interest
Harviem -- Colonist roster
Harvie -- Families of Interest
Harvye -- Colonist roster
Hassell --Families of Interest
Hawkins --Families of Interest
Hedgepath -- Families of Interest
Hemmington -- Colonist roster
Hewet -- Colonist roster
Hill -- Families of Interest
Hodges -- Families of Interest
Howe -- Colonist roster
Hudson -- Families of Interest
Humfrey -- Colonist roster
Hynde -- Colonist roster
Jackson -- Families of Interest
Jennette --Families of Interest
Jerkins -- Families of Interest
Johnson -- Colonist roster
Johnson -- Families of Interest
Jones -- Colonist roster
Jones -- Families of Interest
Kemme -- Colonist roster
Keys -- Families of Interest
King -- Families of Interest
Lasie -- Colonist roster
Lathan -- Families of Interest
Lawrence -- Colonist roster
Leary -- Families of Interest
Little -- Colonist roster
Long -- Families of Interest
Lowery -- Families of Interest
Lucas -- Colonist roster
Lucus -- Families of Interest
Mackey -- Families of Interest
Mann -- Families of Interest
Mannering -- Colonist roster
Martyn -- Colonist roster
Mayo -- Families of Interest
McCoy -- Families of Interest
Merrimoth -- Colonist roster
Midgette -- Families of Interest
Moor -- Families of Interest
Mullins -- Families of Interest
Myllet -- Colonist roster
Mylton -- Colonist roster
Newton -- Colonist roster
Nicholas -- Families of Interest
Nicholes -- Colonist roster
Nicols -- Families of Interest
Norman -- Families of Interest
Padgett -- Families of Interest
Pain -- Families of Interest
Paramore -- Families of Interest
Patrick -- Families of Interest
Pattenson -- Colonist roster
Payne -- Colonist roster
Payne -- Families of Interest
Perry -- Families of Interest
Phevans -- Families of Interest
Phevens -- Colonist roster
Philpatrick -- Families of Interest
Pierce -- Colonist roster
Pierce -- Families of Interest
Pinkham -- Families of Interest
Pollock -- Families of Interest
Powell -- Colonist roster
Powell -- Families of Interest
Prat -- Colonist roster
Pugh -- Families of Interest
Respass -- Families of Interest
Ricks -- Families of Interest
Rollinson -- Families of Interest
Rufoote -- Colonist roster
Russell -- Families of Interest
Salter -- Families of Interest
Sampson -- Colonist roster
Sawer -- Families of Interest
Scot -- Colonist roster
Scot -- Families of Interest
Shaberdge -- Colonist roster
Shephard -- Families of Interest
Simmons -- Families of Interest
Smart -- -- Colonist roster
Smith -- Colonist roster
Smith -- Families of Interest
Smart -- Colonist roster
Sole -- Colonist roster
Sparrow -- Families of Interest
Spendlove -- Colonist roster
Spenser -- Families of Interest
Squires --Families of Interest
Starte -- Colonist roster
Stevens -- Colonist roster
Stevens -- Families of Interest
Stilman -- Colonist roster
Stilman -- Families of Interest
Sutton -- Colonist roster
Sutton -- Families of Interest
Swann -- Families of Interest
Tan -- Families of Interest
Tappan --Colonist roster
Tarkington -- Families of Interest
Taverner -- Colonist roster
Taylor -- Colonist roster
Tetterton -- Families of Interest
Thomas -- Families of Interest
Tom, Toms -- Families of Interest
Tomkins -- Colonist roster
Topan -- Colonist roster
Tuley -- Families of Interest
Turner -- Families of Interest
Tydway -- Colonist roster
Viccars -- Colonist roster
Viccars -- Families of Interest
Wahab -- Families of Interest
Wallis -- Families of Interest
Warner -- Colonist roster
Warren -- Colonist roster
Warren -- Families of Interest
Waters -- Colonist roster
Waters -- Families of Interest
Welch(s) -- Families of Interest
White -- Colonist roster
White -- Families of Interest
Wildye -- Colonist roster
Wilkinson -- Colonist roster
Willes -- Colonist roster
Williams -- Families of Interest
Wood -- Colonist roster
Woolard -- Families of Interest
Wotton -- Colonist roster
Wright -- Colonist roster
Wyles -- Colonist roster
Wyles -- Families of Interest
Wythers -- Colonist roster

America's Lost Colony: Can New Dig Solve Mystery?

Willie Dryefor

National Geographic News
March 2, 2004

More than four centuries ago, English colonists hoped to carve out a new life—and substantial profits—in the wild and strange land of North America. One group of colonists gave up and returned to England. A second colony, in what is now North Carolina, vanished in the 1580s and became immortalized in history as the "Lost Colony."

Full Article Here:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0302_040302_lostcolony.html

Is it possible that there are 'lost colonists' among us?

Researchers say migration trail of Croatan Indians and colonists leads to local communities

The Roanoke Beacon, Plymouth, NC,

December 18, 2002

Written by Brenda Monty, Staff Writer

Could modern science's common use of DNA testing provide the missing link that will lead researchers to solving the more than 400-year-old mystery of the "Lost Colony"?

Full Article Here:

http://www.vergie.com/lcolony.html

420 Years Ago Today

The Lost Colony, July 22, 1587

Matt's Today in History, July 22, 2007

Today in 1587, 121 English colonists arrived at Roanoke Island, located off the coast of the modern state of North Carolina. Thus began the story of "The Lost Colony", a mystery that remains with us 420 years after the colonists set foot in the New World.

Full Article Here:

http://mattstodayinhistory.blogspot.com/2007/07/lost-colony-july-22-1587.html

Podcast Here:

http://www.podshow.com/shows/?mode=detail&episode_id=71747

The Lost Colony of Roanoke

Natives People Magazine
March/April 2007
Written by Ryan Whirty
History Department


In August 1587, a group of 112 English colonists, including two pregnant women, arrived at Roanoke Island, a spit of land located in what is now known as the Outer Banks of North Carolina, to found the second European colony on the east coast of the Americas (a previous colony in the same area failed). The new colony’s governor, John White, soon headed back to England to procure additional supplies for the settlers. He intended to return as soon as possible, but delayed in England by the country’s war with Spain, it took him three years to again land on the Carolina shores.
On Aug. 18, 1590, White finally arrived at Roanoke. What he found – or rather, what he didn’t find – has since evolved into one of the biggest mysteries in American history, a source of endless research, investigation and speculation that still flourishes today. When White got to Roanoke, all the English settlers were gone and the colony abandoned. The only clues White found were two etchings, including the now famous one on a post near the entry reading “CROATOAN.” In the ensuing decades, numerous exploration parties attempted to locate the missing settlers, but to no avail. They had vanished.

Full Article Here:

http://www.lost-colony.com/magazineNP.html

Lost Colony DNA Projects Update

Y and mtDNA testing Projects are up and running!
Background:
The Lost Colonists of Roanoke were left on Roanoke Island in present day North Carolina in 1587 in order to establish the first colony in America. A vessel was sent back to England with Governor John Smith to obtain supplies and was subsequently unable to return until 1590. Upon the return of the supply ship, the colony was gone, not destroyed, but removed. The only clue was the name Croatan carved into a tree. John Smith, whose daughter, son-in-law and grandchild were among the colonists began a lifelong quest to find the colonists. Some historians say they perished, but clues and rumors persisted for decades that they did not, that they either were captured by or assimilated into the local native population. We hope to discover whether the colonists perished or survived as part of the indigenous culture. All male participants are welcome whose surname closely matches those on our names of interest list.
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/LostColonyYDNA/index.aspx?fixed_columns=on

Individuals whose maternal line includes people who might be either Lost Colonists of or native descent from this area of NC are encouraged to join the Lost Colony mtdna project at:
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/LostColonymtDNA/

First Hand Account of an Archeological Dig on Croatan Island

by Nancy Cowal
Cape Hatteras School's Media Coordinator

In August of 1996 I had the honor of being asked to help out with the Croatan site dig that was being done by the Coastal Archaeology Office of East Carolina University. It was on a ridge on the sound side, about a mile from my home in Buxton Woods. I promised to work all day, every day, of the week-long project.

Full article Here:

http://www.outer-banks.com/hatteras-school/dig.html

The Lost Colony News Feed

Those of you who want to keep up with the latest developments in the The Lost Colony research efforts may sign up here for an automatic feed of new articles as they come online at the The Lost Colony Blog. You may add this feed to your Google page or Yahoo page or most other types of newsfeed. We will be featuring guest authors in the next few weeks and announcements of interest as well as articles.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/SearchingForTheLostColonyBlog

Penny Ferguson and Janet Crain
Editors

http://www.the-lost-colony.blogspot.com

Roanoke; the Accidental Colony

Written by Janet Crain

The Lost Colony, an accident of fate with a tragic outcome that reverberates to this day, should never have happened. The group of colonists sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1587 to establish the Cittee of Raleigh, had never intended to locate on the Island of Roanoke. But after a four month long trip marked by delays, mishaps, evasive tactics and possibly outright sabotage, these some 117 men, women and children were unceremoniously dumped on the island by Captain Fernandez. They had intended only to stop by the island where fifteen men had been left behind by Sir Richard Grenville the year before, after the failure of first settlement attempt. Governor John White and forty of his "best men" would make a short visit to check on the men, then they would continue on to their destination about 50 miles up the coast of the Chesapeake Bay. Exploration parties sent there previously had made favorable reports on the suitability of the area for settlement. But as soon as the pinnace carrying the men was in the water, Captain Fernandez ordered them to stay there on the island, forbidding them to re-board his ship, claiming he needed to return to the Caribbean as the season was growing short for privateering. Inexplicitly, he never-the-less sat at anchor for several weeks in a cruel taunting gesture to the colonists stranded on an island where something very sinister and unexplainable had obviously occurred. Among the first sights to greet the landing party were the bleaching bones of one of the fifteen Englishmen left behind the previous year. The other 14 had vanished without a trace, the fort had been destroyed and the houses had fallen into disrepair. Deer were grazing on melons which had grown up in the floors of the abandoned houses. Something was terribly wrong.

Full Article Here:

http://www.genpage.com/Roanoke_Lost_Colony.html

John White: Return to Roanoke (1590)

The 15 of August towards Evening we came to an anker at Hatorask, in 36 degr. and one third, in five fadom water, three leagues from the shore. At our first comming to anker on this shore we saw a great smoke rise in the Ile Roanoak neere the place where I left our Colony in the yeere 1587, which smoake put us in good hope that some of the Colony were there expecting my returne out of England.

The 16 and next morning our 2 boates went a shore, & Captaine Cooke, & Captain Spicer, & their company with me, with intent to passe to the place at Roanoak where our countreymen were left. At our putting from the ship we commanded our Master gunner to make readie 2 Minions and a Falkon well loden, and to shoot them off with reasonable space betweene every shot, to the ende that their reportes might bee heard to the place where wee hoped to finde some of our people. This was accordingly performed, & our twoe boats put off unto the shore, in the Admirals boat we sounded all the way and found from our shippe untill we came within a mile of the shore nine, eight, and seven fadome: but before we were halfe way betweene our ships and the shore we saw another great smoke to the Southwest of Kindrikers mountes: we therefore thought good to goe to that second smoke first: but it was much further from the harbour where we landed, then we supposed it to be, so that we were very sore tired before wee came to the smoke. But that which grieved vs more was that when we came to the smoke, we found no man nor signe that any had bene there lately, nor yet any fresh water in all this way to drinke. Being thus wearied with this iourney we returned to the harbour where we left our boates, who in our absence had brought their caske a shore for fresh water, so we deferred our going to Roanoak untill the next morning, and caused some of those saylers to digge in those sandie hilles for fresh water whereof we found very sufficient. That night wee returned aboord with our boates and our whole company in safety.

Cont. here:

http://www.animatedatlas.com/ecolonies/roanoke.html

Names used in the Lost Colony Project
Surname-Source

Allen -- Colonist roster
Alligood -- Families of Interest
Archard-- Colonist roster
Archard -- Families of Interest
Armstrong -- Families of Interest
Arthur -- Colonist roster
Austin -- Families of Interest
Bailie -- Colonist roster
Barber, Barbour -- Families of Interest
Barrow -- Families of Interest
Beasley -- Families of Interest
Bennet -- Colonist roster
Bennet -- Families of Interest
Berde -- Colonist roster
Berry -- Families of Interest
Berrye -- Colonist roster
Bishop -- Colonist roster
Blount -- Families of Interest
Borden -- Colonist roster
Boyd -- Families of Interest
Bragg -- Families of Interest
Bridger -- Colonist roster
Bridger -- Families of Interest
Bright -- Colonist roster
Bright -- Families of Interest
Brooke -- Colonist roster
Brooks -- Families of Interest
Browne -- Colonist roster
Bryant -- Families of Interest
Buck -- Families of Interest
Burden -- Colonist roster
Butler -- Colonist roster
Butler -- Families of Interest
Cage -- Colonist roster
Cahoon -- Families of Interest
Cain -- Families of Interest
Carawan -- Families of Interest
Caroon, Carron -- Families of Interest
Carrow -- Families of Interest
Chapman -- Colonist roster
Chapman -- Families of Interest
Chavis -- Families of Interest
Cherry -- Families of Interest
Cheven -- Colonist roster
Collins -- Families of Interest
Colman -- Colonist roster
Cooper -- Colonist roster
Cooper -- Families of Interest
Cotsmur -- Colonist roster
Cox -- Families of Interest
Crisp -- Families of Interest
Croom -- Families of Interest
Cuttler -- Families of Interest
Daniel -- Families of Interest
Dare -- Colonist roster
Darige -- Colonist roster
Darige -- Families of Interest
Dixon -- Families of Interest
Dorrell -- Colonist roster
Durrance -- Families of Interest
Durrant -- Families of Interest
Dutton -- Colonist roster
Earnest -- -- Colonist roster
Edwards -- Families of Interest
Elks -- Families of Interest
Ellis -- Colonist roster
Ellis -- Families of Interest
English -- Colonist roster
Evans --Families of Interest
Farre -- Colonist roster
Farrow -- Families of Interest
Fitspatric -- Families of Interest
Florrie -- Colonist roster
Forbs -- Families of Interest
Gaylord -- Families of Interest
Gibbes -- Colonist roster
Gibbs -- Families of Interest
Glane -- Colonist roster
Gramme -- Colonist roster
Griffin -- Families of Interest
Gurganus -- Families of Interest
Gurkin -- Families of Interest
Hardison -- Families of Interest
Harris -- Colonist roster
Harris -- Families of Interest
Harviem -- Colonist roster
Harvie -- Families of Interest
Harvye -- Colonist roster
Hassell --Families of Interest
Hawkins --Families of Interest
Hedgepath -- Families of Interest
Hemmington -- Colonist roster
Hewet -- Colonist roster
Hill -- Families of Interest
Hodges -- Families of Interest
Howe -- Colonist roster
Hudson -- Families of Interest
Humfrey -- Colonist roster
Hynde -- Colonist roster
Jackson -- Families of Interest
Jennette --Families of Interest
Jerkins -- Families of Interest
Johnson -- Colonist roster
Johnson -- Families of Interest
Jones -- Colonist roster
Jones -- Families of Interest
Kemme -- Colonist roster
Keys -- Families of Interest
King -- Families of Interest
Lasie -- Colonist roster
Lathan -- Families of Interest
Lawrence -- Colonist roster
Leary -- Families of Interest
Little -- Colonist roster
Long -- Families of Interest
Lowery -- Families of Interest
Lucas -- Colonist roster
Lucus -- Families of Interest
Mackey -- Families of Interest
Mann -- Families of Interest
Mannering -- Colonist roster
Martyn -- Colonist roster
Mayo -- Families of Interest
McCoy -- Families of Interest
Merrimoth -- Colonist roster
Midgette -- Families of Interest
Moor -- Families of Interest
Mullins -- Families of Interest
Myllet -- Colonist roster
Mylton -- Colonist roster
Newton -- Colonist roster
Nicholas -- Families of Interest
Nicholes -- Colonist roster
Nicols -- Families of Interest
Norman -- Families of Interest
Padgett -- Families of Interest
Pain -- Families of Interest
Paramore -- Families of Interest
Patrick -- Families of Interest
Pattenson -- Colonist roster
Payne -- Colonist roster
Payne -- Families of Interest
Perry -- Families of Interest
Phevans -- Families of Interest
Phevens -- Colonist roster
Philpatrick -- Families of Interest
Pierce -- Colonist roster
Pierce -- Families of Interest
Pinkham -- Families of Interest
Pollock -- Families of Interest
Powell -- Colonist roster
Powell -- Families of Interest
Prat -- Colonist roster
Pugh -- Families of Interest
Respass -- Families of Interest
Ricks -- Families of Interest
Rollinson -- Families of Interest
Rufoote -- Colonist roster
Russell -- Families of Interest
Salter -- Families of Interest
Sampson -- Colonist roster
Sawer -- Families of Interest
Scot -- Colonist roster
Scot -- Families of Interest
Shaberdge -- Colonist roster
Shephard -- Families of Interest
Simmons -- Families of Interest
Smart -- -- Colonist roster
Smith -- Colonist roster
Smith -- Families of Interest
Smart -- Colonist roster
Sole -- Colonist roster
Sparrow -- Families of Interest
Spendlove -- Colonist roster
Spenser -- Families of Interest
Squires --Families of Interest
Starte -- Colonist roster
Stevens -- Colonist roster
Stevens -- Families of Interest
Stilman -- Colonist roster
Stilman -- Families of Interest
Sutton -- Colonist roster
Sutton -- Families of Interest
Swann -- Families of Interest
Tan -- Families of Interest
Tappan --Colonist roster
Tarkington -- Families of Interest
Taverner -- Colonist roster
Taylor -- Colonist roster
Tetterton -- Families of Interest
Thomas -- Families of Interest
Tom, Toms -- Families of Interest
Tomkins -- Colonist roster
Topan -- Colonist roster
Tuley -- Families of Interest
Turner -- Families of Interest
Tydway -- Colonist roster
Viccars -- Colonist roster
Viccars -- Families of Interest
Wahab -- Families of Interest
Wallis -- Families of Interest
Warner -- Colonist roster
Warren -- Colonist roster
Warren -- Families of Interest
Waters -- Colonist roster
Waters -- Families of Interest
Welch(s) -- Families of Interest
White -- Colonist roster
White -- Families of Interest
Wildye -- Colonist roster
Wilkinson -- Colonist roster
Willes -- Colonist roster
Williams -- Families of Interest
Wood -- Colonist roster
Woolard -- Families of Interest
Wotton -- Colonist roster
Wright -- Colonist roster
Wyles -- Colonist roster
Wyles -- Families of Interest
Wythers -- Colonist roster

At some point the colony moved from Roanoke, taking down their houses, but leaving the palisade intact. They buried some chests of goods which they could not take with them in a ditch belonging to the fortifications constructed by Lane and Amadas, and they left behind some heavy cannon and shot. This suggests that they intended to go some distance, and could not easily return for what they could not bring on the pinnace and boats. They did take falcons and other small cannon. They left carved on one tree the letters C R O, and on another, at the entrance to the palisade, C R O A T O A N, as a guide to their immediate destination, without any cross appended, a sign agreed with White to signify a move made under duress or in distress. Whether they stayed on Croatoan with Manteo and his friends cannot be ascertained. They pass out of history, if not from the field of historical speculation. It is possible that some of them were absorbed into an Indian tribe, but this cannot be proved. Perhaps, finally despairing of relief, they left American shores in the pinnace and were lost in the Atlantic.
Raleigh and the British Empire. Contributors: David B. Quinn - author. Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton. Place of Publication: London. Publication Year: 1947. Page Number: 116.

Book Title: History of North Carolina. Volume: 1. Contributors: Francis L. Hawks - author. Publisher: E.J. Hale & Son.. Place of Publication: Fayetteville, NC. Publication Year: 1857.
p 248-9
Much time was lost on the voyage, and the sandy islands of the Carolina coast were not seen until the beginning of the succeeding August. White found the island of Roanoke a desert. As he approached he sounded a signal trumpet, but no answer was heard to disturb the melancholy stillness that brooded over the deserted spot. What had become of the wretched colonists? No man may with certainty say: for all that White found to indicate their fate was a high post bearing on it the letters CRO, and at the former site of their village lie found a tree which had been deprived of its bark and bore in well cut characters the word CROATAN. * There was some comfort in finding no cross carved above the word, but this was all the comfort the unhappy father and grandfather could find. He of course hastened back to the fleet, determined instantly to go to Croatan, but a combination of unpropitious events defeated his anxious wishes; storms and a deficiency of food forced the vessels to run for the West Indies for the purpose of refitting, wintering and returning; but even in this plan White was disappointed and found himself reluctantly compelled to run for the western islands and thence for England. Thus ended the effort to find the lost colony; they were never heard of. That they went to Croatan, where the natives were friendly, is almost certain; that they became gradually incorporated with them is probable from the testimony of a historian who lived in North Carolina and wrote in 1714:--"The Hatteras Indians who lived on Roanoke Island or much frequented it, tell us," (says he) "that several of their ancestors were white people and could talk in a book, as we do; the truth of which is confirmed by gray eyes being found frequently amongst those Indians, and no others. They value themselves extremely for their affinity to the English, and are ready to do them all friendly offices. It is probable that this settlement miscarried for want of timely supplies from England; or through the treachery of the natives, for we may reason-ably suppose that the English were forced to cohabit with them, for relief and conversation; and that in process of time, they conformed themselves to the manners of their Indian relations, and thus we see how apt human nature is to degenerate." * This slight vestige of the ultimate fate of White's colony concludes the history of Sir Walter Raleigh's noble but unavailing efforts; and when we resume our story, we shall have to pass over an interval of some years, leaving meanwhile the wilderness on which we have looked to the roughness of its natural state, and the occupancy of its savage inhabitants. When the scene next opens upon us, it will be indeed upon the same theatre, but the actors will be very different, and will have entered by a different way.

International Herald Tribune, France - Jun 11, 2007
"I don't know what we'll find in the end," Estes told the Virginian-Pilot newspaper. "Part of the big question for me is, did the Lost Colony survive? Who is their family today? And where did they go?"
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/12/america/NA-GEN-US-Lost-Colony-DNA.php

White Rock Reviewer, SD - Jun 11, 2007
ROANOKE ISLAND, N.C. - Researchers believe they may be able to use DNA to uncover the fate of the Lost Colony, which vanished shortly after more than 100 people settled on Roanoke Island in 1587.
http://www.onelocalnews.com/whiterockreviewer/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=121509