Missing Persons Case: The Lost Colony
Introduction
An entire colony disappears, leaving only one vague clue behind.
It is the greatest mystery in the history of North Carolina.
Thousands of historians have studied this case.
Now YOU get to try to solve it!
Well done cracking the Historical Cold Case of the Fall of the Inca Empire! The majority of investigative teams concluded that the Fall of the Inca Empire was a result of the following:
Mr. Hartnett has been contacted by the North Carolina Department of Historical Mysteries (NCDHM) to help solve a Missing Persons Case. A Missing Persons Case in an investigation on an individual(s) whose whereabouts are unknown or whose deaths are not confirmed. This Missing Persons Case pertains to the Lost Colony of Roanoke. The following is some background information to help introduce you to this Missing Persons Case:
On March 25, 1584, Queen Elizabeth granted Sir Walter Raleigh a charter for the colonization of the area of North America. After several failed attempts at establishing a colony on Roanoke Island, a more permanent colony was established on Roanoke Island in 1587. Led by John White, the colony of Roanoke attempted to re-establish positive relations with the local Native American Tribes, including the Croatoan. Following a few hardships, the colonists persuaded John White to return to England for more supplies. Left behind were about 115 colonists – the remaining men and women who had made the Atlantic crossing plus White's newly born granddaughter Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the Americas. White sailed for England in late 1587, although crossing the Atlantic at that time of year was a considerable risk. To make matters worse, the attack on England by the Spanish Armada delayed John White's return to the Roanoke Colony. Every able English ship joined the fight, leaving White without a means to return to Roanoke at the time. Due to the continuing war with Spain, John White was unable to return to the colony of Roanoke for an additional three years.
White landed on August 18, 1590, on his granddaughter's third birthday, but found the settlement deserted. His men could not find any trace of the 90 men, 17 women, and 11 children, nor was there any sign of a struggle or battle. The only clues was the word "CROATOAN" carved into a post of the fence around the village and the letters "CRO" carved into a tree. All the houses and fortifications had been dismantled, which meant that their departure had not been hurried. Before he had left the colony, White instructed them that, if anything happened to them, they should carve a Maltese cross on a tree nearby, indicating that their absence had been forced. There was no cross, and White took this to mean that they had moved to Croatoan Island (now known as Hatteras Island), but he was unable to conduct a search. A massive storm was forming and his men refused to go any farther; the next day, they left.
Your mission is to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of the Lost Colony. WHERE DID THE COLONIST GO??? Were the colonist wiped out by the Native Americans? Did they simply move to another area in search of better living conditions? Could they have chosen to join with the Native Americans and begin mixing with their culture? Historians have decided that any of these options could be possible, but it is time for someone to decide an answer once and for all.
It is the greatest mystery in the history of North Carolina.
Thousands of historians have studied this case.
Now YOU get to try to solve it!
Well done cracking the Historical Cold Case of the Fall of the Inca Empire! The majority of investigative teams concluded that the Fall of the Inca Empire was a result of the following:
- Advance technology (guns, steel swords, cross-bows, etc.)
- Disease (Small pox)
- Horses (Used for various advantages in battle)
Mr. Hartnett has been contacted by the North Carolina Department of Historical Mysteries (NCDHM) to help solve a Missing Persons Case. A Missing Persons Case in an investigation on an individual(s) whose whereabouts are unknown or whose deaths are not confirmed. This Missing Persons Case pertains to the Lost Colony of Roanoke. The following is some background information to help introduce you to this Missing Persons Case:
On March 25, 1584, Queen Elizabeth granted Sir Walter Raleigh a charter for the colonization of the area of North America. After several failed attempts at establishing a colony on Roanoke Island, a more permanent colony was established on Roanoke Island in 1587. Led by John White, the colony of Roanoke attempted to re-establish positive relations with the local Native American Tribes, including the Croatoan. Following a few hardships, the colonists persuaded John White to return to England for more supplies. Left behind were about 115 colonists – the remaining men and women who had made the Atlantic crossing plus White's newly born granddaughter Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the Americas. White sailed for England in late 1587, although crossing the Atlantic at that time of year was a considerable risk. To make matters worse, the attack on England by the Spanish Armada delayed John White's return to the Roanoke Colony. Every able English ship joined the fight, leaving White without a means to return to Roanoke at the time. Due to the continuing war with Spain, John White was unable to return to the colony of Roanoke for an additional three years.
White landed on August 18, 1590, on his granddaughter's third birthday, but found the settlement deserted. His men could not find any trace of the 90 men, 17 women, and 11 children, nor was there any sign of a struggle or battle. The only clues was the word "CROATOAN" carved into a post of the fence around the village and the letters "CRO" carved into a tree. All the houses and fortifications had been dismantled, which meant that their departure had not been hurried. Before he had left the colony, White instructed them that, if anything happened to them, they should carve a Maltese cross on a tree nearby, indicating that their absence had been forced. There was no cross, and White took this to mean that they had moved to Croatoan Island (now known as Hatteras Island), but he was unable to conduct a search. A massive storm was forming and his men refused to go any farther; the next day, they left.
Your mission is to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of the Lost Colony. WHERE DID THE COLONIST GO??? Were the colonist wiped out by the Native Americans? Did they simply move to another area in search of better living conditions? Could they have chosen to join with the Native Americans and begin mixing with their culture? Historians have decided that any of these options could be possible, but it is time for someone to decide an answer once and for all.