The Mystery of Roanoke

It was July 1587. Ten-year-old Robert Ellis could hardly believe it. He and his dad were finally here: America! Back home in England, most people had only heard stories about this dazzling land.

Golden beaches sat next to glittering water. Trees stretched as far as the eye could see. Robert had come to Roanoke. It was a tiny island off the coast of a land the English called Virginia. (Today it’s part of North Carolina.)

Robert, his dad, and about 115 other people had come here for an important mission: to start a colony. They would build a village. They would set up farms. And they would look for treasures to send back home to England—furs, fruit, spices, and maybe even gold.

But if somebody had told Robert what would soon happen on Roanoke, he might have sailed back home. Why? Within three years, Robert and the other colonists would disappear . . . forever!

It was July 1587. Robert Ellis was 10 years old. He couldn’t believe it. He and his dad had come from England to America! Most people there had only heard stories about this amazing land.

Golden beaches sat next to bright water. Trees stretched as far as the eye could see. Robert had come to Roanoke. It was a tiny island. It was off the coast of a land the English called Virginia. (Today it’s part of North Carolina.)

Robert, his dad, and about 115 other people had come here. They were on an important mission. It was to start a colony. They would build a village. They would set up farms. And they would look for treasures to send back to England, like furs, fruit, spices, and maybe even gold.

But if somebody had told Robert what would happen on Roanoke, he might have left. Why? The colonists would soon disappear . . . forever!

It was July 1587. Robert Ellis and his dad had just sailed from England to America. They had come to a tiny island called Roanoke. (Today it’s part of North Carolina.) Robert, his dad, and about 115 other people were on a mission. They wanted to start a colony. They would build a village and look for treasures. 

But Robert and the other colonists would soon disappear . . . forever!

For a kid like Robert in 1587, going to America must have seemed like going to the moon. People in Europe had only recently learned that North and South America existed. They called those places the New World. 

European countries like England wanted to take the land and riches of this New World. Kings and queens sent explorers there. By the time Robert was born, explorers weren’t the only ones going to America. Some ordinary Europeans had started moving there too. Why? They wanted to form colonies. These settlers built new towns. They took land and food for themselves.

Stories spread about this beautiful land. Tall mountains seemed to touch the clouds. Flowers bloomed in bright colors. And the animals! There were buffalo, beavers, and grizzly bears. There were so many geese that they blocked out the sun. So when the chance came for people to sail to the new land, Robert and his dad were excited. Could they build a better life in the New World?

For a kid like Robert in 1587, going to America must have seemed like going to the moon. People in Europe had only recently found out about North America and South America. They called those places the New World. 

European countries like England wanted to take the land and riches of this New World. Kings and queens sent people to explore there. By the time Robert was born, explorers weren’t the only ones going to America. Some ordinary Europeans had started moving there too. Why? 

They wanted to form colonies. These settlers built new towns. They took land and food for themselves.

Stories spread about this beautiful land. Tall mountains seemed to touch the clouds. Bright flowers bloomed. And the animals! There were buffalo, beavers, and bears. There were so many geese that they blocked out the sun. 

So when the chance came for people to sail to the new land, Robert and his dad were excited. Could they build a better life in the New World?

In the 1500s, people in Europe called North and South America the New World. They started moving there. Why? They wanted to take the land and riches of the New World. European people formed colonies. They took land and food.

But the New World wasn’t really new. About 1 million Native people already lived across America. They were members of hundreds of different nations and tribes. These groups had their own ways of life. Sadly, Native Americans were being killed. Thousands died from fights and from diseases Europeans brought.

So most Native Americans did not trust European people. Only one tribe would help Robert’s village. The tribe was called the Croatoan (krow-ah-TOH-an). They lived on an island near Roanoke. 

White’s trip took longer than he’d hoped. He returned to Roanoke in August 1590. Three years had passed. White rushed onto the island. What he saw stopped him in his tracks. 

Where there had once been a busy village, there was now an empty clearing. He searched everywhere. But it seemed as though the colonists had simply vanished! 

Then he saw it: the word Croatoan carved into a wooden fence post. There was no cross to signal danger. Had the settlers simply moved to the island where their friends the Croatoan lived?

White and his crew set sail toward the island to find out. But then a huge storm hit. Fierce winds kept the ships out at sea. No matter how hard they tried, they could not get to the island. Finally, John White had to return to England. 

He would never learn what had happened to the settlers.

White’s trip took longer than he’d hoped. He returned to Roanoke in August 1590. Three years had passed. White rushed onto the island. What he saw stopped him in his tracks. 

There had once been a busy village. Now there was an empty clearing. He searched everywhere. But it seemed as though the colonists had simply vanished! 

Then he saw it: the word Croatoan carved into a wooden fence post. There was no cross to signal danger. Had the settlers simply moved to the island where their friends the Croatoan lived?

White and his crew set sail toward the island to find out. But then a huge storm hit. Fierce winds kept the ships out at sea. They tried hard. But White and his crew could not get to the island. Finally, White had to return to England. 

He would never learn what had happened to the settlers.