The theory: Joined Native Americans
One Common theory about the lost colony of Roanoke is that the colonist joined a friendly Native American tribe. They likely sought shelter with a tribe because of their lack of knowledge of the land and their inability to obtain enough resources to sustain themselves.
Evidence |
View of Native Americans |
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For a more kinde and loving people there can not be found in the worlds, as farre as we have hitherto had triall - Arthur Barlow said about the Native Americans in his narrative about the first voyage to Roanoke in 1584
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Who Supports this theory?
John White
Was the governor of Roanoke during the 1587 expedition. When he left for more supplies he left family behind, and when he returned they were gone.
But although it much grieved me to see such spoyle of my goods, yet on the other side I greatly joyed that I had safely found a certaine token of their safe being at Croatoan which is the place where Manteo was borne and the Savages of the lland of our friends - John White
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John Lawson
Was an English explorer who wrote the book, A New Voayage to Carolina that was published in 1709.
In the process of time, they conformed themselves to the manners of their Indian relations. -John Lawson
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Many Today
Many historians today accept that the Lost Colonist likely merged with indigenous society in order to survive.
The Evidence is that they assimilated with Native Americans but kept their goods. -Mark Horton
Ralegh's colonist were lost only to those Europeans who searched and failed to find them. Indian people knew what happened to them. They became Algonquians and were no longer Englishmen and Women. -Michael Oberg
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Why does this theory still stand today? |
If this Theory Were true What would it Mean for us today? |
This theory still stands today because in many ways it is the most logical answer to the question "What happened to the Lost Colonist?" Not only that, but this theory also has the most scientific/archaeological evidence. For this reason many today believe that the colonist were not lost, but rather assimilated into Native American culture.
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If this theory is true it would mean that the Roanoke colony was the first ever melting pot in what would become the United States. It would mean that peaceful relationships were possible between Native Americans and English Colonist. However, whether or not this is true, unfortunately this is not the path later colonist followed.
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References
Barlowe, A. (1550-1620). The First Voyage to Roanoke. Retrieved from Documenting the American South: https://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/barlowe/barlowe.html
Pruitt, S. (2020, February 21). Archaeologists Find New Clues to "Lost Colony" Mystery. Retrieved from History: https://www.history.com/news/archaeologists-find-new-clues-to-lost-colony-mystery
White, J. (1600). Primary Resource John White Returns to Roanoke; an excerpt from "The fifth voyage of Master John White into the West Indies and parts of America called Virginia, in the yeere 1590" (1600). Retrieved from Encyclopedia Virginia: https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/John_White_Returns_to_Roanoke_an_excerpt_from_The_fift_voyage_of_Master_John_White_into_the_West_Indies_and_parts_of_America_called_Virginia_in_the_yeere_1590_1600
Pruitt, S. (2020, February 21). Archaeologists Find New Clues to "Lost Colony" Mystery. Retrieved from History: https://www.history.com/news/archaeologists-find-new-clues-to-lost-colony-mystery
White, J. (1600). Primary Resource John White Returns to Roanoke; an excerpt from "The fifth voyage of Master John White into the West Indies and parts of America called Virginia, in the yeere 1590" (1600). Retrieved from Encyclopedia Virginia: https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/John_White_Returns_to_Roanoke_an_excerpt_from_The_fift_voyage_of_Master_John_White_into_the_West_Indies_and_parts_of_America_called_Virginia_in_the_yeere_1590_1600