1. Today you will all become…
olonial S
ource I
nvestigators

2. Your Assignment…
Determine what happened to the
Lost Colony of Roanoke

3. What are primary sources?
Has anyone ever heard of primary sources before?
You are going to see two illustrations. The first one is a primary source, second one is not.
You will use these illustrations to develop a definition of primary sources.

4. Map of Raleigh’s Virginia
This map of what was then called Virginia was drawn in 1585.
It was drawn by John White, a colonist who sailed to Roanoke Island.
This is a primary source.
Map of Raleigh’s Virginia, John White, 1585

5. Arrival of the English in America
This engraving showing Roanoke was made in 1590.
It was made by Theodore deBry, who based it on White’s drawings.
deBry never went to Roanoke himself.
This is not a primary source.
Arrival of the English in America, Theodore deBry, 1590

6. Develop a Definition
Work with a partner to decide why the map is a primary source and the engraving is not.

7. Primary Source
A primary source is a record made by someone who saw or took part in an event.
Use this definition to explain
why the map is a primary source.
why the engraving is not a primary source.

8. Map of Raleigh’s Virginia
Discussion Questions:
What makes you think this map might be accurate?
What makes you think this map might be inaccurate?
Why do you think White included ships on this map?
What do you see on this map that would make Roanoke Island a good place for a colony?
What do you see on this map that would make Roanoke Island a bad place for a colony?
Map of Raleigh’s Virginia, John White, 1585

9. So How Did the English Settle Roanoke?
A Roanoke Timeline

10. 1584
Queen Elizabeth I tells Walter Raleigh to set up a colony in North America
Queen Elizabeth I
Sir Walter Raleigh

11. 1585
April
Raleigh sends 100 colonists to start a colony in what he names Virginia (but we now call North Carolina). John White goes on this journey as the artist for the expedition.
August
The colonists land on Roanoke Island and build a fort and houses.

12. 1586
The colonists at Roanoke are in conflict with local Native Americans and running low on food.
They abandon the colony and return to England.

13. 1587
May
Raleigh tries again. He sends 120 colonists to Roanoke Island with John White as their governor.
July
The colonists land on Roanoke Island and rebuild the fort and houses.

14. 1587
August
John White’s granddaughter, Virginia Dare, is the first English child born in the Americas.
As before, the colony runs low on food so John White returns to England for supplies. Most of the colonists, including White’s family, remain on Roanoke Island.

15. 1587 October John White reaches England.
War breaks out between the English and the Spanish.
Queen Elizabeth forbids sailing to the colonies until the Spanish are defeated.

16. 1590 John White is finally able to return to Roanoke…
…BUT THE COLONISTS HAVE VANISHED!!!

17. Your assignment
Use primary sources to investigate what happened to the Roanoke colonists.
What kinds of primary sources do you think we might be able to use?

18. John White’s Journal
John White kept a journal about his return trip to Roanoke. We are going to examine some pieces of the journal today.

19. August 15, 1590
The 15 of August towards Euening we came to an anker at Hatorask, in 36 degr. and one third, in fiue 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 vs in good hope that some of the Colony were there expecting my returne out of England.
The Fifth Voyage of M. John White, John White, 1590

20. And in more modern language…

21. August 15, 1590
August 15th - Toward evening we stopped about nine miles from the shore. We saw a lot of smoke rising from Roanoke Island near the place where I left our colony in The smoke makes us hopeful that some of the colonists are there expecting my return from England.
Adapted from The Fifth Voyage of M. John White, John White, 1590