The colony of Jacobopolis was the first English settlement in America. Everyone in elementary school has read about Captain John Smith and the famous Indian princess Pocahontas. However, in the past, many people do not know the importance of the English colonies in America. Pliny calls the lost colonies. The Roanoke Colony was and its final fate remains a mystery to this day. The only clue to the mysterious disappearance of the colony was the single word “Crotoan”.
In the late 16th century, Humphrey Gilbert received special permission from the English monarchy to establish a colony. He spent more than five years working on the foundations necessary to put in place to establish a successful colony. Sadly, he was lost at sea and was never able to make a plan for the battle. but he would pursue his half-living brother. That man was a half brother as well as honorable, Sir Walter Raleigh. In the year 1885, Walter Raleigh sent men to America to establish this colony. They would establish a colony on Roanoke Island in present day Virginia, but the colony would not be successful. In 1587, Raleigh sent John White to assume leadership of the colony and try again. White would accompany both women and children. This family style will prove successful at first in the new colony but times will be hard. Not all of the colonists’ needs could be met locally. John the White decided to return to England with the necessary large forces. Unfortunately, he was delayed on his return to America. After nearly three years, John White finally returned to the Roanoke colony. Instead of welcomed back he was met with surprise and pain. John the White returned to a completely deserted colony.
This whole mystery is proposed. No trace of the early settlers had occupied Roanoke. No one from the colony was ever found, but both English and Spanish sailors reported seeing white people along the shores of Chesapeake Bay. Again the destruction of the Roanoke colony brought about, I know not what. Perhaps it was a storm, and he might have been attacked by the enemies of the Indians. Only one sense was found. The word “Crotoan”. This one word is engraved on the post. It could indicate that the Crotoan Indians were involved, or perhaps that the colonists had left for Iceland near Crotoa. The actual fate of this lost colony of Roanoke will probably never be known.
While the lost colony of Roanoke did not survive, it paved the way for future colonies. It is followed by Jacobopolis and the Plymouth Colony which are the foundation of the present United States. More Englishmen would come to America and new colonies would be established in Maryland, the Carolinas and other areas. This would be the beginning of a rapid return in North America, which today boasts a population of more than 300,000,000.
