The Roanoke Colonists Integrated with Friendly Tribes
After several attempts to settle in Virginia, there were many sightings of the colonists of Roanoke by colonial settlers and Native Indians. There were a few accounts stating that the colonists may have been integrated with the Indian Tribes. Some accounts were hearsay from other Indian Tribes and others were personal accounts.
In 1607, before the settlement of Jamestown, Powhatan murdered those from the Chesapeake Tribe. Powhatan Chief’s confession to John Smith states: “[…] he had been at their slaughter and had divers utensils to show […and] showed to Captain Smith a musket barrel and a bronze mortar and certain pieces of iron which had been theirs” (Quinn, 1984, p. 40). According to the Powhatan’s account, some of the colonists integrated with the Chesapeake Tribe that he slaughtered. Those colonists lived and died with the Chesapeake Tribe. In May 1607, George Percy came across a savage boy with features uncommon to the Indians: "At port Cotage in our Voyage up the River, we saw a Savage Boy about the age of ten yeeres, which had a head of hair of perfect yellow and a reasonable white skinne, which is a Miracle amongst all Savages" (Durant, 1981, p.162). However, Percy did not investigate the matter further. There is an account to John Smith from the Pamunkey Chief who said that he saw men in a place called Ocanahonan clothed like Smith (MacDougall, 1995, p. 20). Smith met another Indian chief and he too stated that he saw men clothed like Smith, but he also stated that: "there were regions to the south – in direction of Roanoke Island – Where there also were |
people with ‘an abundance of brass, and houses walled’ in English Fashion (McDougall, 1995, p. 20-21). During that time, Native Indians did not know how to build houses as the English did.
William Strachey, Jamestown Secretary, also spoke with Indians that sighted colonists from Roanoke. One Indian stated that "at Peccarecamek and Ochanahoen […], the people have howses built with stone walls, and one story above another, so taught them by those Englishe who escaped the slaughter at Roanoak" (Major, 1849, p. 26). Another Indian stated that "at Ritanoe, Weroance Eyanoco preserved seven of the English alive – fower men, two boyes, and a young mayde (who escaped and fled up the river of Chanoke), to beat his copper, of which he hath certaine mynes at the Ritanoe" (Major, 1849, p. 26). The slaughter at Roanoke was the slaughter of the Chesapeake Tribe, in which some may have escaped and found safety.
After hearing several accounts of the Roanoke Colonists being alive, the Jamestown Colonists searched for them, but their searches were unsuccessful.
William Strachey, Jamestown Secretary, also spoke with Indians that sighted colonists from Roanoke. One Indian stated that "at Peccarecamek and Ochanahoen […], the people have howses built with stone walls, and one story above another, so taught them by those Englishe who escaped the slaughter at Roanoak" (Major, 1849, p. 26). Another Indian stated that "at Ritanoe, Weroance Eyanoco preserved seven of the English alive – fower men, two boyes, and a young mayde (who escaped and fled up the river of Chanoke), to beat his copper, of which he hath certaine mynes at the Ritanoe" (Major, 1849, p. 26). The slaughter at Roanoke was the slaughter of the Chesapeake Tribe, in which some may have escaped and found safety.
After hearing several accounts of the Roanoke Colonists being alive, the Jamestown Colonists searched for them, but their searches were unsuccessful.