Colonist Settlement of 1584
In
1584, Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe led the first voyage from England
to Roanoke Island. It has been argued
that these two explorers were the first known Europeans to reach the
island.("Roanoke Villages,"
2013). Sir Walter
Raleigh financed the scouting mission in hopes of finding an ideal location for
future settlement. About a year later,
Amadas and Barlowe returned to England with Manteo and Wanchese, two Roanoke
Natives, and told grandiose stories about the plentiful resources and
opportunities for settlement on Roanoke Island.
It is not known if Manteo and Wanchese voluntarily went to England.
("The Lost Colony," 2002-9).
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England's
Queen Elizabeth was impressed with the explorers' accounts. She knighted Raleigh to honor him for
financially backing the first exploration.
Based on the explorers' stories, in 1585 Raleigh sent ships, led by
Ralph Lane, with approximately one hundred men including soldiers, miners,
and scientists to Roanoke Island. ("Roanoke Villages," 2013). This expedition was poorly planned from the onset. It has been theorized that they
arrived too late for planting food and their supplies dwindled
quickly. ("The Lost Colony,"
2002-9). It has been further argued that Lane, a
military captain, was on bad terms with the Roanoke Indians and ultimately
killed Wingina, the Indians' chief. ("Roanoke Villages," 2013).
In 1586, Sir Francis Drake stopped off at Roanoke Island after his own expedition. The settlers were short on food and supplies, suffered through a cold winter, and on poor terms with the Natives, so they gave up and they joined Drake on his ships headed back to England. (Watson, 2012) It has been theorized that less than a week after the settlers left with Drake, two supply ships arrived on Roanoke Island. ("The Lost Colony," 2002-9). Sir Richard Grenville, the leader, left behind fifteen men to look after the fort to secure England's claim. Grenville and crew returned to England. ("Roanoke Villages," 2013).
The most extensive primary account of the first English settlers was written by Barlowe and was published in 1589 in Hakluyt's Principal Navigations. Barlowe's purpose for writing was to promote Raleigh's plan to colonize the settlement. Barlowe's account depicted the Roanoke Natives as ideal. He said they were willing to welcome and trade with English colonists. If there were any unsavory experiences during the exploration or with the Natives, Barlowe left them out of his writing. ("Amadas and Barlowe," 2013).
According to Barlowe, between July and August of 1584, the English were received by Granganimeo (brother of the Native King) "...came along to the place [on the shore] over against the ships, followed with forty men. When he came to the place, his servants spread a long mat upon the ground, on which he sat down, and at the other end of the mat, four others of his company did the like: the rest of his men stood round about him, somewhat afar off: when we came to the shore to him with our weapons, he never moved from his place, nor any of the other four, nor never mistrusted any harm to be offered from us, but sitting still, he beckoned us to come and sit by him, which we performed: and being set, he makes all signs of joy, and welcome, striking on his head, and his breast, and afterwards on ours, to show we were all one, smiling, and making show the best he could, of all love, and familiarity." ("Amadas and Barlowe," 2013).
In 1586, Sir Francis Drake stopped off at Roanoke Island after his own expedition. The settlers were short on food and supplies, suffered through a cold winter, and on poor terms with the Natives, so they gave up and they joined Drake on his ships headed back to England. (Watson, 2012) It has been theorized that less than a week after the settlers left with Drake, two supply ships arrived on Roanoke Island. ("The Lost Colony," 2002-9). Sir Richard Grenville, the leader, left behind fifteen men to look after the fort to secure England's claim. Grenville and crew returned to England. ("Roanoke Villages," 2013).
The most extensive primary account of the first English settlers was written by Barlowe and was published in 1589 in Hakluyt's Principal Navigations. Barlowe's purpose for writing was to promote Raleigh's plan to colonize the settlement. Barlowe's account depicted the Roanoke Natives as ideal. He said they were willing to welcome and trade with English colonists. If there were any unsavory experiences during the exploration or with the Natives, Barlowe left them out of his writing. ("Amadas and Barlowe," 2013).
According to Barlowe, between July and August of 1584, the English were received by Granganimeo (brother of the Native King) "...came along to the place [on the shore] over against the ships, followed with forty men. When he came to the place, his servants spread a long mat upon the ground, on which he sat down, and at the other end of the mat, four others of his company did the like: the rest of his men stood round about him, somewhat afar off: when we came to the shore to him with our weapons, he never moved from his place, nor any of the other four, nor never mistrusted any harm to be offered from us, but sitting still, he beckoned us to come and sit by him, which we performed: and being set, he makes all signs of joy, and welcome, striking on his head, and his breast, and afterwards on ours, to show we were all one, smiling, and making show the best he could, of all love, and familiarity." ("Amadas and Barlowe," 2013).
According to Barlowe, the English
explorers gave Granganimeo gifts. In just a day or two after their first encounter,
trading began. The Natives supplied the explorers with food, visited
their ships, and once joined them for dinner on the ship. Barlowe
recalled eating dinner with Granganimeo's wife in her home: "We were entertained with all love, and
kindness, and with as much bounty, after their manner, as they could possibly
devise. We found the people most gentle, loving, and faithful, void of all
guile, and treason, and such as lived after the manner of the golden
age." ("Amadas and Barlowe," 2013).
Barlowe wrote that in August 1584, they departed for England. This was only after exploring the Roanoke area, learning about the Natives, and testing the soil for planting. The expedition arrived in England in September of 1584. ("Amadas and Barlowe," 2013). |