The Lost Colony and Hatteras Island

by Scott Davis Dawson

For over 400 years, the mystery of Roanoke's "Lost Colony" has puzzled historians and spawned conspiracies--until now. New discoveries link the lost colony of Roanoke to Hatteras Island.

The legend of the Lost Colony has been captivating imaginations for nearly a century. When they left Roanoke Island, where did they go? What is the meaning of the mysterious word Croatoan? In the sixteenth century, Croatoan was the name of an island to the south now known as Hatteras. Scholars have long considered the island as one of the colonists' possible destinations, but only recently has anyone set out to prove it. Archaeologists from the University of Bristol, working with local residents through the Croatoan Archaeological Society, have uncovered tantalizing clues to the fate of the colony. Hatteras native and amateur archaeologist Scott Dawson compiles what scholars know about the Lost Colony along with what scholars have found beneath the soil of Hatteras.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Audiobook, Science, Archaeology, American

163 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 15, 2020

About the author

Scott Dawson is a researcher, author, and founder of the Croatoan Archaeological Society, which has led archaeological excavations on Hatteras Island, a barrier island off the North Carolina coast, to uncover the mystery of what happened to members of "Lost Colony" at nearby Roanoke. His recent book, The Lost Colony and Hatteras Island, documents his team’s discoveries over the last ten years.

Dawson himself is a native Hatteras Island, having grown up less than a mile from the Croatoan village site. His family can trace their roots on Hatteras back to the 1600's when a Dutchman named Thomas Mueller shipwrecked on the island, was rescued by the Croatoan Indians, and later married a Croatoan woman named Rea. In 2002, Scott received a degree in Psychology with a minor in history from the University of Tennessee.

Currently, Scott manages the local Croatoan Inn and Museum in Buxton on Hatteras Island, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice suprise in this book for me. I had it all wrong! I picked this book up on a recent trip to Hatteras Island. I’m not originally from North Carolina, so I was not taught its history in school. My kids got it though. There is a popular outdoor play put on every summer that is called The Lost Colony. It’s been going strong since 1937. I wonder if they’ll need to do a second part to the production? The story is about the first English settlers in North America (people who came with families and intended to settle here). They landed on Roanoke Island in 1587 in present day North Carolina. Because of unforeseen circumstances they weren’t checked on again for three years. When the supply party returned the colonists weren’t there but had left a mysterious word “CROATOAN” carved on a tree. The drama has been extremely popular but as it turns out has taught rubbish as history.

I’d heard the story but hadn’t questioned it. It was taught to my children! The first half of Dawson’s book deals with the three exploratory landings of the English in the late 16th century as well as the “lost” colony. Actually abandoned not lost. Part 2 of the book deals with fairly recent archaeological work that has been done on Hatteras Island. Great stuff.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I was born, I have grown up vacationing on the Outer Banks, and my father grew up doing the same. My love and interest in history was fostered by this yearly trip when my dad would take us to see all the historical landmarks, museums, and enthusiastically retell the story of the Lost Colony. When I was 10, in 2005, although many theories were out there, the Lost Colony was still considered to be lost. Now, in my lifetime, it can no longer be classified as such and I cannot believe I lived to see the day. The first half of Scott Dawson’s book retells the story of the Lost Colony, reminding us of the voyages that came before to North Carolina and how relations with the Secotan tribe transformed to a visceral one, but how the Croatoan remained faithful allies, and how Queen Elizabeth was adamant about conquering Spain. In the second half, he talks about everything that has been found since then, proving that the Lost Colony was never lost, it was abandoned. For the benefit of everyone, it was better for it to be Lost and never found. King James (Elizabeth’s predecessor) wanted Raleigh and everyone who supported Elizabeth dead (which he made happen) and money was to be made in the years to come in North Carolina with this riveting mystery. The fact is, John White knew where the colony was. For whatever reason, they were in trouble, and did exactly as they were told. They wrote “CROATOAN” on a tree which White later found, and went off to live with the Croatoan, marry, raise families and become one, mixed tribe. There are still questions to be answered, but the main mystery has been solved, and Scott Dawson explains in even more depth how. I only hope that our history books will be rewritten with this new truth.

[Dee Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audible.com 4 hours 12 min. Narrated by Tim Getman (B)

What became of Viginia Dare? And all those who were a part of Roanoke, the "Lost Colony." We'll probably never know, but history does tell us that the first colony was never really lost. Archeological evidence places the stranded first colonists on Hatteras Island, North Carolina. An interesting book and a good reader.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tagged this as science (shelf) because it is a scholarly book. As a kid I read about the mystery of the lost colony, and the message they left carved into a tree 'Croatoan'. I read fictional spinoffs about the lost colony - I think one was by Harlan Ellison, possibly a graphic novel It was framed as a real life mystery from the 1500's.

Well turns out, there is (and has been for some time) ample evidence that the colony was not lost, that they assimilated with a group of native people. This book presents, in a scholarly fashion, the evidence and the happenings of the not-lost colony. The author, in the introduction, speculates that the non-mystery was pitched as a mystery for so many years because mysteries produced dollars and interest. I think it's more likely that racism and stereotypes of native cultures played a role in the shrouding of the true story of this colony.

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cape Hatteras resident Scott Dawson obtains a history degree, he reads the orginal source documents of the history in his backyard to discover that Governor John White indeed DID know what the secret message CROATOAN means.
Further exploration and collection of artifacts on his island, then a self-published book draws the attention of Professor Mark Horton from England, to partner with Dawson to discover the true history of a colony that was never lost.
This easy read details this search in fascinating detail.
This was especially fun to read while on my first trip to the Outer Banks. We visited the site of the "Lost Colony" the other day, so now I can't wait to visit Cape Hatteras.
So glad my daughter-in-love bought this book for me when she and my son were visiting here a couple of years ago. She knew my love for history, and she picked a great book! I saved the book to read while "on-site". So glad I did!
This book is definitely going into my Teacher library!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very informative survey of the earliest voyages from England to the American Continent, as well as the history of the "Lost Colony" and the probable fate of the colonists. I've watched the episode of Expedition Unknown that features the subject of the Lost Colony (the author was even part of the production!), and this adds even more to what the episode was able to show us. A great read.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book with supported archaeological research that leads to a result that isn’t surprising at all, and does deflate the legends and the mystery of what happened to the Roanoke Island colony. The author concludes that what happened would have been obvious to anyone in authority investigating at the time, and criticizes The Lost Colony play and other works of media that have perpetuated a myth that was begun out of racial attitudes of the time.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book provides a comprehensive look at the formation of the Roanoke colony of 1587 and the likely outcome of this “missing” colony. Making use of primary sources and recent archaeology, a convincing argument is made that those who needed to know were aware of where the colonists went during the three year wait for supplies.

[JenRaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 very interesting information on archaeological digs on Hatteras Island, NC.

[Kristin Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gotta say, I REALLY enjoyed this. One of the things that I have always been terribly interested in was the Lost Colony of Roanoke, however it seems now it was not lost. And I have to say I'm really satisfied by the explanations given by the author. So much of this information I have not heard before and it's certainly not something that I've heard or seen from TV shows investigating this subject matter. This gives a really good explanation of the fact that the colony at Roanoke was not lost, it was simply misplaced. And that makes good sense. There is one more book that I am going to read about this that was suggested by Amazon, but I feel like I have a good bead on what happened now and why the mystery was stoked up in the first place.

[Tulsi Gabbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was 20 years in the making. The main point is to disabuse the public of the mythology surrounding the lost colony. The Croatoan Indians were in contact with the English for years before the lost colony and had always been their allies. Both the Croatoan and the English were at war with the Secotan tribe. Manteo, who had been to England twice was Croatoan. In the mythology Croatoan is pitched s a mysterious word on a tree and no one knows what it means. It is time for schools to stop repeating the lie that know one knows what Croatoan means when they are central to the history and showed nothing but love and charity towards the English only to be marginalized to a funny word on a tree just to prop up a myth.

Finding some artifacts from the colony in a Croatoan Indian village is great it helps explain the fate of the colony. The colony were not the only people who became lost though. Thanks to the myth created by the lost colony play (that for reasons unknown became taught in schools) the Croatoan were lost. Despite 900 pages of first hand written documents about this tribe they have been reduced to a mystery word and that needs to end.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this book is exactly what I didn't realize I was looking for. The mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke is a part of a recent in change in my junior high ELA curriculum, and last year I muddled my way through it. This year, I wanted to be more prepared for the debate! Overall, Part 1 was far more what I was looking for (though the writing did seem to wander a bit); at first I didn't care for Part 2, but by the end, I was grateful for the scientific knowledge of the archeological process and the honest final reflections that while there is significant evidence the colonists ended up on Hatteras Island, it was not the only possible interpretation. Simply, it is the most likely.

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good collection of primary accounts, but the writing is lackluster and elementary. It reads more as a long essay written by someone whose only writing experience is school essays. It is also INCREDIBLY REPETITIVE, giving the same information in the same words over and over again.

In addition, the tone in some places is incredibly off putting, alternately self-congratulatory, sulky, sarcastic, and informal. In many places he bemoans the stupidity or ineptitude of various organizations without whose interference he would surely have made more important discoveries, which just left me with a bad taste.

This would have benefitted from better organization and editing.

[Linda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love local history books. This is readable and summarizes the English expeditions to NC in the 1580s. The archaeology in the second half is amazing. I wish a good publisher would recognize the merit of this work and provide more editing/marketing. I learn constantly about the myths that are taught as fact in public schools and this is a good example- Roanoke colony was never lost, they just went to Hatteras Island. C

[Jim Kitzmiller · Rating 1 out of 5]

When a history person steps away from his research and steps up onto a soapbox, I reconsider the accuracy of his analysis of that research. When the bias shows up, even if I'm on the same side of things, I have to assume that the human nature has taken over to taint the analysis.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating history and archaeology that connect the Lost Colony at Roanoke to Frisco, Buxton, and Hatteras, NC.

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an ok book, good information but very repetitive

[M.J. Pankey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the words Croatoan and Roanake have ever left you in a state of intense curiosity, you MUST read this non-fiction book about it.

I read about the lost colony of Roanoke in middle school and it's definitely one of my Roman Empires. In fact, thinking about it now, the tiny little passage I read about it might have been the very catalyst that made me ravenous to explore history more in depth, even pursue a graduate degree in it.

At the beginning of September, two writer friends and I booked an Airbnb for a Writer's Retreat over Labor Day weekend on Hatteras Island. Our last day there, we explored some of the shops and came across an absolute gem of a museum run by the author of this book, Scott Dawson. Archeological finds from the island are on display from several digs conducted on the island, along with this book. I bought it to support a fellow author, not really thinking I would learn anything new. But man was I WRONG.

This book combines the archeological findings of Scott and a team from the UK with first hand written accounts from the colonizers of the early 1600s to paint an absolutely incredible picture of what exactly happened to the Lost Colony. It's honestly incredible that these findings have not been portrayed in our text books. The author makes a compelling, and passionate, argument for why this is at the very beginning of this book. Admittedly, I was a bit put off after reading it because it sounded very personal to him and I was skeptical about how the rest of the book would go. I'm very glad I chose to keep reading because the rest of it is very well put together, very objective, very scholarly, with evidence presented as it is and without added fluff or bias. I think the author's note/foreword would have been better placed at the end of the book. If you pick this one up, maybe keep that mind.

I encourage everyone who has ever found the story of the word Croatoan carved into a tree the only evidence that an entire colony ever existed intriguing to read this book. It's so so good, and I can honestly sleep better at night knowing this lingering question has finally been answered for me. Seriously.

It's a short read too and well written, easily digested. I read it all over one weekend.

[KB · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read if you’re interested in (or mildly obsessed with) the Lost Colony. The first part of the book is a quick overview of Raleigh’s three expeditions to the New World and of what is known about the search for members of the last expedition. There are minor—and easily overlooked—typos and formatting issues, but the book provides surprising and invaluable information on the archeological work that has occurred, and is still occurring, on Hatteras Island and, at times, on Roanoke in the search for John White’s colonists. Digs that the author has personally been involved in. A trove of amazing items have been found, some dating back to the time of the three expeditions in the 1580s. Many of which are on exhibit in Hatteras Village. The author’s description of these items gives historical breath to the Croatoan and their connection to the colonists.

The author doesn’t present his own theory as fact as other authors do, but instead addresses some of the why’s and why didn’ts. Questions I’ve been asking as well, so I appreciate the addition.

The lack of footnotes bothered me. I needed them at times. In particular when he said Menatonon was king of the Croatoan instead of king of the Chowanoc. I wanted to know how he reached this conclusion. A footnote would have helped. A minor issue for me though. Overall, the information in the archeological section blew me away. After reading the book, we decided to head over to Hatteras soon to see the artifacts and to stand where the Croatoan and the surviving colonists stood.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really this should be 4.5, but Goodreads doesn't seem to allow that. Anyway, the author does an amazing job of integrating local cultural knowledge and modern archaeological processes. He works with primary sources and recovered artifacts to paint the story of what most likely happened to the Roanoke colonists. His arguments make a lot of sense, and he shows, when possible, quotes from primary sources explaining his points. The first part of the book is a history lesson that puts the Roanoke colony in context, while the second details archaeological finds, giving the most credence to those found in context.
I only have two small criticisms of the book:
1. The author repeats himself as if the chapters were written separately and then put together. Otherwise each chapter builds on what was previously presented.
2. I have listened to this author on podcasts talk about how anti-Indigenous racism has played a part in keeping the accurate history out of the mainstream narrative. While that is briefly mentioned in the book, I feel like more could have been said.
Other than those two things, this book is a valuable resource for people interested in the colonial history of North Carolina and Virginia, or the early history of Algonquian groups in what is now North Carolina.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an intriguing and interesting read. The author was born and raised on Hatteras island, and he believes the Lost Colony went to Croatoan which is Hatteras Island. He provides incite from primary sources about the trips to the new world prior to 1587 as well as during the trip with the colonist. He then provides pictures and descriptions of their archeological digs through the past several years. He has convinced me that the colonist moved to Hatteras island. In addition, I find it extremely interesting that several historical sites have lost archaeological evidence. For instance, a boy found a sword in the 1920s or 1930s and the NC museum of history took it, and they tell the author who had to make many calls to get any answers that they have no record of it. Also, the Lost Colony site on Roanoke Island has lost a Nuremberg token found at the Roanoke site. Apparently, they had placed it in storage in FL. Lastly, archeological digs done in 1990s are still in storage at ECU more than 30 years later with no plans for display of the artifacts and many haven’t been analyzed yet. Even some have been lost when being transported to further investigate them. Author states their artifacts are displayed in Hatteras which I hope to see this Oct. This book is well worth the read.

[Ronnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that is necessary to understand about the first contact between Europeans and the Amerindians. I lived in North Carolina for 18 months, courtesy of being in the Army at Fort Bragg. North Carolina is beautiful country. The Mountains and the seashore. I drove all along the coast but never far enough to Nags Head. Fort Fischer...Carolina Beach...Wrightsville Beach..Surf City...Morehead Beach....By far Fort Fischer Beach and Carolina Beach was my stomping grounds. I had heard stories of people living in the woods and near islands but I never ventured. This book is a good connection with Jamestown and John Smith. Their stories are intermingled and interwoven. The richness of this is presented by how the individual intermingled and lived together regardless of the racist mores of the times. Self-preservation and common sense governed behaviors that otherwise would have left the people remaining extinct. My only gripe is why didn't they do DNA testing on the Amerindian and Europeans who now live there. This book makes me thirsty and hungry for more information of Hatteras.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are very mysteries in the history of the US (let alone the world) that are quite as intriguing as the disappearance of the English colony that settled in North Carolina in the 1580s & eventually vanished leaving behind just the word "Croatoan". Scott Dawson makes a compelling case that this colony was never truly lost & just relocated in "The lost Colony & Hatteras Island". In this fascinating book, he presents the evidence based on the historical record as well as the archaeological record that these colonists didn't disappear, but relocated to Hatteras Island where they would thrive & mix with the natives in order to survive. The evidence is also pointed out of the racism that existed in the early part of the 17th century that deemed these potentially mixed group of individuals as sub-human & not worthy of recognition. While as of this book's publication in 2020, Dawson didn't have the 100% smoking gun of proof, there is enough evidence that if you look at everything and piece it together for what he is saying to be true which would finally end the mystery of the lost colony of Roanoke Island once and for all.

[Steve Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone interested in the history of the Lost Colony in particular or the Outer Banks in general. Dawson does a great job of summarizing the history of the colony and putting it into the political context of the times. Most of this was new to me and a very interesting summary of what is known to have happened and some speculation about what might have happened to try to fill in the blanks. The archaeological evidence is intriguing but doesn't provide complete proof. The writing is not in an academic style so should be accessible to anyone and makes for a very interesting story. How much of it is true is not completely clear but it is certainly plausible. Hopefully there will be funding for more thorough excavations and maybe some genetic testing of Hatteras Island natives to test for genetic markers from the original colonists - the time may be a bit long for that but should be worth trying. Highly recommended to learn about the fascinating history of this long-standing, real-life mystery

[Marie Carmean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been interested in the Lost Colony for years. Jamestown history and archaeology began the thread and I followed that extensive reading with everything written about the 1587 colonists and the mystery surrounding them. At last it is understood, through careful research and archaeological finds, that the colonists DID indeed go to Croatoan, which is now Hatteras Island, North Carolina. This book shows that White, on his delayed return, tried to get to Croatoan after he discovered the colony had moved. Yet, a hurricane hit and he was unable to get to the island. But he knew they were there in a very friendly Native atmosphere, and not in danger. This book goes through all of the historic references and the archaeology and shows that the Lost Colony was not truly lost but assimilated into the Indian society with whom they lived. I loved this book! And I love knowing the truth about the colonists. It's about time the truth was revealed. Not a permanent English colony like Jamestown, it was indeed the first.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having spent time on the Outer Banks for over 50 years this book appealed to me. It didn't disappoint. The author's premise is that the settlers on Roanoke(Lost Colony)migrated to Hatteras Island once the ship that was to return from England with supplies never arrived. Dawson is President of the Croatoan Archaeological Society and has worked with archaeologists from the University of Bristol for several years. Digs have have revealed artifacts that support his premise. The book is divided into two sections; the first gives the history of four missions between 1584 and 1590. the second discusses the archaeological efforts that have taken place and shares results. Written in a manner accessible to the non-expert the work is accompanied by a bibliography and an index. Excerpts from primary sources are included in the text. The inclusion of historic and current maps would have added value. This is a valuable contribution to the history of the Lost Colony and that of the Outer Banks.

[Jane Wiseman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting information but account wanders

I got a lot out of this book, but I’d like to compare it to accounts by professional archaeologists and historians. It’s truly shocking, though, to discover how carelessly some of these artifacts and pieces of evidence have been collected and stored, many lost, some rediscovered by chance— and how much important historical evidence has been cavalierly destroyed by development. Climate change with subsequent erosion of the coastline may finish the job of making this important history close to unreachable— as lost as the supposedly “lost” colony. I found the author’s main point compelling—that the colony was not “lost” but abandoned due to unforeseen historical and natural events ( the Spanish Armada preventing resupply, hurricanes, even a volcanic eruption thousands of miles away)— and the colonists assimilated into indigenous groups.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the lost colony of Roanoke that ostensibly disappeared without a trace at some point between 1587 and 1590, leaving behind no indication of its fate other than the word "Croatoan" carved into a tree, is one that has fascinated many over the years - and I'm no exception. As Dawson argues (and backs up with plently of evidence both from written sources and recent archaeological digs), the colony was never in fact "lost", but rather relocated to Hatteras Island, then known as Croatoan, and assimilated into the native tribe living there, eventually forging a blended society. A very interesting read.

[Jenna Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book lays out the known information of the earliest English colonists and their friendly relationship with the Croatoan tribe located on Hatteras Island near present-day Buxton. The author sites many primary sources as well as details the artifacts found on Hatteras and how they are connected to the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke. Based on the information provided, it looks like the early colonists of Roanoke Island relocated to the Croatoan village.

I enjoyed learning about customs of the Tidewater Native Americans as well as the motives of the early European expeditions to the United States.

[Morgan Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOU MEAN THERE'S AN ACTUAL ANSWER FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COLONY OF ROANOKE?!!

For anyone wanting the true history of the not lost just abandoned Roanoke Colony with sources and archeological evidence found in Hatteras, this is for you. Very compelling. Easy read.

The mystery of Roanoke has plagued me since first hearing about it in seventh grade (given no theories. just "mysteriously" disappeared which bothered me.) I spent my honeymoon visiting historical museums in the outer banks learning all the theories that my North Carolinian husband grew up learning. And now finally some real answers. So this was an incredibly satisfying book to read. I love closure and when things make sense.