What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lost Colony of Roanoke
The Lost Colony of Roanoke is one of the most puzzling mysteries in America's history. In 1587, 115 colonists sailed to the new world, eager to build the brand new Cittie of Raleigh, only to disappear practically without a trace. Where did they go? What could have possibly happened? Who better to collect and share the clues than Jean Fritz and Hudson Talbott?
The creators of Leonardo's Horse, an American Library Association Notable Book, again combine their masterful talents to illuminate a tragic piece of history that still fascinates Americans today.
The creators of Leonardo's Horse, an American Library Association Notable Book, again combine their masterful talents to illuminate a tragic piece of history that still fascinates Americans today.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 2004
4 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Jean Fritz
97 books156 followersJean Guttery Fritz was an American children's writer best known for American biography and history. She won the Children's Legacy Literature Award for her career contribution to American children's literature in 1986. She turned 100 in November 2015 and died in May 2017 at the age of 101.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 22, 2015
The Lost Colony of Roanoke is a great book! I enjoyed reading it because the author presents the information in an interesting way, so that you get information but do not feel like you are reading an article or a textbook. It is an easy read and is not dry at all, and I believe students would be captivated by the mystery that is the lost colony! This is a great book to hook students that may not like history because of how it is written and with the pictures and diagrams that help the reader have a deep understanding of what happened up until the mysterious disappearance. The author even presents several ideas as to what happened to the colony, but leaves it up to the reader to decide what they think.
This book would be great for students because they get a lot of information, but it is presented in a way that will keep them captivated! The expressions on the faces of the illustrated characters are very engaging and the pictures are very in-depth. At the same time, some pages only have a border and do not have lots of pictures. I think the author did a good job alternating between wordy pages and pages with lots of illustrations. The way the author speaks is so that the reader feels like they are hearing a story being told to them firsthand, so it is great to keep students interested! Overall, this is a great book I would recommend to my future students.
This book would be great for students because they get a lot of information, but it is presented in a way that will keep them captivated! The expressions on the faces of the illustrated characters are very engaging and the pictures are very in-depth. At the same time, some pages only have a border and do not have lots of pictures. I think the author did a good job alternating between wordy pages and pages with lots of illustrations. The way the author speaks is so that the reader feels like they are hearing a story being told to them firsthand, so it is great to keep students interested! Overall, this is a great book I would recommend to my future students.
November 6, 2011
Part of literature unit:
One hundred and fifty people missing, as if they disappeared into thin air, the country of England wondered what happened to this group of colonists. The lost colony of Roanoke is a true mystery from history, with only a few clues to go by, including the letters CRO carved into a tree; historians for decades have wondered what became of these people. This book provides a lot of important background information for the reader as to how and why the area of Roanoke had been settled, including difficulties with survival. Illustrations embedded in the text provide a clear picture of important people as well as picture map of how typical colonies were laid out. The last chapter of the book focuses on clues that historians have considered when trying to decide the fate of the early Roanoke Colony. This book would be a fantastic resource for a student independent research project on mysteries in history. I would recommend this book for grades 4-8.
One hundred and fifty people missing, as if they disappeared into thin air, the country of England wondered what happened to this group of colonists. The lost colony of Roanoke is a true mystery from history, with only a few clues to go by, including the letters CRO carved into a tree; historians for decades have wondered what became of these people. This book provides a lot of important background information for the reader as to how and why the area of Roanoke had been settled, including difficulties with survival. Illustrations embedded in the text provide a clear picture of important people as well as picture map of how typical colonies were laid out. The last chapter of the book focuses on clues that historians have considered when trying to decide the fate of the early Roanoke Colony. This book would be a fantastic resource for a student independent research project on mysteries in history. I would recommend this book for grades 4-8.
January 26, 2015
I've been fascinated by the lost colony of Roanoke ever since I was a young schoolgirl. This book for older elementary-aged children, by Jean Fritz, goes into quite a lot of detail about the four expeditions to Roanoke Island backed by Sir Walter Raleigh, the relationships (good and bad) between the English and the natives, and the chance meeting with Sir Francis Drake's fleet. The book also explores the clues found much later to explain what happened to the fourteen families who went to colonize Roanoke Island but were left to fend for themselves alone for three years. When their governor returned, none of the colonists were ever found. Some of the clues turned out to be fakes, and some were unproven conjectures. What a mystery!
November 19, 2012
I enjoyed The Lost Colony of Roanoke by Jean Fritz. Fritz has a way of making history come alive. Her writing is geared for upper elementary school students or middle school students, and her book subsequently provides an increasing amount of detail about the colony’s purpose and possible reasons for its disappearance. Fritz’s book is lavishly illustrated by Hudson Talbott, and the beautiful illustrations make it a lovely book for pondering over.
The author does not tell exactly what happened to the colony at Roanoke, of course. No one knows. But the book provides lots of clues for possibilities. The author leaves it to the child reader to decide for themselves what they think happened.
The author does not tell exactly what happened to the colony at Roanoke, of course. No one knows. But the book provides lots of clues for possibilities. The author leaves it to the child reader to decide for themselves what they think happened.
November 26, 2015
Easily 5 out of 5 stars for me. I've always been fascinated with histories mysteries and Roanoke is no exception. I will read any book on the subject whether it be for kids or adults. I loved this one. It was easy to read, the illustrations were absolutely gorgeous, and it was informative! I can't think of a better review than that besides please read this! It won't take but a bit of your time because it's so short and it will be totally worth it, I promise.
November 10, 2008
I enjoyed remembering about this puzzling spot in history. Just what happened to the colony of Roanoke? Interesting facts and theories.
I admit that I am partial to Jean Fritz. I like how she writes and makes history and it's people come alive for the reader. There is good reason that she is considered one of the top biographers writing for children today.
I admit that I am partial to Jean Fritz. I like how she writes and makes history and it's people come alive for the reader. There is good reason that she is considered one of the top biographers writing for children today.
July 31, 2009
*Biographical Book* This is a story about the first colony attempted on the America's by England. After many attempts, the colony is abandoned. The book even ventures into why it may have happened, and who could be to blame. I really like how different anecdotes about the characters (like King James did not like smoking) that taught me things I did not know before.
July 29, 2009
Biography: The book describes the characters and story of the finding and settling of the Roanoke colony in an early America. After describing about the colony soon becoming lost, it explores some of the clues that help us understand what might have happened to the colony.
April 18, 2010
So, I got this book because Emily visited here, but apparently I checked out the wrong copy. This is written on a first grade level. I read it anyway, because, afterall, it IS a book, but now I have to find one on the topic written on a much higher reading level.
August 2, 2012
This is one part of American history that has always fascinated me. The mystery around the disappearance of the colonists at Roanoke is cleverly told and includes great illustrations. This is a book that could easily get a student more interested in history.
July 13, 2012
Another well-written nonfiction brings readers into the puzzle of an historical event. Talbott’s art and Fritz’s storytelling tell the stories and theories about Roanoke and lets us know that about some things, “we will just have to wonder.”
April 25, 2013
This is an interesting story about the voyage to the New World.
May 13, 2013
Juvenile book about the ages-old mystery of what happened to the Roanoke colonists, including little Virginia Dare, the first child born in America.
September 10, 2013
We often enjoy this author. Her material is thorough but not boring for little people.
August 6, 2014
Came back from a vacation in the area and wanted to refresh historical information.
October 27, 2014
It was very good for a children's book. A very nice overview of the history.
September 26, 2016
I love reading children's history - I learn so much so fast! Great read!
May 18, 2018
Funny and informative. This is one of my favorite mysteries.
May 24, 2019
I love the cover and the font of the title, as well as the the title page with the ship shrouded in mist, a gray, foggy page. It captures the mysterious feel. I loved the first two pages with the outline of America, labeled the New World, and the portraits of Native American chiefs. The illustrator painted Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain with the city below her, and Sir Walter Raleigh who was in charge of British colonization in America. They had different colored lines pointed to America, labeled the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th voyage along with how many ships there were and passengers, and the date they sailed. They showed portraits of the Dares above their journey. Amazing info and nice to look at.
It was nice that the illustrator wrote in the dedication that it was for indigenous people of America with his prayer for forgiveness and healing.
It's amazing that Jean Fritz heard that an archaeological team was digging at Cape Hatteras for clues from the Lost Colony and she went there and invited an anthropologist friend. She's in a wheelchair and couldn't dig herself but she sifted sand for artifacts. She visited the Lumbee in Robeson County and spoke with an expert on Lumbee history, and explored the archives at UNC Pembroke.
In the 1500s, every country wanted land in America. Spain had claimed a lot and named it Florida. The English weren't ready to settle but they chased Spanish ships because they wanted their treasures. Their queen loved pearls. Queen Elizabeth didn't want to marry and she didn't want to war with Spain. There were a lot of men who liked to hang out at court, and her favorite was Walter Raleigh. It's said that when they were out walking they came to a mud puddle and he took his coat off and put it over the puddle for her to walk on. He wanted to help settle the New World. He asked a friend who had a show stone that showed the future and described the islands. He asked 2 men to check it out and they reported back about good headdresses and friendly natives and Queen Elizabeth knighted him. He named the land Virginia to honor the virgin queen.
The men had brought back 2 Indians, one, Manteo, who loved England, and Wanchese, who hated it.
Ralph Lane was his second in command and since they were told to smite hostile Indians, he gave the men the order to smite them hip and thigh. I've never heard that expression and had no idea what it meant.
They settled on the island and built cabins, wooden two-story cabins with grass roofs. The officer and "gentleman" cabins were outside the fort. Common soldiers were inside.
Lane and his men would travel and if Manteo was with them he would be their interpreter because he learned English. If he wasn't, they tried to talk with their hands. Most of the time they were fed; they often made friends but sometimes enemies.
They met an Indian and he said Wingina, and Wingandoca, which they thought was his name and his home. But Wingina was the king and he said you wear nice clothes.
They asked where copper and pearls were and Menatonon, king of the Choanokes, gave Lane a rope of black pearls and info on the land and offered guides. Lane kidnapped the king's favorite son, handcuffed him, and then put irons on his legs when he tried to fun because he didn't know if he could trust the king.
It was really morbid the way she wrote that the men were very hungry. One day they ate the two dogs' porridge and the next day they ate the dogs. I hated that.
Wingina's people moved and Menatonon's son told them that the king had a meeting and said they could starve the English out or kill them. Lane didn't want his brains knocked out so he attacked the Indians, telling his men to leave their white shirttails out and not shoot them. Wingina was killed.
Sir Francis Drake was England's most daring seaman, made famous for his attacks on Spanish ships.
Sir Walter Raleigh was rumored to have started writing love poems to the queen's lady in waiting. Since the last trip failed, he wanted to set up a permanent colony with families settling on the land. He wanted to settle at Chesapeake Bay and call it the Cittie of Raleigh. He appointed John White as governor. Raleigh offered 500 acres to anyone who wanted to settle. John knew this promise couldn't be kept while Indians were there. And no one could possible cultivate that much land without oxen, horses, plows, and luck. His daughter, Eleanor White Dare and her husband Ananais Dare wanted to go. Simon Fernandez, a Portuguese navigator, came but he thwarted the efforts and didn't get the supplies he promised. They were supposed to go to Virginia but he mistook Cape Fear in NC for Manteo's home, Croatan, on Cape Hatteras. They reached Roanoke and he told a man to tell them this was as far as they went.
I liked the illustration of a typical a Indian village. A river, for field guard hut, homes, solemn feast area, ripe corn, sunflowers, pumpkins, young corn, tobacco, prayer area, feasting area, celebration area, and a tomb for kings and princes. It showed the girls with the posts, and men dancing around, which I've seen firsthand at Roanoke Island.
On an earlier trip the hotheaded Grenville had left 15 men while he sailed back to England. One's bones were found and them a member of this party had been found to be shot 16 times and his head beaten to bits (she's a bit bloodthirsty). Manteo told them 11 of the men had escaped. John told them to gather the leaders of the towns who had shot the man, but they didn't. He wanted to teach them a lesson so they attacked the Indians at night, but in the morning learned they had been fighting Manteo's friendly tribe by mistake. They made Manteo Lord of Roanoke.
Eleanor had Virginia Dare on Aug 18 1587, the first English child born here. They didn't have any supplies and no one wanted to go so they volunteered John. He finally agreed, but asked them to carve the name of the place they were going on a tree or post. And if they were in danger they would draw a cross over the message.
John ended up in Ireland after bad weather and accidents on the ship. The Irish told them they wouldn't be going back to sea. England was at war with Spain and Queen Elizabeth was keeping her ships close to home.
John didn't get to come back until 3 years later in 1590. They saw smoke and thought it was a signal. Captain Cocke had the trumpets play and the men called out friendly. No one came so they sang English songs, of the sea, hymns and love songs. There were no and amens at the end of the hymns and no singing along. They found Roanoke deserted and the houses gone. 3 letters "CRO" were carved in a tree. Then at a conspicuous place at the fort's entrance they found the word CROATAN. John figured they were safe because this was Manteo's home and there was no cross above it.
But a storm came before they could set sail there and they were blown north. They went to England and the story around the country was told that the colony was lost. 115 people gone.
It was a powerful line that she wrote: "It is still hard for Americans to look at the country's history and see that hole right at the very beginning. And after more than four hundred years that hole is still there..." That's incredible to think about.
In 1600 England had won the war but failed to establish the first English colony. In 1603 Elizabeth died, and James, the son of Mary Queen of Scots, took the throne. He was interested in the colonies and Jamestown, the first colony, was established in 1607. He couldn't stand smoking though, hated the Indian tobacco and pipes people brought back. He was funny that he would make a face and say "Phew, phew." Sir Walter had a silver pipe and James made his nastiest face to him. How funny.
He ordered the Jamestown colonists to look for the lost ones. John Smith was the most adventurous colonist and picked up the most clues. The Powhatan chief told him that his men had massacred them. He didn't report this, except maybe only to the king. It wasn't until 10 years later that it was widely known.
John sent men on expeditions into the interior. Indians told them there were 2 men, 4 boys, and a maid working as slaves in a copper mine. But they didn't see them because they weren't allowed. Someone reported seeing a yellow-haired boy but he ran away. There was a tribe of bearded Indians reported, and Indians didn't have beards.
Before James died he claimed that Raleigh had plotted against him, had him sent to the Tower of London and eventually beheaded. I was shocked and couldn't believe the man I heard about in the Lost Colony play, the one who has streets named after him, met that kind of end.
John White gave up on the colonists and gave them up to God's mercy. The most believable story was Powhatan's story about murdering them, but the English didn't believe it because they'd never heard of it before and John hadn't written about it. It was generally accepted that they divided into two parties, some went I to the interior and others went to Croatan. They believed at least some were still alive. Many from Jamestown saw cross carved into trees, indicating a Christian presence. There were the initials "MA and NJ" on a tree in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They thought they could stand for the missing colonists Morris Allen and Nicolas Johnson. But Fritz said it's not a convincing clue because these could be initials from people before of after the lost colonists.
The NC colony wanted to know more so in 1703 they had John Lawson survey. He met the Croatan Indians at Cape Hatteras and they said they had ancestors who dressed like him and could make books speak, meaning reading. That's a cool line. There was no info on when they got there, or how long they stayed, but John saw a number who had gray eyes.
I hated the jump the story made. It wasn't until 1937 that it picked back up. A grocer from California found a stone with marks that said Ananias Dare + Virginis went hence unto Heaven 1591 and the other side said Anye Englishman shew John White gov Via. He took it to a college in Atlanta who offered to pay.
I had heard about the stones on a show on the history channel, about how someone had claimed to have found a stone but it turned out to be fake and everyone started bringing in stones they had faked just for the money being offered.
I felt bad that the professors bought up a hill where rocks with Eleanor's name were found but found nothing. There were 48 stones turned in and they said all the colonists but 7 were murdered. And she married a chief and had a daughter, and begged her dad to take her daughter to England before she died. The professors found that the grocer was friends with two of the other stone finders and were suspicious. An Elizabethan scholar debunked them because the writing wasn't Gothic script, which they would have written in if they wrote at all. It was Roman script which only a highly educated person would have known.
Indians in Robeson County claim to be descended from the lost colonists. Because if they divided into two groups, then must have assimilated with Indians. Some settled on the Lumbee River and called themselves Lumbees. They argued with the US gov for years before being recognized as Indians, but not a separate tribe because they don't have their own language or rituals. They said 41 of the 95 surnames of the colonists were in use by them. Spelling was diff back then that the names might vary. Raleigh could be spelled in over 70 ways. I liked the borders on the sides of both pages with all of the diff spellings of Raleigh to show us examples, bcuz I had wondered. It's incredible.
Many historians dismiss the claims and think Lumbees are a mixture of Sioux, Tuscarora, and maybe Cherokee, and white and black. One said there is white man's blood in their veins as well as Indian.
In 2001 an anthropologist claimed to have solved it. She pointed to Simon Fernandez. She didn't believe he abandoned the colonists out of meanness like John White claimed, but that someone was directing him. She went through the state papers of the leading men under the queen and came to the Secretary of State, Sir Francis Walsingham. He had a record of manipulating events and employing spies. He had secretly arranged for the downfall of Mary Queen of Scots until she was tried in an illegal court and beheaded. He was in massive debt because he had 500 spies on his private payroll. The queen didn't help him. He expected to receive an estate of someone who was caught in an assassination plot of her, but she gave it to Raleigh instead. Raleigh had a 7 year patent on land in America, but if it failed the patent would expire and then it could be his. There is no proof of any of this.
It felt like she was grasping at straws and I couldn't really follow and understand her theory. And Fritz shared that Walsingham played no part in the rest of the story, and he didn't profit from the colony's failure. He died before the first search party left in 1590, so that further ruined this theory. It sounded like someone just making up this elaborate theory and reaching so far. And when she tells the rest of the story, what the colonists did after they left Roanoke, Fritz said it's no longer "as plain as day." Because she has little to add to the story that wasn't known in 1608. She assumes they were in a war, were defeated, kept as prisoners and used as slaves in a copper mine. The Indians wouldn't allow any communication with the English and the slaves.
Most agree that the group that went to Croatan were mostly women and children and a few men and the rest of the men went in the interior.
The director of the ECU coastal archaeology program goes every summer to excavate clues at Buxton, the location where the Croatans once lived. Someone find a gold signet ring and an Elizabethan expert in England confirmed it was from the Kendall family, and a member of this family had been a part of Lane's group. Another Kendall was the captain of one of Drake's ships that rescued Lane and his men in 1586. This was after the Lost Colony tho.
She said this isn't just a mystery, it's a tragedy and she asks who could be responsible. She said without a doubt Ralph Lane who alienated the Indians that there was little hope of friendly relations. Maybe Indians who might have captured and made slaves of the colonists. Probably Sir Francis Walsingham who was an official in the queen's court. Certainly Simon Fernandez who piloted the expedition. And the weather which stormed at critical moments.
It remains a mystery unless new evidence turns up.
I liked the notes at the end explaining certain things.
It's not documented whether Raleigh really put his coat down for Queen Elizabeth but the story is attached to him. It's a gallant gesture he would have made esp with the queen.
In her time, all of the area in the patent was Virginia. It wasn't until 1691 that NC became a separate colony with a governor.
English brought great quantities of copper to trade, and since Indians had little metal they welcomed it.
I went to a program on the Lost Colony where the speaker said the slaves were let loose in the wilderness and mixed with Indians so I was surprised that she said the slaves weren't allowed off Drake's ship and there's no record of what happened to them.
Privateers had permission and license from the queen to attack another ship, but they had to give the queen a percentage of the profit. A pirate was on his own.
It wasn't a spur of the moment decision to make Manteo Lord of Roanoke. Raleigh had ordered that this be done before they England. They just chose a good time to do it.
The Spanish Armada is a fleet of 130 ships with 300,000 men sent to invade England. It was sometimes called the Invincible Armada because the Spanish were so sure of winning. But the English were aided by winds and they chased the Spanish up the English Channel and around Scotland. The Spanish never invaded England and they went home with half their fleet.
In war Indians often took prisoners and made them slaves.
Raleigh had been imprisoned in the Tower of London before. When the queen heard that he'd secretly married her lady in waiting she sent them both there. But it wasn't too severe because they were allowed servants to cook for them and for any guests they invited. They were released after 4 months but he wasn't allowed at court for 5 years. He was victim to slander of being an atheist, freethinker, ambitious and covetous. His enemies wanted to take him down.
This had the most information out of any book on this subject. I was thrilled at all the info. I really liked the illustrations and found them to perfectly fit the feel and content of the story. It was broken into sections based on the topic and they had their own title pages. Looking which showed Indians spying settlers coming to shore in their ships. Settling. The colonists in their colorful clothes and fancy dressed stood on the beach. Lost. A ship sailed in a cloudy sea. Clues. Modern people sitting for artifacts.
It was nice that the illustrator wrote in the dedication that it was for indigenous people of America with his prayer for forgiveness and healing.
It's amazing that Jean Fritz heard that an archaeological team was digging at Cape Hatteras for clues from the Lost Colony and she went there and invited an anthropologist friend. She's in a wheelchair and couldn't dig herself but she sifted sand for artifacts. She visited the Lumbee in Robeson County and spoke with an expert on Lumbee history, and explored the archives at UNC Pembroke.
In the 1500s, every country wanted land in America. Spain had claimed a lot and named it Florida. The English weren't ready to settle but they chased Spanish ships because they wanted their treasures. Their queen loved pearls. Queen Elizabeth didn't want to marry and she didn't want to war with Spain. There were a lot of men who liked to hang out at court, and her favorite was Walter Raleigh. It's said that when they were out walking they came to a mud puddle and he took his coat off and put it over the puddle for her to walk on. He wanted to help settle the New World. He asked a friend who had a show stone that showed the future and described the islands. He asked 2 men to check it out and they reported back about good headdresses and friendly natives and Queen Elizabeth knighted him. He named the land Virginia to honor the virgin queen.
The men had brought back 2 Indians, one, Manteo, who loved England, and Wanchese, who hated it.
Ralph Lane was his second in command and since they were told to smite hostile Indians, he gave the men the order to smite them hip and thigh. I've never heard that expression and had no idea what it meant.
They settled on the island and built cabins, wooden two-story cabins with grass roofs. The officer and "gentleman" cabins were outside the fort. Common soldiers were inside.
Lane and his men would travel and if Manteo was with them he would be their interpreter because he learned English. If he wasn't, they tried to talk with their hands. Most of the time they were fed; they often made friends but sometimes enemies.
They met an Indian and he said Wingina, and Wingandoca, which they thought was his name and his home. But Wingina was the king and he said you wear nice clothes.
They asked where copper and pearls were and Menatonon, king of the Choanokes, gave Lane a rope of black pearls and info on the land and offered guides. Lane kidnapped the king's favorite son, handcuffed him, and then put irons on his legs when he tried to fun because he didn't know if he could trust the king.
It was really morbid the way she wrote that the men were very hungry. One day they ate the two dogs' porridge and the next day they ate the dogs. I hated that.
Wingina's people moved and Menatonon's son told them that the king had a meeting and said they could starve the English out or kill them. Lane didn't want his brains knocked out so he attacked the Indians, telling his men to leave their white shirttails out and not shoot them. Wingina was killed.
Sir Francis Drake was England's most daring seaman, made famous for his attacks on Spanish ships.
Sir Walter Raleigh was rumored to have started writing love poems to the queen's lady in waiting. Since the last trip failed, he wanted to set up a permanent colony with families settling on the land. He wanted to settle at Chesapeake Bay and call it the Cittie of Raleigh. He appointed John White as governor. Raleigh offered 500 acres to anyone who wanted to settle. John knew this promise couldn't be kept while Indians were there. And no one could possible cultivate that much land without oxen, horses, plows, and luck. His daughter, Eleanor White Dare and her husband Ananais Dare wanted to go. Simon Fernandez, a Portuguese navigator, came but he thwarted the efforts and didn't get the supplies he promised. They were supposed to go to Virginia but he mistook Cape Fear in NC for Manteo's home, Croatan, on Cape Hatteras. They reached Roanoke and he told a man to tell them this was as far as they went.
I liked the illustration of a typical a Indian village. A river, for field guard hut, homes, solemn feast area, ripe corn, sunflowers, pumpkins, young corn, tobacco, prayer area, feasting area, celebration area, and a tomb for kings and princes. It showed the girls with the posts, and men dancing around, which I've seen firsthand at Roanoke Island.
On an earlier trip the hotheaded Grenville had left 15 men while he sailed back to England. One's bones were found and them a member of this party had been found to be shot 16 times and his head beaten to bits (she's a bit bloodthirsty). Manteo told them 11 of the men had escaped. John told them to gather the leaders of the towns who had shot the man, but they didn't. He wanted to teach them a lesson so they attacked the Indians at night, but in the morning learned they had been fighting Manteo's friendly tribe by mistake. They made Manteo Lord of Roanoke.
Eleanor had Virginia Dare on Aug 18 1587, the first English child born here. They didn't have any supplies and no one wanted to go so they volunteered John. He finally agreed, but asked them to carve the name of the place they were going on a tree or post. And if they were in danger they would draw a cross over the message.
John ended up in Ireland after bad weather and accidents on the ship. The Irish told them they wouldn't be going back to sea. England was at war with Spain and Queen Elizabeth was keeping her ships close to home.
John didn't get to come back until 3 years later in 1590. They saw smoke and thought it was a signal. Captain Cocke had the trumpets play and the men called out friendly. No one came so they sang English songs, of the sea, hymns and love songs. There were no and amens at the end of the hymns and no singing along. They found Roanoke deserted and the houses gone. 3 letters "CRO" were carved in a tree. Then at a conspicuous place at the fort's entrance they found the word CROATAN. John figured they were safe because this was Manteo's home and there was no cross above it.
But a storm came before they could set sail there and they were blown north. They went to England and the story around the country was told that the colony was lost. 115 people gone.
It was a powerful line that she wrote: "It is still hard for Americans to look at the country's history and see that hole right at the very beginning. And after more than four hundred years that hole is still there..." That's incredible to think about.
In 1600 England had won the war but failed to establish the first English colony. In 1603 Elizabeth died, and James, the son of Mary Queen of Scots, took the throne. He was interested in the colonies and Jamestown, the first colony, was established in 1607. He couldn't stand smoking though, hated the Indian tobacco and pipes people brought back. He was funny that he would make a face and say "Phew, phew." Sir Walter had a silver pipe and James made his nastiest face to him. How funny.
He ordered the Jamestown colonists to look for the lost ones. John Smith was the most adventurous colonist and picked up the most clues. The Powhatan chief told him that his men had massacred them. He didn't report this, except maybe only to the king. It wasn't until 10 years later that it was widely known.
John sent men on expeditions into the interior. Indians told them there were 2 men, 4 boys, and a maid working as slaves in a copper mine. But they didn't see them because they weren't allowed. Someone reported seeing a yellow-haired boy but he ran away. There was a tribe of bearded Indians reported, and Indians didn't have beards.
Before James died he claimed that Raleigh had plotted against him, had him sent to the Tower of London and eventually beheaded. I was shocked and couldn't believe the man I heard about in the Lost Colony play, the one who has streets named after him, met that kind of end.
John White gave up on the colonists and gave them up to God's mercy. The most believable story was Powhatan's story about murdering them, but the English didn't believe it because they'd never heard of it before and John hadn't written about it. It was generally accepted that they divided into two parties, some went I to the interior and others went to Croatan. They believed at least some were still alive. Many from Jamestown saw cross carved into trees, indicating a Christian presence. There were the initials "MA and NJ" on a tree in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They thought they could stand for the missing colonists Morris Allen and Nicolas Johnson. But Fritz said it's not a convincing clue because these could be initials from people before of after the lost colonists.
The NC colony wanted to know more so in 1703 they had John Lawson survey. He met the Croatan Indians at Cape Hatteras and they said they had ancestors who dressed like him and could make books speak, meaning reading. That's a cool line. There was no info on when they got there, or how long they stayed, but John saw a number who had gray eyes.
I hated the jump the story made. It wasn't until 1937 that it picked back up. A grocer from California found a stone with marks that said Ananias Dare + Virginis went hence unto Heaven 1591 and the other side said Anye Englishman shew John White gov Via. He took it to a college in Atlanta who offered to pay.
I had heard about the stones on a show on the history channel, about how someone had claimed to have found a stone but it turned out to be fake and everyone started bringing in stones they had faked just for the money being offered.
I felt bad that the professors bought up a hill where rocks with Eleanor's name were found but found nothing. There were 48 stones turned in and they said all the colonists but 7 were murdered. And she married a chief and had a daughter, and begged her dad to take her daughter to England before she died. The professors found that the grocer was friends with two of the other stone finders and were suspicious. An Elizabethan scholar debunked them because the writing wasn't Gothic script, which they would have written in if they wrote at all. It was Roman script which only a highly educated person would have known.
Indians in Robeson County claim to be descended from the lost colonists. Because if they divided into two groups, then must have assimilated with Indians. Some settled on the Lumbee River and called themselves Lumbees. They argued with the US gov for years before being recognized as Indians, but not a separate tribe because they don't have their own language or rituals. They said 41 of the 95 surnames of the colonists were in use by them. Spelling was diff back then that the names might vary. Raleigh could be spelled in over 70 ways. I liked the borders on the sides of both pages with all of the diff spellings of Raleigh to show us examples, bcuz I had wondered. It's incredible.
Many historians dismiss the claims and think Lumbees are a mixture of Sioux, Tuscarora, and maybe Cherokee, and white and black. One said there is white man's blood in their veins as well as Indian.
In 2001 an anthropologist claimed to have solved it. She pointed to Simon Fernandez. She didn't believe he abandoned the colonists out of meanness like John White claimed, but that someone was directing him. She went through the state papers of the leading men under the queen and came to the Secretary of State, Sir Francis Walsingham. He had a record of manipulating events and employing spies. He had secretly arranged for the downfall of Mary Queen of Scots until she was tried in an illegal court and beheaded. He was in massive debt because he had 500 spies on his private payroll. The queen didn't help him. He expected to receive an estate of someone who was caught in an assassination plot of her, but she gave it to Raleigh instead. Raleigh had a 7 year patent on land in America, but if it failed the patent would expire and then it could be his. There is no proof of any of this.
It felt like she was grasping at straws and I couldn't really follow and understand her theory. And Fritz shared that Walsingham played no part in the rest of the story, and he didn't profit from the colony's failure. He died before the first search party left in 1590, so that further ruined this theory. It sounded like someone just making up this elaborate theory and reaching so far. And when she tells the rest of the story, what the colonists did after they left Roanoke, Fritz said it's no longer "as plain as day." Because she has little to add to the story that wasn't known in 1608. She assumes they were in a war, were defeated, kept as prisoners and used as slaves in a copper mine. The Indians wouldn't allow any communication with the English and the slaves.
Most agree that the group that went to Croatan were mostly women and children and a few men and the rest of the men went in the interior.
The director of the ECU coastal archaeology program goes every summer to excavate clues at Buxton, the location where the Croatans once lived. Someone find a gold signet ring and an Elizabethan expert in England confirmed it was from the Kendall family, and a member of this family had been a part of Lane's group. Another Kendall was the captain of one of Drake's ships that rescued Lane and his men in 1586. This was after the Lost Colony tho.
She said this isn't just a mystery, it's a tragedy and she asks who could be responsible. She said without a doubt Ralph Lane who alienated the Indians that there was little hope of friendly relations. Maybe Indians who might have captured and made slaves of the colonists. Probably Sir Francis Walsingham who was an official in the queen's court. Certainly Simon Fernandez who piloted the expedition. And the weather which stormed at critical moments.
It remains a mystery unless new evidence turns up.
I liked the notes at the end explaining certain things.
It's not documented whether Raleigh really put his coat down for Queen Elizabeth but the story is attached to him. It's a gallant gesture he would have made esp with the queen.
In her time, all of the area in the patent was Virginia. It wasn't until 1691 that NC became a separate colony with a governor.
English brought great quantities of copper to trade, and since Indians had little metal they welcomed it.
I went to a program on the Lost Colony where the speaker said the slaves were let loose in the wilderness and mixed with Indians so I was surprised that she said the slaves weren't allowed off Drake's ship and there's no record of what happened to them.
Privateers had permission and license from the queen to attack another ship, but they had to give the queen a percentage of the profit. A pirate was on his own.
It wasn't a spur of the moment decision to make Manteo Lord of Roanoke. Raleigh had ordered that this be done before they England. They just chose a good time to do it.
The Spanish Armada is a fleet of 130 ships with 300,000 men sent to invade England. It was sometimes called the Invincible Armada because the Spanish were so sure of winning. But the English were aided by winds and they chased the Spanish up the English Channel and around Scotland. The Spanish never invaded England and they went home with half their fleet.
In war Indians often took prisoners and made them slaves.
Raleigh had been imprisoned in the Tower of London before. When the queen heard that he'd secretly married her lady in waiting she sent them both there. But it wasn't too severe because they were allowed servants to cook for them and for any guests they invited. They were released after 4 months but he wasn't allowed at court for 5 years. He was victim to slander of being an atheist, freethinker, ambitious and covetous. His enemies wanted to take him down.
This had the most information out of any book on this subject. I was thrilled at all the info. I really liked the illustrations and found them to perfectly fit the feel and content of the story. It was broken into sections based on the topic and they had their own title pages. Looking which showed Indians spying settlers coming to shore in their ships. Settling. The colonists in their colorful clothes and fancy dressed stood on the beach. Lost. A ship sailed in a cloudy sea. Clues. Modern people sitting for artifacts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2020
The illustrations are the icing on the cake of this well written history of the Roanoke Colony. We had read another great picture book with our homeschool group, and this one was longer and gave more information, though presented differently. My 12-year-old son liked that at the end of the book it gave lots of different types of evidence that archeologists have found and several hypotheses on what happened to the lost colony. My 9-year-old daughter like the illustration of King James I sniffing and scowling at Sir Walter Raleigh's smoking pipe.
My son said he wished that they had chosen a different illustration for the front cover, but I think it perfectly depicts the hope but also lost-ness of the people of the colony as they watched a ship sail away to bring them back much-needed provisions. And then for it not to come back in time! Ack! And yet the picture is so beautiful.
Sensitive Content: I glossed over a few gruesome descriptions, for my own sake as much as my kids'! It wasn't too bad though. My kids probably liked it.
My son said he wished that they had chosen a different illustration for the front cover, but I think it perfectly depicts the hope but also lost-ness of the people of the colony as they watched a ship sail away to bring them back much-needed provisions. And then for it not to come back in time! Ack! And yet the picture is so beautiful.
Sensitive Content: I glossed over a few gruesome descriptions, for my own sake as much as my kids'! It wasn't too bad though. My kids probably liked it.
January 19, 2019
I bought this at the Lost Colony Museum and it is beautifully illustrated. It is geared toward the young but I enjoyed the abbreviated story written thoroughly enough to be enjoyed by a more advanced reader. It does not take a position on what happened to the colonist but does outline several plausible options for the answer. I really enjoyed the illustrations and it was definitely worth my time to gain a bit more knowledge of a place I had visited on vacation to the Outer Banks.
October 17, 2019
Having been to Roanoke (where I purchased this book), I must say it doesn’t really contain any news... guess it was a waste of time (ok, 50 pages with big pictures) and money...at least to me.
August 19, 2020
Learned a few newer facts that I was not familiar with. I used to be obsessed with the lost colony when I was a kid!
February 27, 2024
This "history mystery" has been around since Queen Elizabeth I was queen, and the British and Spanish were always fighting about land possession. It is a mystery that has intrigued me for years. How can a group of people just disappear?
In 1587, 115 colonists sailed to the New World, wanting to build a brand new City of Raleigh, but disappeared without a trace.
Jean Fritz tells the fascinating mystery, as she has with all of the books she has written. She personifies people the way no other author can. In this particular book she chose Hudson Talbott to illustrate what she wrote about, and the collaboration just makes the reader want to find out more. Luckily, the reader will find an excellent bibliography at the back of the book for further information.
In 1587, 115 colonists sailed to the New World, wanting to build a brand new City of Raleigh, but disappeared without a trace.
Jean Fritz tells the fascinating mystery, as she has with all of the books she has written. She personifies people the way no other author can. In this particular book she chose Hudson Talbott to illustrate what she wrote about, and the collaboration just makes the reader want to find out more. Luckily, the reader will find an excellent bibliography at the back of the book for further information.
October 12, 2024
Used as a read aloud for 1st grade colonial era history. Some of the language was a bit too advanced for my 1st grader but it was a great overview of the background and mystery and theories behind this lost colony or “the hole in American history” as they call it. Really a tragic story to think about.
April 10, 2025
This was a good very basic summary of the historical facts and the multiple speculations regarding the Lost Colony of Roanoke. It gave me a simple understanding and background information that will be helpful as I read a historical fiction series on this group of British settlers.
December 9, 2021
I enjoyed this nonfiction book! It includes big pictures, an index, a map, plus notes and a bibliography.
June 24, 2022
As always, fascinating presentation of a historical mystery from Jean Fritz, which we used in our Dialectic homeschool history studies.
October 3, 2023
Lovely illustrations. Not entirely factually accurate
December 17, 2023
Not much of a story other than what was known before. Ok read, but don’t expect satisfaction.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews