Early Expeditions: the Roanoke Voyages
Dec 22, 2015
Walter RaleighRaleigh was a wealthy adventurer from England inspired by the discoveries of Spanish and French explorersHe dreamed of establishing English settlements in North America
Although Raleigh never traveled to the New World, he devoted much of his life and fortune to trying to establish an English nation
there.
Raleigh’s Dreams Become Reality
Before sending settlers, Raleigh decided to send a small exploratory expedition to study and report on the region.
• In March of 1584, Raleigh received a charter from Queen Elizabeth • He was given permission
“to discover and inhabit strange places”
Amadas and Barlowe 2-ship fleet began voyage April 1584Stopped near what is now Roanoke IslandClaimed land 600 miles north and 600 miles south for Queen Elizabeth
Amadas and BarloweThe expedition received a friendly welcome from the natives who offered shelter and traded goods with themThey spent six weeks exploring, and returned to England with:
NotebooksPlant samplesTwo natives – Manteo and Wanchese
Back in England
Members of the expedition gave Queen Elizabeth a glowing report, and urged the Queen to start colonies in North America.Walter Raleigh was knighted Sir Walter Raleigh
The Ralph Lane Colony
Goal – establish a lasting English settlement in North America7 ships and 107 men left England in April1585.
The Ralph Lane Colony
Members of the expedition included:
Sir Richard Grenville – fleet commanderThomas Harriot – scientistJohn White – artistRalph Lane – governor of colonyManteo and Wanchese
The Ralph Lane ColonyColonists arrived at Roanoke Island in June 1585.
Grenville returned to England for supplies3 small groups set out exploringHarriot gathered information from Natives and recorded his observationsWhite painted watercolor pictures - plants, animals, and details of Natives and their different ways of lifeHarriot and White also surveyed land and made maps.
Trouble for the Ralph Lane Colony
Winter approaching – food running outColonists unhappy with Lane as governor – too militaristicConflict with Natives – colonists raided a Native village and killed the chiefColonists abandoned the colony and returned to England.
Achievements of the Ralph Lane Colony
Ralph Lane returned to England with 97 survivors, tobacco, corn, and the marsh potato.Harriot and White’s paintings, documents, and maps were very important – much of the information is still stored and studied in British museums
The Roanoke Voyages:
A SummaryVoyage Year Accomplishments/Results
Amadas and Barlowe
1584 Notebooks about their findings, samples of plants, Manteo & Wanchese
Ralph Lane Colony 1585-1586
Colony of men went to Roanoke, but colony failed. Documents, maps and paintings taken back to England
John White Colony (Lost Colony)
1587-1590
A colony of men, women, and children led by John White – “Lost Colony”