Early Expeditions: the

Roanoke Voyages

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”