Richard Grenville and the Lost Colony of Roanoke

England’s ill-fated first attempt to colonize America at Roanoke Island in 1587, more than 30 years before the Pilgrims set sail, has been the focus of numerous studies, fictional retellings and media interpretations. By 1590 the Lost Colony had disappeared and much of the available literature on it is based on research conducted more than 60 years ago. Drawing on newly discovered documents, several recent archaeological finds and a re-examination of contemporary writings, this book brings a fresh perspective to the story. The author discusses the 2012 discovery of a “hidden” fort on Virginia Governor John White’s 1585 map and challenges accepted theories about the Dare Stones. Biographies of White and Sir Richard Grenville—Sir Walter Raleigh’s cousin and a more involved participant in the venture than previously credited—are included, along with previously unpublished images.

Andy Gabriel-Powell served 12 years in local government in England and eventually became mayor of Bideford, a town intrinsically linked to the subject of this book. He has devoted seven years to studying the lost colony of Roanoke. He lives in Stanley, North Carolina.

Andy Gabriel-Powell

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 192
Bibliographic Info: 15 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2016
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6571-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2668-0
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments ix
Preface 1
One. Prologue 5
Two. An Introduction to Sir Richard Grenville 8
Three. The Voyage of Amadas and Barlowe, 1584 15
Four. The First Voyage of Sir Richard Grenville, 1585 24
Five. The Military Colony, 1585 (Part One) 35
Six. The Military Colony, 1585 (Part Two) 42
Seven. The Second Voyage of Sir Richard Grenville, 1586 51
Eight. Preparations for the “Cittie of Ralegh” 56
Nine. The “Lost” Colony, 1587 69
Ten. The Attempts to Resupply the Colony, 1588 78
Eleven. The Voyage of John White, 1590 85
Twelve. A Review of the Roanoke Voyages, 1584–1590 96
Thirteen. From Roanoke to Jamestown 110
Fourteen. The Search for Descendants 121
Fifteen. Irrefutable Evidence 129
Sixteen. The Grenville Legacy 142
Seventeen. Considered Opinions 152
Chapter Notes 159
Bibliography 177
Index 179

• “In Richard Grenville and the Lost Colony of Roanoke, author Andy Gabriel-Powell shines welcome light on a key figure in the first attempt by the English to settle the New World. Long overshadowed by his more famous and dashing cousin, Sir Walter Raleigh, Grenville was the man who helped shepherd the first major voyage to the coast of North Carolina, and who sought to keep the colony alive by providing additional men and supplies—while Raleigh was safe at home in court. What makes this readable volume particularly handy is that it also provides a cogent overview of the Roanoke voyages, drawing heavily on source material, and a careful and sober look at the fascinating but sticky question of just what might have happened to the famous Lost Colonists.”—Andrew Lawler, author of The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke