The Lost Colony of Roanoke

When Governor John White sailed for England from Roanoke Island in August 1587, he left behind more than 100 men, women and children. They were never seen again by Europeans. For more than four centuries the fate of the Roanoke colony has remained a mystery, despite the many attempts to construct a satisfactory, convincing explanation. New research suggests that all past and present theories are based upon a series of erroneous assumptions that have persisted for centuries. Through a close examination of the early accounts, previously unknown or unexamined documents, and native Algonquian oral tradition, this book deconstructs the traditional theories. What emerges is a fresh narrative of the ultimate fate of the Lost Colony.

Retired educator Brandon Fullam has been researching and writing for a decade about England’s first attempts to establish a permanent colony in present-day North Carolina. Much of his work has focused on the disappearance of what has become known as the 1587 Lost Colony. His work has appeared in Lost Colony Research Group and Sampson County Historical Society publications. He is a member of the Virginia Historical Society and the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia and lives in Midlothian, Virginia.

Brandon Fullam

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 268
Bibliographic Info: 17 maps, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2017
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6786-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2849-3
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction 1

Part I: The Raleigh Years
1. Setting the Stage: 1496–1586 9
2. Planning the Cittie of Ralegh: July 27, 1586–July 22, 1587 20
3. Simon Fernandez and the Aborted Chesapeake Plan: July 22–August 27, 1587 25
4. Decisions at Roanoke: August 28–September 30, 1587 38
5. The Colonists Select a Mainland Settlement Site: October–November 1587 50
6. Pivotal Events in England and Virginia: January–June 1588 62
7. The Legend of the CORA Tree and the Outpost at Croatoan: July–September 1588 70
8. A Critical Gamble at Sea: September 1588–August 1589 82
9. The Great Hurricane and the Final Collapse of the Colony: September 1589 91
10. The “Legend of the Coharie” and the Hurricane’s Aftermath: October 1589–January 1590 102
11. John White’s Final Voyage; Roanoke and Croatoan Abandoned: February–October 1590 111
12. Raleigh and Guiana; Rumors of Survivors: 1594–1606 121

Part II: The Jamestown Intelligence
13. John Smith’s A True Relation and the “Zúñiga Map”: 1607–1608 128
14. The “Men Cloathed” at Ocanahonan and Pakrakanick: 1607–1608 134
15. The “Men Apparalled” at Pananiock/Panawicke: 1607–1608 145
16. John Smith and the ­Powhatan-Slaughter Myth: 1608–1609 155
17. The Francisco Fernández de Écija Reconnaissance: 1609 164
18. William Strachey and the “Slaughter at Roanoke”: 1609–1611 173
19. The “Slaughter at Roanoke” Solved: 1610–1611 187
20. Lost Colony Clues and Powhatan Oral Tradition: 1611–1612 196

Part III: Lost Colony Survivors and Descendants
21. Survival Possibilities: 1612–1711 206
22. The Search for Descendants: 18th Century and Beyond 217

Summation 226
Chapter Notes 231
Bibliography 247
Index 253

• “Fullam’s book is not just another account retelling the same tired story; rather, it is a persuasively written, coherent, and in-depth look at the abundant and varied historical evidence…Fullam’s analysis of this evidence is fresh and well thought out, providing readers with a new perspective on the Roanoke colony. The author effectively weaves a fascinating account tying Roanoke to contemporary events…well-researched…recommended”—Choice
• “compelling…Fullam’s theories are captivating, and his history is well done…Fullam has introduced a whole new argument to the Lost Colony discussions, and his work has to be taken seriously…a must for all those interested in the Lost Colony and its inhabitants’ fate”—North Carolina Historical Review
• “The research and work that [Fullam has] done is phenomenal and [his] book should be an invaluable resource for anyone searching for answers to the mystery of the Lost Colony.”—Joel Rose, Vice President, Sampson County Historical Society