Roanoke Colony — 117 English Settlers Vanish Between Supply Voyages

In 1590, English supply ships returning to Roanoke Island off the coast of what is now North Carolina found the settlement they had established three years earlier completely abandoned. The 117 colonists — men, women, and children — had vanished without any obvious sign of violence. The only clue was the word "CROATOAN" carved into a fence post and "CRO" carved into a tree. The colony, led by John White, had been established in 1587 as England's first attempted permanent settlement in North America. White returned to England for supplies and was delayed for three years due to the war with Spain. When he finally returned in August 1590, he found the settlement deserted, structures dismantled, and the two carved words. White believed the carving meant the colonists had relocated to Croatoan Island, home of friendly Croatoan natives. A planned search was prevented by a storm, and no organized search for the colonists occurred for years. The Croatoan Island was later identified as Hatteras Island, where searches found no definitive evidence of the colonists. Over four centuries of investigation have produced numerous theories: integration with the Croatoan tribe; a move inland where they perished in conflict with other tribes; starvation; relocation to Chesapeake Bay where they were massacred. DNA research projects have attempted to trace possible ancestry among modern Native American communities. No conclusive answer has emerged, and the Lost Colony of Roanoke remains one of the most enduring mysteries in American history.