Personal Theory of Johanna Murphy
It is hard to draw a picture in your mind of what could have
possibly happened to those colonists. I am more than likely leaning towards a
combination of Horn’s and Quinn’s theories. Everything I include in my theory is
pure speculation of evidence provided by primary documents, other historians and
the research I have done on this project.
The first thing that comes to mind is why did Fernandes drop the
colonists off on Roanoke and not continue on to The Chesapeake Bay Area like he
was supposed to? Did he have something to gain here? Was he working with someone
back in England in order to sabotage Raleigh having a successful settlement in
America? It was clear that there was hostility between the Natives and the
settlers based on the fact that Lane’s Colony had many bad encounters and
continual attacks on one another. There would be no reason to return to Roanoke
and try to establish a colony there. You would think Fernandes would know this
and not make everyone leave the ship with all their supplies. I suppose he was
really just that selfish and wanted to get on to his next plight of
privateering.
I also find it probable that the colonists wanted John White to
be the one to return to England in order to gather supplies. He had caused a lot
of trouble in their short stay already with the Croatoan. The Croatoan were
Manteo’s family and the one tribe the colonists seemed to have a good
relationship with. I believe they would have put Manteo in charge once John
White was gone. He would be the one person that would know the land and the
local tribes the best. The settlers would move on as soon as John White left
moving up to the Chesapeake Bay Area.
There was no cross carved above the word “CROATOAN” on the tree
which means that the colonists did not leave because of any sort of serious
problem. They didn’t leave anything behind except for the real heavy stuff,
which leads me to believe it was a planned move. I believe some of the colonists
would have gone over to stay with the Croatoan waiting for John White’s
return.
The evidence from John Strachey and John Smith are pretty
convincing. The original plan was for the colonists to relocate to the
Chesapeake Bay Area and the Natives here were known to be friendly from visits
there during the Lane Colony. I believe they would have welcomed the colonists
because they knew they would have a lot to offer each other. The slaughter by
the Powhatan, almost 20 years later, would have killed the colonists along with
the Chesapeake Indians.
possibly happened to those colonists. I am more than likely leaning towards a
combination of Horn’s and Quinn’s theories. Everything I include in my theory is
pure speculation of evidence provided by primary documents, other historians and
the research I have done on this project.
The first thing that comes to mind is why did Fernandes drop the
colonists off on Roanoke and not continue on to The Chesapeake Bay Area like he
was supposed to? Did he have something to gain here? Was he working with someone
back in England in order to sabotage Raleigh having a successful settlement in
America? It was clear that there was hostility between the Natives and the
settlers based on the fact that Lane’s Colony had many bad encounters and
continual attacks on one another. There would be no reason to return to Roanoke
and try to establish a colony there. You would think Fernandes would know this
and not make everyone leave the ship with all their supplies. I suppose he was
really just that selfish and wanted to get on to his next plight of
privateering.
I also find it probable that the colonists wanted John White to
be the one to return to England in order to gather supplies. He had caused a lot
of trouble in their short stay already with the Croatoan. The Croatoan were
Manteo’s family and the one tribe the colonists seemed to have a good
relationship with. I believe they would have put Manteo in charge once John
White was gone. He would be the one person that would know the land and the
local tribes the best. The settlers would move on as soon as John White left
moving up to the Chesapeake Bay Area.
There was no cross carved above the word “CROATOAN” on the tree
which means that the colonists did not leave because of any sort of serious
problem. They didn’t leave anything behind except for the real heavy stuff,
which leads me to believe it was a planned move. I believe some of the colonists
would have gone over to stay with the Croatoan waiting for John White’s
return.
The evidence from John Strachey and John Smith are pretty
convincing. The original plan was for the colonists to relocate to the
Chesapeake Bay Area and the Natives here were known to be friendly from visits
there during the Lane Colony. I believe they would have welcomed the colonists
because they knew they would have a lot to offer each other. The slaughter by
the Powhatan, almost 20 years later, would have killed the colonists along with
the Chesapeake Indians.