University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER I

EARLY ATTEMPTS AT COLONIZATION

Importance of Virginia History. — The history of the
English race in America begins with Virginia. Much
romantic interest clusters around the first settlement of
this famous state, whose soil became the birthplace of a
great nation; and a narration of the adventures and deeds
of her people constitutes one of the most important parts
of the annals of our country.

Why Virginia was Settled. — Toward the close of the sixteenth
century, a strong desire to take part in the conquest
and settlement of America began to stir the hearts of
the English people. To increase trade, to bring heathen
peoples under the influence of the Gospel, to have a colony
where the surplus of the home population might go, and to
check the rising power of Spain were the chief reasons
that made England look with longing eyes upon America.
Then, too, to found a nation upon the virgin soil of the
New World was in itself an attractive thing to the brave,
ardent, and restless English people.

Early Explorers. — In 1492, Columbus[3] discovered the

Bahama Islands, and then later the West Indies and South
America, but he did not reach the continent of North America.
In 1497, John Cabot, who commanded an English
fleet, touched upon the mainland, and took possession of
it in the name of England. Upon this fact, England
based her claim to a part of the country; but nearly a
hundred years passed away before she made any effort to
secure it. In 1576, however, Sir Martin Frobisher made
an ineffectual effort to plant a colony; and in 1583, Sir
Humphrey Gilbert made another, in which he lost his life.

Sir Walter Raleigh's Exploring Party. — After the death
of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, his half-brother, Sir Walter
Raleigh,[4] took up the subject of colonization in earnest,

and he readily obtained from Queen Elizabeth, who was
much interested in the colonization of America, letters
patent that gave him all the authority he needed. So he
equipped an exploring party, which in April, 1584, he sent
out in two ships under

Raleigh

the command of Philip
Amidas and Arthur Barlow.
This expedition
reached the coast of
North Carolina in July;
and the adventurers
landed on an island,
called by the Indians
Wocokon, near stormy
Cape Hatteras. Several
days passed, and then
some Indians visited
them and entertained
them in the most hospitable
manner. The English discovered and explored the
island of Roanoke, and after remaining till September,
they returned to England and gave a most glowing description
of the country.

Origin of the Name Virginia. — The voyagers to the new
land said that it was the "most plentiful, sweet, wholesome,

and fruitful of all other." Marvelous stories were
told about the country in the West. There the fruits were
more luscious, the flowers more beautiful, the trees taller,
the mountains more majestic, than any ever before seen.
There, too, the rivers ran over golden beds, and the Fountain
of Youth, which removed all traces of age and disease,
poured forth its crystal waters. At last, the western paradise
foreshadowed by the myths of ancient times had been
discovered! Such were the reports of the first explorers,
fancy furnishing what facts failed to supply. When Queen
Elizabeth, who took pride in being called England's Virgin
Queen, heard such charming accounts of the new land,
she named it after herself, Virginia.

As to the boundaries of the country, these an old writer
described as follows: "The bounds thereof on the East
side are the ocean, on the South lieth Florida, on the North
Nova Francia [Canada], as for the West thereof the limits
are unknown." Since the "South Sea," which was another
name for the Pacific Ocean, was supposed to be but a few
hundred miles away, this was usually taken as the western
boundary. As time passed, the domain called Virginia was
continually made smaller, till finally the name was restricted
to what is now embraced in the two Virginias.

First Roanoke Island Colony. — Sir Walter Raleigh now
made preparations for what he intended to be a permanent
settlement. In April, 1585, he sent out a fleet of
seven ships under the command of Sir Richard Grenville,
which carried to Virginia a colony of 108 persons, Ralph
Lane being the governor. These landed on Roanoke
Island, and made a settlement. They inquired of the
Indians the name of the country, and one of the savages
exclaimed, "Wingandacon!" — "You wear good clothes!"
They understood this to mean, "the good land"; and so

the coast of North Carolina was called Wingandacon.
They also understood the Indians to say that the Roanoke
River sprang from a rock so near the "South Sea," that
storms often dashed the waves into the spring from which
it gushed, and that at this place there was an abundance
of gold and precious stones. So Lane and some of his
men set out to find the "South Sea," and continued their
quest till they were forced to eat their dogs, to keep from
dying of hunger. When they returned, they found the
colony in great need and the Indians becoming hostile.
At this critical juncture, an unexpected opportunity came
for the settlers to return to England. In May, 1586, Sir
Francis Drake touched at Roanoke Island with his fleet,
and, yielding to the solicitations of the colonists, took
them all back to England. They carried with them many
interesting particulars about the nature of the new country,
and much information in regard to the habits, manners,
and government of the Indians, which had been collected
by several learned and accomplished men who were members
of the colony; but the greatest advantage that came
from this expedition was the discovery of the Chesapeake
Bay. It was in June that the settlers departed; and in
the following August, Sir Richard Grenville came bringing
for them fresh supplies, but found the island deserted. So
he left fifteen men to hold possession of it; but these were
doubtless slain by Indians, as they were never heard of
afterwards.

The Lost Colony. — The settlement of Virginia was dear
to Sir Walter Raleigh's heart; and in May, 1587, he dispatched
another expedition, consisting of three vessels,
which carried 116 persons, among whom were a number
of men with their wives and children. Their plan was to
found on the Chesapeake Bay a city to be called Raleigh;

but they were turned from their purpose, and landed on
Roanoke Island, where they saw the bones of a man on
the shore, and deer feeding around the deserted homes of
the former occupants. They found the Indians bitterly
hostile. This caused gloomy forebodings to fill their
minds, and made them feel so strongly their dependence
upon the mother country and their need of frequent aid
from her, that, after several months had passed, they
urged their governor, John White, to go to England for
fresh supplies. To this he reluctantly consented, and in
August, 1587, set sail, telling them that if for any reason
they changed their location before his return, to carve upon
some prominent object the name of the place to which
they had gone, and above it a cross if they went away
in distress. He left his daughter, the wife of Ananias
Dare, who just a few days before his departure had given
birth to an infant, christened Virginia. This was the first
white child born in North America. He could have given
no stronger pledge of his speedy return than he did in
leaving his loved ones behind him. But in vain did the
expectant colonists look for him. He found all England
ablaze with excitement over the threatened invasion of the
Spanish Armada. An attempt was made to send relief
to the colony, but it proved unsuccessful; for the Atlantic
was swarming with Spanish ships of war; and not till
August 15, 1590, did Governor White again reach Roanoke
Island. He found some tracks in the sand, and on a
tree the word Croatan, but there was no cross above it,
and this seemed to indicate that the colonists had gone of
their own accord to an Indian town called Croatan, which
was on a neighboring island. White set out for Croaton;
but, a fierce storm coming on, the captain of the ship
refused to continue the journey and sailed for England.

Searching for the Lost Colony

When Sir Walter Raleigh learned that the colony was no
longer on Roanoke Island, he manifested much anxiety
in regard to its fate, and dispatched, it is said, five different
expeditions in quest of the colonists; but no certain
trace of them has ever been discovered. They simply
disappeared from view. Had they become lost in the
primeval forests and died of starvation? Had they been
massacred by the Indians? Or had they joined the
savages and, wandering off into the interior, become lost
to civilization? These questions have never been satisfactorily
answered; and this disappearance of over a hundred
human beings constitutes a pathetic tragedy — the
first of a long series connected with the history of our
country.

QUESTIONS

• 1. Why is Virginia history so important?

• 2. What were the chief reasons England had for settling Virginia?

• 3. When did Columbus discover America? What points did he touch?

• 4. Who first discovered the mainland of North America?

• 5. Upon what did England base her claim to Virginia?

• 6. Who first tried to plant English colonies in America?

• 7. Who afterwards took up the subject of colonization?

• 8. From whom did he obtain authority to carry out his plans?

• 9. Where did Raleigh's first expedition land?

• 10. How were the explorers treated by the Indians?

• 11. Upon their return to England, what accounts did they give of the
  country?

• 12. How did the name of Virginia originate?

• 13. How were its boundaries described by an old writer?

• 14. By what other name was the Pacific Ocean known, and where was
  it supposed to be?

• 15. Give an account of Sir Walter Raleigh's first Roanoke Island
  colony.

• 16. Why did they call the coast of North Carolina Wingandacon?

• 17. What did they understand the Indians to say about the source of
  the Roanoke River?

• 18. What was the result of Ralph Lane's attempt to find the South
  Sea?

• 19. Who took the settlers back to England, and what information did
  they carry with them?

• 20. What was the greatest advantage that came from this expedition?

• 21. Give an account of the Lost Colony?

• 22. What did they urge their governor to do, and what agreement was
  made?

• 23. What pledge did he give of a speedy return?

• 24. What traces did he find of the colony upon his return?

• 25. Has its fate ever been known?