Lost Colonists Sailed Away Theory

Investigate the theory that the Lost Colonists of Roanoke attempted to sail away and were shipwrecked.

This is the Theory #2 of the Fate of the Lost Colonists (out of 8 theories).

Sailed Away Theory

There is another theory about the fate of the lost colony of 1587 that has circulated a long time, possibly since the story of the Sea Venture wreck in 1609. (In our unit study, the students have already studied the incident of the Sea Venture wreck on Bermuda island and the subsequent ship-building that enabled the survivors to sail to Jamestown ten months later.)

Perhaps the Roanoke settlers decided to try to sail back to England after they were deserted in 1587. Afterall, that’s what the shipwrecked men and women on Bermuda island did in 1609. Isn’t it possible that the Roanoke islanders did the same thing?

Of course, if they did try to sail to England, they never made it. But would they have even tried?

Student Activity

Role play the settlers reaction. Someone mentions the possibility of sailing back to England. As a group, discuss the pros and cons. Take a vote.

Theory #2 - Dating to 1610

While this is not the most popular theory of the fate of the Roanoke settlers, it keeps popping up from time to time. Potentially, it dates to 1610 and the Sea Venture survivors successful voyage to their final destination: Jamestown.

I can certainly understand why the Sea Venture survivors might have thought the Roanoke settlers would have tried it since they were successful. But what advantages did the castaways on Bermuda have that those on Roanoke did NOT have?

• a) A ship captain and an admiral
• b) Sailors and navigators in their group
• c) A shipbuilder to build new ships
• d) GPS satelites
• e) A shorter distance to sail

(A probably unnecessary hint: there is only one false answer above.)

Assessing Theory #2

In my opinion they would have been pretty gutsy to try to get to England across the ocean in a small vessel meant for sailing shallow bays and rivers. And it wouldn’t have been big enough for all 117 settlers.

Student Activity

List three groups of early settlers that attempted to an unplanned voyage.

Answer: There are three groups already covered previously in the unit study. These are:

• a) The 15 soldiers left on Roanoke in 1586 were last seen in their longboat.
• b) The Sea Venture survivors sent their longboat to Virginia in August 1609, the month following the shipwreck.
• c) The Sea Ventures sailed the Patience and Deliverance to Jamestown in May 1610.

Directions: Put a happy face in front of the only one of the three groups above that actually made it to their destination. Considering others tried sailing away, it is possible the Roanoke settlers also decided to sail their vessel to the West Indies or to Newfoundland for help. If so, they probably sunk.

If they did sink in the ocean, would there be any evidence for historians to find? YES NO

(Answer: Theoretically yes, but probably not. While shipwrecks are found at the bottom of the ocean, a small vessel like that would likely be hard to identify, even if it was found.)

Alternative to the Sail Away Theory

It seems, at least in my opinion, that it would be unlikely that the Roanoke settlers ever attempted to a cross Atlantic voyage - though I'm quite sure they all wanted to. For one thing, they didn't even have a ship big enough for them all.

Nonetheless, this theory has merits. We know they left Roanoke and they had to use their pinnace to do so. They also had to make at least two trips as not everyone would fit at once (let alone all their supplies.)

They may have attempted to go to the West Indies, or Newfoundland, or to the Chesapeake Bay or wherever they decided to settle. AND they might have shipwrecked in their voyage.

Another Question

If they shipwrecked on their route to England, their pinnace would be at the bottom of the ocean anywhere between Virginia and England. BUT if they didn't shipwreck, and they managed to get to Crotoan or Chesapeake or wherever their final destination by sea may have been, that leaves us with another question.

What happened to the pinnace?

Get the Early Settlers Unit Study

Explore scenes of native life, evaluate reasons for settling the new world, search for clues to the fate of the lost colonists, join the John Smith scavenger hunt on the 1612 Map of Virginia, sail with Strachey on the ill-fated Sea Venture, look for the location of old forts, and vote in the first legislative assembly.

Multi-Level Unit Study: Student & Teacher's Material Included
$5.99 Download - 199 pages

Early Settlers Pages

Check out our other pages for the Early Settlers Unit Study

Get the Lion To Guard Us Unit Study

Student Guide AND Teacher's Answer Key Included
$2.99 Download - 78 pages

Our pages for A Lion To Guard Us

Clyde Bulla's Historical Fiction of Jamestown & the Sea Venture