Text Box: Surnames present at the 1587 Roanoke Colony: Allen, Archard, Arthur, Bailie, Bennet, Byrde, Berrye, Bishop, Borden, Bridger, Bright, Brooke, Browne, Burden, Bulter, Cage, Chapman, Cheven, Clement, Colman, Cooper, Cotsmur, Daridge, Dorrell, Dutton, Earnest, Ellis, English, Farre, Fernando, Florres, Gibbes, Gramme, Harris, Harvie, Hemmington, Hewet, Howe, Humfrey, Hynde, Johnson, Jones, Kemme, Lasie, Little, Lucas, Martyn, Myllett, Mylton, Newton, Nicholes, Pattenson, Payne, Phevens, Powell, Prat, Rufoote, Sampson, Scot, Schaberdge, Smart, Smith, Sole, Spendlove, Starte, Stevens, Stilman, Sutton, Taverner, Tayler, Tomkins, Topan, Tydway, Viccars, Warner, Waters, White, Wildye, Wilkinson, Willes, Wotton, Wright, Wyles, and Wythers. It should be understood that the spelling of surnames during this period was not standardized. Some variations on the surnames above include: Alan, Archer, Bayley or Bailey, Bennett, Bird, Byrd or Byrde, Berry, Bordon (or a repeat of Burden), Brydger, Brook or Brooks, Brown, Botler or Boteler, Chiven, Coleman or Colemen, Darrige or Darrage, Gibbs, Graham, Harvey, Hewatt or Hewett, Humphrey, Hind or Hinde, Kimme or Kimmey, Martin, Mallett or Mallet, Milton, Nicole, Nicholl or Nikolls, Pain, Paine or Payn, Pratt, Samson, Scott, Smithe, Smyth or Smythe, Soles, Soul or Solles, Start, Stephens, Stillman or Stillmen, Tavenor, Taylor or Tailor, Tompkins or Thompkins, Tapan or Toppan, Tidway or Tidwey, Wild or Wilde, Wills and Withers. NOTE: Not all of the names presented here are being suggested as having left Native American descendants. Nor is this a complete list of everyone involved with the Roanoke Expeditions, of which, there were three, beginning in 1584. A colony, brought to Roanoke Island by Sir Richard Grenville, was established in 1586 under Governor Ralph Lane and this colony lasted just over a year. In that year, Sir Francis Drake, who was returning to England with a large fleet after a successful campaign against the Spanish, paid a visit to the colony. A decision was made to abandon the colony and return to England with Drake because Grenville had failed to return with supplies as expected. Hostile relations with the Indians was also a consideration. Three men, who could not be located before their departure, were left behind on the island, and these three men can be considered the first “Lost Colonists.” As the colonists sailed back to England, Sir Richard Grenville, whose return to the colony had been delayed, arrived at Roanoke to find the colony deserted. Not willing to give up England’s claim in America, fifteen soldiers were left to hold the island while Grenville returned to England. In 1587, Governor John White arrived at Roanoke. However, his intended purpose was NOT to establish a colony there. It had been decided in England that his colony should be seated further to the north along the Chesapeake Bay- not at Roanoke Island. The reason for stopping at Roanoke was to retrieve the fifteen soldiers left on the island by Grenville the year before. However, no trace of the fifteen soldiers was found. This fifteen became the second group of “Lost Colonists.” After a reconnaissance was made by Governor White for the fifteen soldiers, he returned to the ships where he was informed by the Captain that Roanoke was as far as he would go. It was the end of the line for White and his colonists. He could either return to England or establish his colony at Roanoke. The rest is history. In 1634, nearly 50 years after White’s “Lost Colony” and over 25 years since the establishment of Jamestown, Lord Baltimore established the colony of Maryland. From the very beginning, the colonies of Maryland and Virginia, although separate in many ways, shared one unique commonality:- A particular group of colonists who shared the same surnames as the “Lost Colonists.” Just as the 1587 Roanoke Colonists are suspected as being relatives and friends, so was this group of Maryland and Virginia colonists. There are even indications that suggest that these families may have had relations in England prior to their arrival in America. Could they have been relatives of the “Lost Colonists”? It is a question that could be answered by DNA testing if accounts are true that Roanoke Colonists survived among the Indians and fathered children by Native American wives. © 2002 Patrick A. Payne