Virginia Dare was the first English child born in the New World on August 18, 1587. Her birthday has been remembered and celebrated annually on Roanoke Island, North Carolina since 1937.
420 years ago, 117 men, women and children sailed from Plymouth, England to make a second attempt settle on Roanoke Island.
The journey was led by John White the grandfather of Virginia Dare. White left the settlers on Roanoke Island and returned to England for supplies. His return was delayed by war with France and he was unable to return for nearly three years.
When White returned, the settlement was deserted and his daughter and granddaughter were gone. All that remained was a clue carved into one of the trees “CROATAN.”
White tried to search for the colonists but was unsuccessful. He died never knowing what happened.
We still don’t know what happened. But the story of The Lost Colony is told every year on Roanoke Island. The outdoor drama is now in its 75th year.