Roanoke and the New World: Roanoke, #1

By J. L. Woodard

A riveting tale of hope and humanity's indomitable spirit, Roanoke: The New World chronicles the colonists of Roanoke and their extraordinary journey to a faraway planet.

 

When a mysterious celestial force abducts the lost colonists and transports them across the galaxy, they find themselves forging an unlikely alliance with the planet's mystical inhabitants known as the Yr'nel. Adapting to this luminous alien world, one family in particular - led by courageous mother Eleanor Dare - helps bridge the divide between the two races. But dark forces still threaten the planet's future harmony.

 

Can Eleanor and her fellow colonists succeed in their mission to ignite the spark that will illuminate the destiny of two civilizations? An uplifting saga of unlikely friendship, sacrifice, and the ultimate resilience of the human spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. L. Woodard
• Release date: Nov 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223684930

Book preview

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In the late 1500s, England eagerly eyed the New World, motivated by hopes of extracting riches and resources as well as countering the power of imperial Spain. After Sir Walter Raleigh received a charter from Queen Elizabeth I to establish a colony in North America, he funded an ambitious expedition to achieve this goal.

In April 1587, over 100 carefully selected English men and women set sail from the coast of England on three small ships–the Lion, the Falcon, and the Flyboat. This band of explorers and pioneers comprised soldiers, craftsmen, farmers, and artists, led by experienced commander John White.

The ships were loaded with provisions and tools needed to build and sustain the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. After a long and treacherous two-month journey across the Atlantic, the ships arrived at Roanoke Island off the coast of what is now North Carolina in July 1587.

The inhospitable island, surrounded by dangerous shoals and occupied by Native American tribes, was far from an ideal location for a fledgling settlement. Nevertheless, once on shore, the colonists quickly set to work building houses, storage sheds, and other structures encircled by defensive fortifications.

Governor John White instituted a series of policies meant to ensure the survival and success of the colony. These included strictly rationing food, establishing trading relationships with surrounding tribes, and requiring locals to share their knowledge of the land.

Despite these efforts, the colonists continued to face immense challenges. Food was scarce, indigenous tribes became hostile, and division arose among the settlers. As winter approached, their outlook was bleak. So in late 1587, Governor White set sail for England, seeking reinforcements and supplies to bolster the struggling colony. He left behind about 115 colonists, including his daughter Eleanor Dare, who had recently given birth to Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World.

But White would not make it back to Roanoke for another three years. England's ongoing war with Spain waylaid White's resupply attempts. Finally, in 1590, he was able to assemble another relief mission and return to Roanoke, hoping to revive the colony.

When White arrived in August 1590, he found the settlement eerily deserted and abandoned. The houses had been dismantled, defensive walls taken down, and the site was overgrown - signs it had been left long ago. Digging through remnants, White found the letters CROATOAN carved into a post, showing the colonists may have moved to nearby Croatoan Island.

Before White could launch a search, a massive storm struck and damaged his ships. Reluctantly, he was forced to return to England without finding a trace of the 90 men, 17 women, and 11 children of the Lost Colony.

In the following years, search parties and ships passing by could find no signs of the settlers or clues to their fate. Theories have swirled ever since, with some speculating the colonists died of starvation or disease, were massacred by natives, tried to sail back to England and were lost at sea, or integrated with local tribes.

When Captain John Smith visited in 1608 while establishing the Jamestown settlement further north, he, too, found no remnants or survivors of England's first colony. The fate of the Roanoke colonists remains one of the most confounding and intriguing mysteries in American history. Their disappearance, with scarcely a trace, continues to capture imagination and spawn speculation over 400 years later.

Chapter 1

A Brave New World

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The morning sun crested over the horizon, casting its warm glow on the coast of what would one day be called Virginia. The rays filtered through the trees, landing on the newly constructed fort walls of the Roanoke colony, illuminating the settlement in a natural spotlight. It was the dawning of a new day in the New World.

John White stepped out of his makeshift lodging, blinking against the brightness. As governor of the Roanoke colony, it was his responsibility to oversee the running of the fledgling settlement, ensuring its growth and prosperity. He took a deep breath, inhaling the briny scent of the nearby sea. In the distance, he could hear the raucous calls of seagulls mingling with the crash of waves against the shore. It was these sounds, so different from the crowded streets of London, that reminded him how far they had ventured into uncharted territory.

As John made his way through the colony, settlers were already hard at work on their various tasks. The sounds of sawing and hammering filled the air as new buildings were constructed. John spotted James Thompson, one of their carpenters, focused on raising the wall of what would become the fort’s guard tower.

Good morning, Mr. Thompson, John called in greeting, his voice friendly yet authoritative. How goes the progress on the fortifications?

Thompson paused, using his arm to wipe the sweat from his brow. Morning, Governor White, he replied. We hit a snag with the foundations on the south wall yesterday. The ground is marshier than we realized. But we should have it upright in a fortnight if the weather holds.

John nodded, making a mental note to check on the wall’s progress later that day. Carry on then. And let me know if you need any extra hands for the task.

Leaving Thompson to his work, John continued through the maze of activity. The settlement was abuzz with purpose, everyone seeming to have a role to play in establishing Roanoke. For a brief moment, John allowed himself to feel a swell of pride. They had lost some souls, especially during that first brutal winter when the cold ravaged their numbers. But those who remained were a hardened, determined lot. This place, with its unfamiliar terrain and myriad dangers, would shape them, bond them. One day, songs and stories would be sung about the settlers of Roanoke, the trailblazers of England’s colonization of the New World.

John made his way to the eastern perimeter, where a new house was being constructed. Overseeing the builders