Lost Colony on the Outer Banks

The Lost Colony on the Outer Banks is one of the longest running unsolved mysteries; until now…at least according to some experts.  Archeological findings and much research have lead experts to the conclusion that Lost Colony settlers survived with Native Americans along the Chowan River. 

As the story goes, Capt John Smith left the Colony of Roanoke Island to return to England for supplies.  Starving and desperate, many of the settlers trekked 50 miles westward along the Albermarle Sound.  James Horn, Vice President of research and historical interpretation and director of the John D Rockefeller Jr library in Colonial Williamsburg VA, is given credit for these findings. 

Horn recently made some presentations at the Chowan County courthouse to speak about his conclusions.  According to a recent article in the Daily Advance, “(Horn’s) presentation had some startling revelations,” said Jerry Climer, Historical Commission chairman. “It had always been suggested that the Lost Colony either died of starvation or from Indian attacks.”

The Chowan River was considered a favorable route because of its fresh water and its food supply. And the Chowanoc Indians were regarded as friendly. There was hope the integration could be mutually beneficial. “Dr. Horn had quite a bit of detail that the Chowanoc Indians took the people in,” Climer said.

During the colonization of Jamestown 20 years later, Capt. John Smith and a search party looked for Roanoke Island survivors. They too learned of European settlers on the move. Subsequent explorers found evidence that the settlers had survived and migrated. Years later, Hatteras Indians informed John Lawson of a people who “could read from a book and waited for a ship to rescue them,” Horn said.  

Is the mystery solved?  You can learn more about Horn’s theory in his book available at the Barker House Bookshop

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