After Sir John White's return to England from his expedition, his belief that the colonists were still safe on Croatoan Island remained unshaken. Walter Raleigh's reluctance to send another expedition while the colonists were presumed alive stemmed from his desire to maintain his claim to Virginia. This situation was complicated when John Dare, son of Ananias Dare, filed a petition to have his father declared legally dead in order to inherit his property.

In 1595, possibly in response to John Dare's petition, Raleigh organized an expedition that supposedly aimed to locate the lost colonists. However, instead of heading directly to Roanoke, the expedition diverted to Central America in search of El Dorado, revealing Raleigh's true priorities. On their return journey to England, they passed by Roanoke but did not make landfall, citing unfavorable weather conditions as the reason.

Key Takeaways

Walter Raleigh maintained his claim to Virginia by preventing new expeditions while colonists were presumed alive.
John Dare's petition to declare his father legally dead prompted a response from Raleigh in 1595.
Raleigh's expedition bypassed Roanoke in favor of searching for El Dorado in Central America.

John White's Return to England

After leaving Roanoke Island, John White returned to England with the belief that his daughter and her family remained safe on Croatoan Island. Despite his desire to mount a rescue mission, he was not permitted to return to the colony.

Sir Walter Raleigh had strategic reasons for preventing White's return. As long as the colonists were presumed alive, Raleigh's claim to Virginia remained valid, and he was reluctant to finance another expedition.

A significant development occurred in 1595 when John Dare, son of Ananias Dare, filed a petition to have his father legally declared dead to claim inheritance rights. This legal maneuver likely prompted Raleigh to finally organize an expedition that same year.

However, Raleigh's 1595 voyage revealed his true priorities. Rather than heading directly to Roanoke, the expedition first traveled to Central America in search of El Dorado, using the Roanoke rescue mission merely as a pretext.

The expedition only approached Roanoke on their return journey to England. They never made landfall, claiming that poor weather conditions prevented them from reaching shore. This incident demonstrates how economic interests often overshadowed humanitarian concerns during the age of mercantilism.

Walter Raleigh's Motivations and Actions

Sir Walter Raleigh's decisions regarding the Roanoke colonists reveal complex motivations that balanced political, economic, and personal interests. After John White returned to England, Raleigh chose not to immediately send a rescue mission to find the colonists who had moved to Croatoan Island. This decision was strategic—as long as the colonists were presumed alive, Raleigh could maintain his claim to Virginia.

A significant development occurred in 1595 when John Dare, son of Ananias Dare, filed a petition to have his father legally declared dead to claim inheritance. This legal action apparently prompted Raleigh to organize an expedition that same year, suggesting it may have been a direct response to preserve his colonial claims.

The 1595 expedition reveals Raleigh's true priorities. Instead of sailing directly to Roanoke to search for the lost colonists, Raleigh diverted the journey to Central America. His primary objective was searching for El Dorado, the legendary city of gold. The Roanoke rescue mission served merely as a convenient justification for the voyage.

The expedition's actions on the return journey further expose Raleigh's lack of genuine concern for the colonists. When passing near Roanoke, the ships did not make landfall. Crew members later claimed adverse weather conditions prevented them from approaching the island. This explanation appears questionable given the expedition's clear prioritization of wealth-seeking over rescue efforts.

Raleigh's behavior exemplifies the mercantile mindset of the era, where economic opportunity and territorial claims often outweighed humanitarian concerns. His expedition demonstrates how colonial ventures balanced public narratives with private objectives.

The Petition of John Dare

In 1595, John Dare, son of Ananias Dare, submitted a formal petition to have his father declared legally dead. This action was likely motivated by inheritance concerns regarding his father's property in England.

The petition created ripples that potentially influenced Sir Walter Raleigh's subsequent actions. Following John's filing, Raleigh organized an expedition that departed from England that same year, ostensibly to search for the lost colonists of Roanoke.

However, Raleigh's true motivations appeared to diverge from the stated mission. Instead of proceeding directly to Roanoke Island, the expedition first traveled to Central America in pursuit of El Dorado. The Roanoke search seemingly served as convenient cover for Raleigh's primary interest in finding mythical golden treasures.

The expedition passed by Roanoke only during their return journey to England. They never made landfall, claiming adverse weather conditions prevented them from approaching the shore. This decision left the fate of the colonists, including John's father Ananias, unresolved.

Before this petition, Raleigh had been reluctant to mount additional expeditions while the colonists were presumed alive. This hesitation served his interests, as their presumed survival maintained his territorial claim to Virginia.

Sir Walter Raleigh's 1595 Search Expedition

In 1595, Sir Walter Raleigh organized an expedition that was ostensibly meant to locate the lost Roanoke colonists. This mission came after John White had been unable to return to check on the settlers, including his daughter and son-in-law.

The timing of Raleigh's expedition appears linked to a legal matter. John Dare, son of colonist Ananias Dare, had filed a petition to have his father declared legally dead to claim inheritance. This legal action may have prompted Raleigh to act, as finding the colonists alive would preserve his territorial claim to Virginia.

Despite the stated purpose of finding the lost settlers, Raleigh's true motivation seemed to lie elsewhere. The expedition did not travel directly to Roanoke Island. Instead, Raleigh directed his ships to Central America in search of El Dorado, the legendary city of gold.

The expedition's priorities became clear when, on their return journey to England, they passed near Roanoke Island but did not stop to investigate. They claimed adverse weather conditions prevented them from making landfall. This decision reveals how the search for the colonists was secondary to Raleigh's pursuit of wealth in the New World.

This expedition exemplifies the economic priorities that often drove exploration during the age of mercantilism, when potential profit frequently outweighed humanitarian concerns.

The Detour to Central America

After White's return to England, he likely held onto hope that his daughter and her husband had found safety on Croatoan Island. Raleigh maintained his claim to Virginia as long as the colonists were presumed alive. This presumption prevented White from mounting another rescue mission.

In 1595, John Dare, son of Ananias Dare, filed a petition to have his father declared legally dead to settle inheritance matters. This action appears to have prompted Sir Walter Raleigh to organize an expedition that same year, ostensibly to locate the missing colonists.

However, Raleigh's expedition never reached Roanoke as its primary destination. Instead, the voyage diverted to Central America in search of El Dorado, the legendary city of gold. The Roanoke mission served merely as a convenient cover for Raleigh's true mercantile ambitions.

The expedition sailed past Roanoke only on their return journey to England. They made no attempt to land, claiming that adverse weather conditions prevented them from reaching shore. This convenient excuse allowed Raleigh to maintain his claim to Virginia while prioritizing his treasure-hunting ventures.

The mercantile priorities of the era often overshadowed humanitarian concerns. Raleigh's decision exemplifies how economic opportunities frequently took precedence over the welfare of colonists during this period of exploration.

Roanoke: The Missed Opportunity

John White's return to England left him with the belief that his daughter and her family remained safe on Croatoan Island. Despite his desires, White couldn't mount another journey to confirm their status. Walter Raleigh maintained his claim to Virginia as long as the colonists were presumed alive, reducing incentive for immediate rescue efforts.

A significant development occurred in 1595 when John Dare filed a petition to have his father, Ananias Dare, declared legally dead to settle inheritance matters. This likely prompted Raleigh to finally organize an expedition that same year.

However, Raleigh's 1595 mission revealed misplaced priorities. Instead of heading directly to Roanoke, the expedition diverted to Central America in search of El Dorado - Raleigh's true objective. The Roanoke rescue mission served primarily as a convenient justification for his treasure-hunting ambitions.

When the ships eventually passed near Roanoke on their return journey to England, they never made landfall. The expedition leaders cited poor weather conditions as their excuse for not investigating the colony's fate. This decision exemplifies how mercantile and financial interests often overshadowed humanitarian concerns during this period of exploration.

The Age of Mercantilism: An Overview

Mercantilism emerged as a dominant economic philosophy during the colonial period, creating complex dynamics between nations and their overseas territories. White's inability to return to the Roanoke colony illustrates how commercial interests often shaped colonial policies. Sir Walter Raleigh maintained his claim to Virginia as long as the colonists were presumed alive, demonstrating the territorial aspect of mercantile thinking.

The handling of the Roanoke situation reveals mercantile priorities. When John Dare filed a petition in 1595 to have his father Ananias legally declared dead for inheritance purposes, Raleigh finally launched an expedition. However, this mission clearly showed his true interests.

Rather than proceeding directly to Roanoke, Raleigh's 1595 expedition first traveled to Central America in search of El Dorado. This detour exposes how the quest for gold and wealth often superseded humanitarian concerns during this period. The Roanoke investigation served merely as a secondary justification for the voyage.

The expedition's decision to bypass Roanoke on the return journey, claiming adverse weather prevented landing, further demonstrates how colonial settlements were sometimes viewed primarily as economic investments rather than communities deserving protection. This prioritization of profit over people characterized much of the mercantile approach to colonization.

Key Elements of Mercantilism:

Territorial claims maintained through continuous occupation
Colonial ventures primarily serving economic interests
Search for precious metals taking precedence over settlement support
Strategic decision-making based on financial rather than humanitarian concerns

The legal and inheritance questions surrounding colonists like Ananias Dare highlight the complex relationship between domestic English law and colonial ventures during this period. Property rights remained important enough that Raleigh had to respond, even if only superficially, to legal challenges that might affect colonial claims.

Sir Walter Raleigh's Quest for El Dorado: How the Search for Gold Abandoned the Lost Colonists of Roanoke