Nobody knows for sure; thought it was probably some combination of food shortages, disease, and conflict with the natives, and the Colonists did not know how to survive in their new environment. Also, it was built on a marsh and they did NOT have enough supplies!
They didn't start farming when they got there. Plus, the first attempt was all soldiers, so there were no women to 'keep the peace'. And because the soldiers were not exactly kind to the Indians when they arrived, the Indians probably weren't to concerned with the colonists health. the second attempt, however, failed because when John white returned to England for more supplies, he couldn't return for 3 more years, because England was at war with Spain. when he returned, there was nobody there.
After two failed attempts to establish a colony on the Atlantic coast of America, Sir Walter Raleigh sent 150 settlers to the island on Roanoke Island in 1587. Things began badly since it was too late in the year to plant a crop and the natives were hostile. The fate of the 1587 Roanoke Island Colony is unknown. When John White returned in 1590 he found no trace of the colonists, including his daughter Eleanor, son-in-law Ananias, and their daughter Virginia.
Two possible clues were found - "CROATOAN and "CRO" carved on a tree and a post. This might have indicated that at least some of the colonists moved south to live with the friendly natives. Some may have moved north to the Chesapeake Bay (the place they were supposed to go to), some may have tried to sail back to England (they had a pinnace at their disposal) and some may have moved inland. We just don't know.
The lost colony of Roanoke, is one of US history's greatest mysteries.
The Roanoke colony was founded on Roanoke Island in present-day North Carolina in 1585 by Sir Walter Raleigh.
The English colonists financed partially by Sir Walter Raleigh, founded the Roanoke Colony.
Sir Walter Raleigh was the European explorer who founded the colony at Roanoke Island in 1585.
The Roanoke Island Colony was founded in 1585.
The year the Roanoke colony began was the year of 1585. Did you know it was a lost colony? The man who founded it was Sir Walter Raleigh.
Sir Walter Raleigh
The Roanoke colony was founded on Roanoke Island in present-day North Carolina in 1585 by Sir Walter Raleigh.
Roanoke
The English colonists financed partially by Sir Walter Raleigh, founded the Roanoke Colony.
Sir Walter Raleigh was the European explorer who founded the colony at Roanoke Island in 1585.
Sir Walter Raleigh founded the 'Lost Colony of Roanoke' in 1587.
Roanoke colony
The Roanoke Island Colony was founded in 1585.
The year the Roanoke colony began was the year of 1585. Did you know it was a lost colony? The man who founded it was Sir Walter Raleigh.
The colonist had vanished.
Sir Walter Raleigh was the govenor of the lost colony of Roanoke.
Sir Walter Raleigh