Manteo (Croatan) - The Lost Colony

The Lost Colony

In 1587 Manteo returned to Roanoke along with Governor John White's ill-fated expedition to plant a permanent English colony in the New World. Prior to the journey, Raleigh had Manteo created Lord of Roanoke, making him in effect a feudal ruler in the New World, "and Lord thereof...in reward of his faithfull service". It was a likely condition of this remarkable appointment that Manteo submit to baptism into the Church of England.

Manteo was involved in several nighttime attacks which took place in 1587. The Native Americans had informed the English that some of their men were killed. To seek revenge, the English attempted to plot an attack on the party who they believed was responsible for the English deaths, the Roanokes. However, the English actually killed several of the Croatan people, who they mistook to be the killers. These attacks even involved Manteo's mother, who was leader of the Croatan natives. As a mediator between the English and the Native Americans, and due to his loyalty to the English people, Manteo was caught in the middle, between the two opposing sides, the English and the natives. Manteo had mixed feelings regarding the nature of these attacks and was able to understand the points of views of both sides.