So they came back 3 years later and couldn’t find anyone who spoke English? I’d say it was a lost colony. I’ve lost my keys before — yeah, they were there all along but they were lost. According to William Strachey's 1612 account of the Roanoke Colony, Chief Wahunsenacawh/Powhatan directed the slaughter of the colonists, and only seven escaped. They fled up the Chowan River and survived beating out copper for the natives:
Investigations into Roanoke: 1610–1612:William Strachey The
The Chowan River Dare Stone supports this theory:
ANANIAS DARE & VIRGINIA WENT HENCE VNTO HEAVEN 1591 ANYE ENGLISHMAN SHEW JOHN WHITE GOVR VIA
Translation:
Ananias Dare & Virginia went hence unto Heaven, 1591 Any Englishman show [this rock to] John White, Governor of Virginia
The other side elaborates:
FATHER SOONE AFTER YOV GOE FOR ENGLANDE WEE CAM HITHER ONLIE MISARIE & WARRE TOW YEERE ABOVE HALFE DEADE ERE TOW YEERE MORE FROM SICKNES BEINE FOVRE & TWENTIE SALVAGE WITH MESSAGE OF SHIPP VNTO US SMAL SPACE OF TIME THEY AFFRITE OF REVENGE RANN AL AWAYE WEE BLEEVE YT NOTT YOV SOONE AFTER YE SALVAGES FAINE SPIRTS ANGRIE SVDDIANE MVRTHER AL SAVE SEAVEN MINE CHILDE ANANIAS TO SLAINE WTH MVCH MISARIE BVRIE AL NEERE FOVRE MYLES EASTE THIS RIVER VPPON SMAL HILL NAMES WRIT AL THER ON ROCKE PVTT THIS THEIR ALSOE SALVAGE SHEW THIS VNTO YOV & HITHER WEE PROMISE YOV TO GIVE GREATE PLENTIE PRESENTS
Translation:
Father, soon after you go for England, we came here. Only misery and war [for] two years. Above half dead these two years, more from sickness, being twenty-four. [A] Savage with [a] message of [a] ship came to us. [Within a] small space of time, they [became] frightened of revenge [and] ran all away. We believe it [was] not you. Soon after, the savages said spirits [were] angry. Suddenly [they] murdered all save seven. My child [and] Ananias, too, [were] slain with much misery. Buried all near four miles east [of] this river, upon [a] small hill. Names [were] written all there on [a] rock. Put this there also. [If a] Savage shows this to you, we promised you [would] give [them] great plenty presents. EWD.