Who were the personnel associated with the Roanoke Island colonies? A few such as Cavendish, Drake, Grenville, Harriot, and Lane were significant enough to have been remembered for other reasons. Most have defied scholarly attempts at identification for centuries. Although current research holds significant promise for their ultimate identification, some of the investor, settlers, explorers and mariners remain mere names on a list.
Most of the known names are listed here in alphabetical order with the date of their participation in one or more of the ventures, preparations, or relief efforts. The roster includes Arthure Barlowe'screcord of participants in the 1584 reconnaissance voyage; Ralph Lane's list of colonists who remained on Rooanoke Island for eleven months in 1585-1586; John White's list of settlers in the 1587 colony; the principal members of Sir Francis Drake's West Indian Voyage of 1585-1586 (which stopped over at Wococon, collected the settlers and returned to England); and a few of the participants in the 1585 Grenville expedition, the 1587 expedition and the 1588 and 1590 relief missions. In addition, all of the investors and assistants cited in the 1589 indenture and the 1587 Grant of Arms to the Cittie of Ralegh are included.
There are a few instances of identical names on the same and different lists. Duplications within a list have been noted. Some lists may have original name spellings, others have been anglicized. Recurrences among lists have been entered separately unless identification of the individual has been documented.
For easier identification, the names of colonists on the alphabetized list have been italicized and bolded. For interest in lists of participants associated with specific voyages, colonies or time frames, scroll down the page or use the selector:
Captain George Raymond, Captain of Lion of Chichester
Thomas Cavendish, Captain of Elizabeth
Arthur Barlowe
Captain Boniten
Captain Aubry
John Arundell
John Stukely
Edward Gorges
Master Bremige
Master Vincent
Captain John Copeltope
Edward, Scrivener
Granganimeo
Manteo
Richard Hakluyt, elder
Alonzo Cornieles, Captain of the Santa Maria of San Vicente
Enrique Lopez, Portuguese merchant
Bernard Drake
Amyas Preston
Andrew Fulforde, Captain of Ralegh's Job
Marvin, gentleman
Kendall, gentleman
Wingina
Master Atkinson, servant of Sir Francis Walsingham
Master Russell, servant of Sir Francis Walsingham
Master H---, of the Middle Temple
Master Francis Brooke, treasurer
John Stubbe
Peregrine Bertie, Lord Willoughby de Eresby
Martin Laurentson, Danish mbr of Grenville's expedition
Diego Menendez de Valdes
Sir Francis Drake's West Indian Voyage
(stopped over at Roanoke)
*(X)= died on voyage
*(L)= lost on voyage
Captain Walter Baily
Captain George Barton
Captain Walter Bigges
Captain Bitfield
Baptista Boazio, gentleman
Captain Edward Careless als Wright
Captain Christopher Carleill, Lieutenant General
Lieutenant Thomas Cates
Captain William Cecil (X)*
Captain Thomas Cely
--- Cottell, secretary (X)*
Lieutenant Croftes
Captain Robert Crosse
Sir Francis Drake, General and Admiral
Captain Thomas Drake
Captain James Erisey
Captain Thomas Fenner
Captain George Fortescue (X)*
Captain Martin Frobisher, Vice Admiral
Captain Edward Gilman
Captain John Goring
Master John Grant
Captain John Grenville (X)*
Captain Fulke Greville, later Lord Brooke; withdrew from voyage
Master John Hampton
Captain John Hannam (X)*
Captain Richard Hawkins
Captain William Hawkins, Sr.; withdrew from voyage
Captain William Hawkins, Jr.
--- Henley
Master Griffith Herne
--- Jonas, interpreter
Master Abraham Kendall
Captain Francis Knollys
Captain John Marchant
Captain John Martin
Captain Thomas Moone (X)*
Captain Matthew Morgan
Philip Nicholls, chaplain
Captain Robert Pew
Captain Anthony Platt
Anthony Powell, Sergeant Major (X)*
Edward Powell, Recorder
Captain John Rivers
Captain John Sampson
Philip Sparrowe, sailor
Richard Stanton, soldier
Captain John Varney (X)*
Captain John Vaughan
Lieutenant Waterhouse (X)*
Captain Henry Whyte
Captain John Wilson
Captain Edward Wynter
Nicholas Winter, gentleman (L)*
Robert Alexander (X)*
--- Annes, gentleman
---Ardle, gentleman
Mr Burke, soldier
Alexander Carleill (X)*
George Cavendish (X)*
--- Chamberlain, gentleman
James Dier (X)*
Peter Duke (X)*
Lieutenant Escot (X)*
Lieutenant Ketill
--- Longe, gentleman
Master John Newsome
Thomas Ogle, steward (X)*
Mr Scroope (X)*
Lieutenant Alexander Starkey (X)*
--- Thorowgood, gentleman
Lieutenant Thomas Tucker, soldier (X)*
Lieutenant Vincent (X)*
---Willis, gentleman
Personnel Associated with Grenville's 1585 Relief Voyage
(unresearched, no listing currently available)
THE 1587 Colonists
Men
John White, Governor
Roger Bailie, Assistant
Ananias Dare, Assistant
Christopher Cooper, Assistant
Thomas Stevens, Assistant
John Sampson, Assistant
Dyonis Harvie, Assistant
Roger Prat, Assistant
George Howe, Assistant
Nicholas Johnson
Thomas Warner
Anthony Cage
John Jones
John Tydway
Ambrose Viccars
Edmond English
Thomas Topan
Henry Berrye
Richard Berrye John Spendlove
John Hemmington
Thomas Butler
Edward Powell
John Burden
James Hynde
Thomas Ellis
William Browne
Michael Myllet
Thomas Smith
Richard Kemme
Thomas Harris
Richard Taverner
John Earnest
Henry Johnson
John Starte
Richard Darige
William Lucas
Arnold Archard
John Wright
William Dutton
Morris Allen
William Waters
Richard Arthur
John Chapman
William Clement
Robert Little
Hugh Tayler
Richard Wildye
Lewes Wotton
Michael Bishop
Henry Browne
Henry Rufoote
Richard Tomkins
Henry Dorrell
charles Florrie
Henry Mylton
Henry Payne
Thomas Harris
William Nicholes
Thomas Phevens
John Borden
Thomas Scot
William Willes
John Brooke
Cutbert White
John Bright
Clement Tayler
William Sole
John Cotsmur
Humfrey Newton
Thomas Colman
Thomas Gramme
Marke Bennet
John Gibbes
John Stilman
Robert Wilkinson
Peter Little
John Wyles
Brian Wyles
George Martyn
Hugh Pattenson
Martyn Sutton
John Farre
John Bridger
Griffen Jones
Richard Shaberdge
James Lasie
John Cheven
Thomas Hewet
William Berde
Women
Elyoner Dare
Margery Harvie
Agnes Wood
Wenefrid Powell
Joyce Archard
Jane Jones
Elizabaeth Glane
Jane Pierce
Audry Tappan
Alis Chapman
Emme Merrimoth
------ Colman
Margaret Lawrence
Joan Warren
Jane Mannering
Rose Payne
Elizabeth Viccars
Children
John Sampson
Robert Ellis
Ambrose Viccars
Thamas Archard
Thomas Humfrey
Thomas Smart
George Howe
John Prat
William Wythers
Virginia Dare (born in Virginia)
---- Harvye (born in Virginia)
Assistants of the Colony Who Did Not Remain in Virginia
Simon Fernando, Assistant
John Nichols, Assistant
William Fullwood, Assistant
James Plat, Assistant
Humfrey Dimmocke, Assistant
Investors in the Cittie of Ralegh [sic] in Virginia
Sir Walter Ralegh
Thomas Smith
William Sanderson
Walter Bayly
William Gamage
Edmund Nevil
Thomas Harding
Walter Marler
Thomas Martin
Gabriel Harris
William George
William Stone
Henry Fleetewood
John Gerrard
Robert Macklyn
Richard Hakluyt
Thomas Hoode
Thomas Wade
Richard Wright
Edmund Walden
Personnel Associated with the 1590 Voyage
*(X) = died on voyage
John White, Governor
Captain William Lane
Captain Joseph Harris, of the Conclude
Captain Abraham Cocke, of Limehouse, Captain of Harry & John, Admiral
Ralph Skinner, masters mate (X)*
Edward Kelly (X)*
Thomas Bevis (X)*
Hance the surgion (X)*
Edward Kelborne (X)*
Robert Colman (X)*
Captain Christopher Newport, of Limehouse, Captain of the Little John of London
John Bedford, of Dartmouth, Master of the Moonlight
Robert Hallet, Captain of the prize Buen Jesus
Thomas Middleton
James Bagge
Nicholas Glandvill,of Tavistock
John Facy, Captain of Elizabeth Glanville
John Rowe, Captain of Nicholas of Plymouth
William Finch, of Plymouth
Henry Cletherow, ironmonger
John Stokes, fishmonger
John Clerke, Sr.
John Clerke, Jr.
Hugh Middleton, goldsmith
Erasmus Harvye
Henry Millett, of Poole, seaman
John Taylor, of Hepitre near Exeter, seaman
Thoms Harding, of Newcastle, seaman
Henry Swanne, of Newcastle, mariner
Hugh Harding, of Plymouth, master of Conclude
William Cable
John Watts, owner of Harry & John
Wiliam Davell of Plymouth, seaman
Robert Hutton, of Limehouse, master of Harry & John
Michael Geere, of Limehouse, mariner, master of the John of London
William Lane, Captain of John Evangelist
Wylliam Brockbancke appraiser
Rogar Perrot grocer appraiser
George Bolles grocer appraiser
John Hyd grocer appraiser
Thomas Barbar appraiser
Richard Payntell appraiser
Wylliam Bygatte appraiser
Francisco Gomez of St. Domingo, purser of Good Jesus of Seville
Anthonio de Samora Carenio
Franciscus Marquino, interpreter
John de Vivia
Don John de Villa Rey
John de Viveta
Nicholas Gernandes
Petro Vasse Galliego of Liuxborne
Manuel Fernandez Correa, captain & owner of Buen Jesus William Sanderson
Edward Spicer, Captain of Moonlight Bedford, Master of Moonlight (X)*
Francisco Gomes
William Adams
Abraham Lofte, Lionel Balentine,
Richard Knotford
Thomas Gilbert
Henry Erlinge
William Cocke
John Davys
William Thorne
William Lane
John Gale
Credits & Sources
Text based on "Roanoke Colonists" by William S. Powell. Edited and expanded by lebame houston, Wynne Dough and Deanna Potts
Hakluyt, Richard, PRINCIPALL NAVIGATIONS (1589), pp. 728-33 and (1600), III, p. 251, as quoted in Quinn, David, ed. The Roanoke Voyages 1584-1590, (The Hakluyt Society, London: 1955), Vol. I, pp. 115-116.
Hakluyt, Richard, PRINCIPALL NAVIGATIONS (1589), pp. 736-7, as quoted in Quinn, David, ed. The Roanoke Voyages 1584-1590, (The Hakluyt Society, London: 1955), Vol. I, pp. 194-197.
Keeler, Mary Frear, ed. Sir Francis Drake's West Indian Voyage 1585-86, (The Hakluyt Society, London: 1981), Appendix III, pp. 301 - 320.
White, John, John White's Narrative of the 1587 Virginia Voyage (1587), as quoted in Quinn, David, ed. The First Colonists (Oxford University Press: 1973) pp. 107-108.
