The Lost Colony of Roanoke

Comment

Comment by Andrew Thomas Powell on July 13, 2011 at 2:11am

In White's journal he talks in some detail about the discussions he had with the Colonists. In it he specifically names Christopher Cooper as one who volunteered to come back with him, but who later rescinded. The sick sailors (some of whom died) are also detailed in his notes. His actual quote reads (of those who died) "Roger Large, John Mathew, Thomas Smith and some of their sailors..." (whose names he did not know). Now I grant that Thomas Smith is also a name in Hakluyt's colony list but White is specifically referring to the ships crew and "their" sailors at this point in the journal, not Colonists. White had a further opportunity to mention names (but doesn't) when he boards another ship at Dingle, bound for Southampton. Ultimately, his rather emotional commentary of the 1590 voyage and indeed his 1593 letter to Hakluyt convince me he travelled alone.

Comment by Rhys Edward Howitt on July 13, 2011 at 1:44am

We know White (sorry, thanks) made it back to England in 1587, with some sick sailors.  How do you exclude anybody else coming back then too?  I've only seen a very sketchy journal of the trip.

Comment by Andrew Thomas Powell on July 12, 2011 at 8:12am

Rhys, this has real possibilities but... To answer your question, the most accurate list is that which is in my book 'Grenville and the lost colony of Roanoke' (amazon, waterstones etc); this is because when I studied the earliest know accounts, I realised that there were several contradictions in the accounts. However, for Hewett (or derivative) returning to England, I am wholly convinced that there is only one conceivable possibility for anyone returning to England and this is not with John White (Smith was 1607 Jamestown); but with the Pinesse captained by Edward Stafford which is unaccounted for. However, I cannot see how a ship from Roanoke could arrive back in England unannounced. Therefore I have to deduce Hewett of the colony dissapeared over there with the rest. We have scoured the PCC Wills for clues but although we clearly have some family connections going on; we have yet to identify one as the Will of a Colonist.

Comment by Rhys Edward Howitt on July 12, 2011 at 4:38am

I've been thinking about this some more, and wonder if the answer is not in plain sight.  The second son of William Hewett of Sawbridgeworth (the second Sir Wm in my earlier post) was called Thomas (later Sir Thos) and fits the bill well -- except he died in England in 1612.  He was an educated member of the Clothworkers Guild and the family had money.  He sold many of his interests in 1608 to his nephew (another Thos>Sir Thos) to invest in the Virginia Corporation, not a smart move in retrospect.  He could be the Thos Hewet on the settlers list if (a) he never actually left England or (b) he returned with Smith in 1587 seeking additional resources and funds.  For (b), the fact that he was the son of a London merchant and closely related to many more might come into it.  Andy, what is the standing of the Settlers List -- when was it written, and how accurate is it considered?  Any other info in your sources?  It did seem rather odd to me that somebody of the gentleman class could disappear without trace.  Rhys from Australia.

Comment by Rhys Edward Howitt on April 14, 2011 at 5:36am

Alas, the will I got back shows that Thomas Hewet to be a yeoman and grandfather, and apparently living in Derbyshire till he died. 

 

There's a couple of other possibilities in this family (as heaps of them were called Thomas) but nothing compelling.  Will write again if I turn anything up.

Rhys

Comment by Rhys Edward Howitt on March 27, 2011 at 1:57pm

Thanks Warren and Andy, I do know about the BCL and have seen the "law advisor" bit but don't know if there is evidence, or just an assumption because of his degree.

There is a very good possibility that he's related to the Hewets of Killamarsh Derbyshire, being a family of well-off merchants who sent many of their offspring to university, very unusual in the 1500s. They were originally traders with Antwerp for wool, but opened up trading lines to Turkey and Africa, and then after this period the family were much involved with setting up the Virginia Company and the East India Company.

Unfortunately every generation has a Thomas, a John, a William and a Nicholas, so it gets wildly confusing over a few generations.

Killamarsh is just near the border with Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, and the family spread out over that area, and indeed London where many of them mostly lived, with a country seat in that 3-county area.  Wills in all directions.

There were two Sir William Hewets, clothworkers and cousins, in London in the early 1500s.  The first became Lord Mayor of London.  The second William had a nephew Thomas who fits in a number of circumstantial ways; though that has got me into trouble in the past!  Anyway, I'm waiting on what I think is his will dated 30 May 1586 -- so the key info will be the probate date.

If that pans out, I have a lot more info to contribute.  So I will write again then.

If it does stack up, it would appear that he left a couple of young sons, and perhaps a wife, behind in England.  Perhaps as a youngest son of a youngest son in a family of prominent merchants, he felt it was worth taking a risk.

Rhys

Goulburn NSW Australia

Comment by Andrew Thomas Powell on March 27, 2011 at 1:12pm

Gentlemen, This is an extremely interesting conversation. I would be very pleased to see what evidence you have that emerges on Hewet.

As for my book (Grenville and the Lost Colony of Roanoke), no it doesn't contain a great deal about the individual colonists, simply because the focus has been on John White (who I have now probably correctly identified) and Ananias Dare (of which there is some information regarding our lines of enquiry.)

It does contain some corrections but overall, one of the greatest problems we have is how to connect the colonists with the Principals or Investors. The consensus view being that most of the colonists and Investors had to be connected in some way. e.g Marriage, Estate Worker, or from evidence linking them together through communication channels (for example (say) two colonists being at the Middle Temple during the same period, or being members of the same Guild etc.

Comment by warren coleman on March 27, 2011 at 12:11pm

I'm betting that you knew that Thomas held a Bachelor of Civil Law Degree from Oxford and was likely the Law advisor to the Colony!

Warren Coleman

Comment by Rhys Edward Howitt on March 26, 2011 at 11:12pm

Does Andy's book have any specific info on colonist Thomas Hewet?  I have a few clues suggesting that he might be my direct ancestor, and am waiting on a will that might cast further light on this.  Happy to correspond with anyone with additional info: rhysh@webone.com.au.

Comment by Debbie Kennett on April 21, 2010 at 7:49am

Hi Warren

Did you get your Y-DNA tested with Family Tree DNA? If so I would guess you would qualify to join the Lost Colony DNA Project. You can find the project here:

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/LostColonyYDNA/default.aspx

There is also lots of information on the Lost Colony website:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~molcgdrg

and on the Lost Colony blog:

http://the-lost-colony.blogspot.com

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