Birth of First English Child in America
U.S. #796
On August 18, 1587, Virginia Dare was born at Roanoke Island (present-day North Carolina). However, little of her life after that is know due to the mysterious disappearance of the entire colony.
In the late 1500s, Europeans eagerly sought to establish colonies in the New World (North and South America). British colonists sent by Sir Walter Raleigh made their first attempt in 1586, but returned to England due to lack of food and fights with the Native Americans.
The British made a second attempt the following year, setting sail from England on April 26, 1587. This group differed from the last in that it included women and children. The 150-plus colonists reached Roanoke Island on July 22, and immediately began building their homes.
Among those that made the voyage were Governor John White, his daughter Eleanor, and her husband Ananias Dare. Pregnant during the journey, Eleanor gave birth to a baby girl on August 18, and named her Virginia. She was the first of two children known to be born in the colony.
As the colonists struggled to establish their homes, they begged Governor White to return to England for supplies. He reluctantly left on August 27, and planned to return in one year. However, England’s war with Spain delayed White’s trip back by three years. By the time he returned to Roanoke, all of the colonists had disappeared from the area.
Some buildings were collapsed and others were taken down, which led White to believe they didn’t leave in a hurry. Before he left, White instructed the colonists to carve a Maltese cross on a nearby tree if they had to leave by force. Since he didn’t find one, he believed they left of their own will. The only clues they left behind were the world “Croatoan” carved on a post and “Cro” on a nearby tree. White took this to mean that they had relocated the Croatoan Island (present-day Hatteras Island) but he was never able to search there.
Virginia Dare and the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island remain a mystery today. Most believe the colonists were taken in by a Native American tribe, but no one knows for sure.
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By Jerry Hallead August 18, 2015 - 1:58 am
Interesting bit of history. Thanks Don and everyone at Mystic.
By Roobin Wilderness August 18, 2015 - 7:01 pm
It is quite interesting that just a few days or weeks ago they supposedly found the Lost Colony. Quite something.
By Jules G. Leroy MD. PhD August 18, 2015 - 2:45 am
As one of your foreign customers since a few years, I want to congratulate you on the initiative of telling all of us about the meaning of many of the US stamps in our collections. Being trained for several years in the USA, I have had an active interest in US history. However you are adding a special human and reality dimension to our collections beyond that of a few historic figures known to everyone.
Thanks and .. Congratulations
By Prab Pandit August 18, 2015 - 7:35 am
Disappeared but left a foot mark behind, on which the whites’ presence is
established till today
By ROBERT AURILIA August 18, 2015 - 8:05 am
Thanks for your historic stories.
By ROBERT AURILIA August 18, 2015 - 8:06 am
THANKS FOR THE EDUCATION!
By Jerry Gioia Sr August 18, 2015 - 9:03 am
So much of early American history has been forgotten buy many.
Thanks for keeping it alive. Keep up the good work.
By Brenda Roy August 18, 2015 - 9:35 am
Thank you for bringing the stamps to life.
By oretta August 18, 2015 - 9:58 am
Very interesting info
Thanks
By Stephen F Radisch August 18, 2015 - 10:51 am
This story I knew. My mother’s maiden name is Virginia Dare. As a kid I remember getting into Colonial Williamsburg for free just because she kept her old, pre-marriage identification card.
By Dan Maddalino August 18, 2015 - 11:28 am
I have collected US stamps for over 50 years and have always enjoyed knowing the story behind the stamp. Your “This Day in History” series has been outstanding. I hope you make it permanent. Its educational value can only help and encourage stamp collectors of all ages. Thanks!
By Donna Halper August 18, 2015 - 11:48 am
Wow, Don, the biggest event of today is US women getting the right to vote, and I am sure there have been stamps honoring either this event or some of the women involved! Having equal rights– priceless!
By Joe O'Brien August 18, 2015 - 12:53 pm
https://www.mysticstamp.com/Products/United-States/1406/USA/
By JIM MC PHILLIPS August 18, 2015 - 12:13 pm
what a great way to learn history. please keep up the good lessons. our history is so important and is attached to ever stamp.
By Sanaul Huq Chowdhury August 18, 2015 - 1:56 pm
Thank you for the story behind the US stamp which is very much interesting and enhance our knowledge.
By Frances P. Mattingly August 18, 2015 - 8:44 pm
Wonderful history lessons. Love of American is very vital especially for the children. thank you.
By Charles E. Harris August 19, 2015 - 4:44 pm
I have been been collecting US stamps for over forty years and I have quite a few of Foreign Stamps. I have been interested in History since I was in HS in the 40’s and also I studied History in College. I know quite a bit about most of the things posted but many of the posts are more detailed. I found that interesting and found out I didn’t know as much as I thought I did.
By Larry Johnson August 20, 2015 - 10:07 am
Teachers should be using your daily history lessons as a tool to teach US history one little bit at a time so as not to “bore” them and encourage them to discuss the lesson of the day. Stamp pics also I think add interest.
By Joe Ruf August 18, 2020 - 4:57 pm
I started stamp collecting early in life and this was THE first one I got as I remember. I always thought this was a most beautiful design.