From the reluctant
statements of the natives, they gathered the belief that these men had
either all perished under the attacks of overwhelming numbers, or had
gradually wasted away under the approaches of disease and famine.
A discovery so mournful held out no cheering prospects to the new
adventurers; yet they determined to renew the attempt upon the island
adjoining Hatteras. About one hundred fifteen persons were landed and
prepared for their novel life. The Indians were no longer pacific; the
spirit of Wingina had diffused itself through every bosom, and the
unfortunate mistake, which caused the death of a friendly savage,
contributed much to the general hostility. But amid so much that was
unpropitious, two events occurred to shed a faint light upon their days
(August 13th). Manteo, the faithful friend of the early visitors, was
baptized with the simple though solemn rites of the Christian faith, and
upon him was bestowed the sounding title of Lord of Dessamonpeake, and,
a few days after, the first child of European parentage was born upon
the soil of America. Eleanor, daughter of Governor White, had married
Ananias Dare, and on August 18th she gave birth to a female, upon whom
was immediately bestowed the sweet name of Virginia. It is sad to
reflect that the gentle infant of an English mother, and the first whose
eyes were opened upon the New World, should have been destined to a life
of privation and to a death of early oblivion.
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