John White

    John White was an artist.  He was not anywhere near Ralph Lane and his terrible doings.  He was a pro at watercolors and he painted and sketched many people and places in the Secota land.  He had been on both of Raleigh's expeditions.  He went with Barlowe as well as Grenville.  Raleigh later showed his many works of art to the queen.  He did many on animals and plants, too.

    Both times he visited Roanoke, it had been summer time.  It was nice to see all the beautiful wonders of the land instead of all of London's crowded places and noise.  He loved the little hidden island so much that he returned again and again.  There seemed to always be something new to paint, draw, and sketch.

    Most of John White's life is a mystery although we do know that during one visit to Roanoke, White married and had a daughter named Eleanor.  We know nothing really of his wife, although for the possibility that she could have died while giving birth which happened a lot during that time.  Eleanor later married a bricklayer who was named Ananias Dare.

    We also know that White was born in Ireland and was well educated.  It is unknown where he learned to paint so well and how he came to be on the voyages.

    He was also very familiar with London.