In 1584, more than two decades before John Smith established the first English colony in North America at Jamestown in 1607, Master Arthur Barlowe and Master Phillip Amadas landed on the coast of North Carolina.  The two vessel fleet had set sail from England on April 27, 1584 to explore the New World and report back to Sir Walter Raleigh, who was financing their expedition.

On July 4, 1584 Amadas and Barlowe sighted the North Carolina mainland and sailed along the coast until they came to an entrance, what is now known as the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  The explorers spent six weeks on the Outer Banks, during which time Barlowe wrote glowing descriptions of the beauty of the land and the abundance of fish, game, and natural resources.  In the book Roanoke Island, The Beginnings of English America by David Stick, the author offers the following description of Arthur Barlowe:
"We know nothing of Arthur Barlowe's expertise as a mariner, but there can be no doubt that he was a man of letters, gifted of word and phrase, and well able to convey in simple yet dramatic language a fascinating picture of the lands and people of America.  Yet a note of caution is in order, for he undoubtedly knew that Raleigh intended to use his report as an inducement for others to join in the colonization effort.  Barlowe was, in short, America's first English-language publicist, and he must be forgiven if he sometimes seemed carried away with enthusiasm over New World bounties, while neglecting to comment on anything that might convey and unfavorable impression."

After meeting a group of friendly Indians, the English engaged in trade with them and later persuaded two of them, Manteo and Wanchese, to make the voyage back to England with them. Sir Walter Raleigh was so impressed by Barlowe's written reports that he later sent an expedition in hopes of establishing a permanent colony.  When their leader, John White, had to go back to England for supplies and was unable to return for seven long years, the struggling group of colonists had disappeared and were never found, despite many searches throughout the years.  "The Lost Colony" is still the subject of much speculation and many theories, one of which suggests that the Lumbee Indians, who make up approximately one-third of the citizens of Robeson County, North Carolina, are descended from the Lost Colonists.

Arthur Barlowe is given credit by some for suggesting the name "Virginia" for the territory which he explored.  Queen Elizabeth who ruled England at the time was called the Virgin Queen, hence the name Virginia.  Little is known about Arthur Barlowe other than the fact that he made two voyages to North Carolina.  We have no way of knowing if any of our ancestors were related to him, but we can take pride in the fact that the Barlow name figured prominently in the early history of America.