Final answer:
John White found Roanoke settlement abandoned with 'Croatoan' carved into a tree, and the fate of the colonists remains a mystery.
Step-by-step explanation:
When John White returned to Roanoke after several years in England, he found the settlement abandoned. The disappearance of the Roanoke colony remains one of the most intriguing mysteries of American history. The only clue left behind was the word Croatoan carved into a tree. This has led to speculation that the settlers might have gone to a nearby island named Croatoan to seek help or to join the native population there. Despite various theories, the fate of the settlers is unknown.