In addition to serving the original residents and recent migrants, the Roanoke Island Freedmen's Colony was to be a refuge for the families of freedmen who enlisted in the Union Army as United States Colored Troops. By 1864, there were more than 2200 freedmen on the island. Under James, the freedmen were allocated plots of land per household, and paid for work for the Army. He established a sawmill on the island and a fisheries, and began to market the many highly skilled crafts by freed people artisans. James believed the colony was a critical social experiment in free labor and a potential model for resettling freedmen on their own lands. Northern missionary teachers, mostly women from New England, journeyed to the island to teach reading and writing to both children and adults, who were eager for education. A total of 27 teachers served the island, with a core group of about six.
In addition to serving the original residents and recent migrants the Roanoke Island Freedmen's Colony was to be a refuge for the families of freedmen who enlisted in the Union Army as United States Colored Troops By 1864 there were more than 2200 freedmen on the island Under James the freedmen were allocated plots of land per household and paid for work for the Army He established a sawmill on the island and a fisheries and began to market the many highly skilled crafts by freed people artisans James believed the colony was a critical social experiment in free labor and a potential model for resettling freedmen on their own lands Northern missionary teachers mostly women from New England journeyed to the island to teach reading and writing to both children and adults who were eager for education A total of 27 teachers served the island with a core group of about six