DFAW Fall Program & Annual Meeting
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Program begins at 2:00 pm

Windsor Historical Society
96 Palisado Ave Windsor, CT 06095

“Jordan Freeman: The Fight to Set a People Free,” Kevin Johnson.

Hybrid: In person or via Zoom

Registration: $12.00/Per Person
Registrations must be received by noon on Friday, March 27, 2026

For our Spring 2026 program, Kevin Johnson of the Connecticut State Library will portray Jordan Freeman, an enslaved resident of Old Lyme, Connecticut, who served as the servant of John Ledyard and the body servant of Col. William Ledyard during the Revolutionary War. We invite you—wherever you may live—to join us on Saturday, March 28 for a “hybrid” meeting conducted both in person at the Windsor Historical Society and via Zoom. The program is part of DFAW’s contribution to Windsor, Connecticut’s local commemoration of the 250^th anniversary (Semiquincentennial) of the Declaration of Independence. All are welcome to attend.

Johnson’s portrayal of Jordan Freeman is told from an emotional and exciting first-person perspective that vividly illustrates the struggle of African-Americans during the Revolutionary War. The presentation is based on extensive research in the collections of the Connecticut State Library and the Museum of Connecticut History. Although Jordan Freeman was not enlisted himself, he played a vital role in the fight for independence while serving alongside Col. Ledyard. Historians estimate that roughly 5,000 Black soldiers participated in militias, naval service, combat, and support roles during the Revolution, including nearly 500 from Connecticut. Some joined out of a sense of duty, while others were promised their freedom in exchange for completing a set term of service.

ABOUT OUR SPRING PROGRAM SPEAKER

Kevin Johnson is an employee of the Connecticut State Library’s History and Genealogy Unit. He has been presenting emotional and exciting first-person narratives for over 20 years, including Revolutionary War hero Jordan Freeman, Civil War-era Private William Webb, and most recently, James H. Williams, a longtime employee of Trinity College nicknamed “Professor Jim.”