Saturday, May 17, 2025
11:00 am
The Connecticut Society of Genealogists Annual Meeting – In-person only
“Jordan Freeman” with Kevin Johnson
Hilton Garden Inn Glastonbury
85 Glastonbury Boulevard – Glastonbury – CT
Schedule of the Day
11:00 am: Coffee and social time
11:15 am: Annual Meeting
12 noon: Lunch
1:00 pm: Door prizes
1:15 pm: Guest speaker Kevin Johnson
Kevin 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. Jordan Freeman was an African American servant of John Ledyard and the body servant of Col. William Ledyard in the Revolutionary War. Jordan Freeman was an actual person, a native of Old Lyme. Although he did not enlist himself, he witnessed key events of the War for Independence while with Col. Ledyard. Historians estimate the number of black soldiers in this war to have been about 5,000 men, serving in militias, seagoing services, and support activities, including nearly 500 from Connecticut. Some enlisted because they felt it was their duty; others because they were offered their freedom in return for satisfactory completion of a set period of service.
Bio:
Kevin Johnson is an employee of the State Library’s History and Genealogy Unit, and he has been portraying Jordan Freeman for about 15 years. In addition to portraying Jordan Freeman, he has been presenting as Pvt. William Webb, a soldier in the Civil War, for 20 years and has given more than 600 presentations.