Kevin Johnson to present: "Jordan Freeman: The Fight to Set a People Free"
Torrington Historical Society presents
“Jordan Freeman: The Fight to Set a People Free”
Torrington Historical Society is pleased to announce a living history presentation by Kevin Johnson on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 6:30 pm in the Torrington Historical Society Carriage House, 192 Main Street, Torrington. Kevin Johnson will portray Jordan Freeman, an African-American servant of John Ledyard and the body servant of Col. William Ledyard in the Revolutionary War. The event, sponsored by Torrington Savings Bank, is free to the public. To register for this event please click:
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. The presentation is based on extensive research in the collections of the Connecticut State Library and the Museum of Connecticut History at 231 Capitol Ave, opposite the State Capitol in Hartford.
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 also portrays Pvt. William Webb, a soldier in the Civil War and has given more than 600 presentations.
The Torrington Historical Society is committed to collecting, sharing and interpreting the story of Torrington and its people. The Society operates a house museum, research library, an exhibit of Torrington history and a machine shop exhibit. Exhibits will re-open for the season in mid April. For more information, visit: www.torringtonhistoricalsociety.org
