Kevin Johnson, a researcher with the Connecticut State Library History and Genealogy Unit, says there were an estimated 5,000 Black soldiers in the Revolutionary War—including nearly 500 from Connecticut—serving in militias, seagoing services, and support activities. Johnson will portray one such Connecticut soldier named Jordan Freeman. Freeman was an African American servant of John Ledyard and the body servant of Colonel William Ledyard during the Revolutionary War. Although he was not enlisted, Freeman witnessed key events of the war for independence while with Col. Ledyard. 

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Kevin Johnson notes 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. His presentation is based on extensive research in the collections of the Connecticut State Library and the Museum of Connecticut History. Johnson has been portraying Jordan Freeman for 17 years. In addition to portraying Freeman, he has been presenting as Pvt. William Webb, a soldier in the Civil War, for 26 years and has given more than 600 presentations.