Foundation Academies And Princeton Battlefield Society Unveil “Men W/O Shoes”, Restoring The History Of 14 Forgotten Black Revolutionary War Soldiers
Student-Led Multimedia Exhibition Debuts at Morven Museum & Garden
TRENTON, N.J., Feb. 26, 2026 – Foundation Academies’ Black Student Union, in partnership with the Princeton Battlefield Society, last week unveiled “Men W/O Shoes,” a student-led multimedia exhibition that tells the untold stories of 14 Black Revolutionary War soldiers who fought in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. The installation debuted Feb. 19–21 at the Morven Museum & Garden during Black History Month and ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Historians estimate Black soldiers comprised between 5% and 20% of the Continental Army, with many marching barefoot and some fighting in place of their enslavers. The Battles of Trenton and Princeton were pivotal in gaining our nation’s freedom and would not have been won without the bravery of these soldiers who largely remained unnamed in traditional historical narratives – until now.
Thirty Black high school scholars in grades 9–12 conducted original archival research to reconstruct the lives of the 14 men featured in the exhibition. Over the course of a year, students produced AI-generated monologues, created a behind-the-scenes documentary film, and collaborated with Philadelphia visual artist Shaheed Rucker to develop portraits inspired by JET magazine covers, imagining what the soldiers may have looked like.
Forgotten heroes no more:
Charles Ailstock: A free Black soldier who enlisted at about age 16 and fought at Trenton, Princeton, Harlem Heights and Brandywine.
James Ailstock: Served alongside his brother Charles in major Revolutionary War campaigns. As a member of a free Black family, his enlistment reflected both patriotism and a claim to belonging to a new nation.
Edward “Ned” Bradley: Known through fellow soldier Peter Jennings’s pension testimony as serving during the Ten Crucial Days campaign. The lack of records after the war reflects how many Black patriots were erased from official history.
Phillip James: Identified in pension testimony as serving during the Trenton-Princeton campaign. His participation highlights the collective effort of Black soldiers in early American victories.
Robert “Prince” Green: Born enslaved, he enlisted in a regiment that promised freedom to Black soldiers. He fought in major campaigns including Red Bank and Monmouth, and later lives as a free man and musician.
Primus Hall: After the war, he became a civic leader and advocate for Black education and veteran recognition. His life shows how military service translated into community leadership.
Job Lathrop: An enslaved soldier who enlisted in 1776 and was later emancipated. His life represents the pursuit of freedom through military service.
Edward Hopps: A soldier from Rhode Island who fought bravely in the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. Hopps stood on the front lines in the fight for
independence.
Isaac Walker: One of the earliest African American Marines, serving during the New Jersey campaigns. His participation demonstrates Black contributions to the founding of the Marine Corps.
Peter Jennings: Serving almost six years in the Continental Army, he participated in major battles including Trenton and Brandywine. He later applied for a pension, providing valuable testimony about Black soldiers’ roles in the war.
Cato Smith: Captured in Africa and enslaved, he enlisted and fought in several campaigns, including Princeton. He died in military service at a young age, illustrating the sacrifices of African-born soldiers.
Jacob Francis: Born a free Black man, he served in multiple campaigns, including Trenton and later militia tours in New Jersey. After the war, he raised a family and received a pension recognizing his contributions.
Oliver Cromwell: Served six years in major battles, including Yorktown, and received a Badge of Merit signed by George Washington. After the war, he became a landowner and community leader.
Samuel Sutphin: An enslaved man who served multiple tours and fought in key engagements across New Jersey. After being denied freedom, he later secured recognition through a state pension.
Students worked under the guidance of faculty advisors Casey Scott and Earl Wallace and served as the project’s primary researchers and authors.
“There is no American history without Black history,” Scott said. “Our students reclaimed these soldiers’ stories and, in doing so, reclaimed their own place in American history.”
The opening weekend drew students, educators, families and local historians. Dawn Lathrop Goode, a descendant of Revolutionary War soldier Job Lathrop and the only identified family member of the 14 soldiers to date, could not attend but thanked students in a video message for restoring her ancestor’s story.
“What these students have done is such a gift to my family, bringing my ancestor’s story to life in a way he never could have imagined 250 years ago,” said Lathrop. “As a descendant of a Black Revolutionary War soldier, I’m proud my family was here before this was the United States, and I hope every student remembers to write their own story and preserve the stories of those who came before them.”
The Princeton Battlefield Society will add the research to its digital encyclopedia of American Revolution history in New Jersey and incorporate it into its Eyewitness to the Revolution program.
Museums, schools and cultural organizations interested in hosting the exhibit or screening the documentary may contact Casey Scott at cscott@foundationacademy.org.
To view the full gallery of images from opening weekend click HERE. (credit Foundation Academies).
The behind-the-scenes video is available to watch HERE.
About Foundation Academies
Foundation Academies is a free, public charter school educating more than 1,200 scholars K-12 in Trenton, NJ. FA school performance ranks in the top 15% of all New Jersey public schools and our scholars recently scored in the top 1% for academic growth. FA graduation rate exceeds the statewide average and our college acceptance rate is 100%. Learn more at www.foundationacademies.org.
About The Princeton Battlefield Society
The Princeton Battlefield Society is a national historic non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, preservation, and promotion of the Princeton Battlefield as a national treasure of the American Revolutionary War. For more information, including exhibitions and events, visit the Princeton Battlefield Society at https://PBS1777.org/.
Media Contact:
Lara Cohn
RoseComm for Foundation Academies lcohn@rosecomm.com
646-596-6377
