Enoch Reed

Death of Enoch ReedEnoch Reed, who was convicted at the January term of the U. S. Court, for participation in the "Jerry Rescue," died at the residence of James Waggoner, a colored man, on Wednesday afternoon last, of Consumption, aged about 38 years.

Reed's life was a checkered and eventful one. He was a native of New England, born a freeman, and during the early portion of his life followed the sea for a livelihood, in the Merchant service, and the Whale Fishery. Being Possessed of herculean frame and strength and generous disposition, he was an able seaman and extremely popular with his commander and shipmates. Since his arrest for participation in the Jerry Rescue, his former Captain, with whom Enoch had spent nearly four years in the Pacific Ocean, offered him the post of Second Mate on one of the best Whaleships out of New Bedford, but Reed was too honorable to leave his bail to suffer for his absence.

Of late years Enoch has been engaged during the summers as boatman on the Erie Canal, and in the winter in whatever business he could obtain, and always, so far as known, he earned his living by hard labor. His sailor habits and social nature often led him into scenes of dissipation, but no one ever charged him with dishonesty. It will be recollected that he was concerned in a riot on Salina Street, on the 1st of January, 1852, in which one of his antagonists, an Irishman, was killed, and two others badly wounded, and upon a searching investigation before a Coroner’s Jury, and afterwards before the Police Justice, Enoch was entirely exonerated from all blame, and set at liberty. He was badly hurt at that time by the blows of his assailants and his disease, which was undoubtedly brought on by exposure, was probably aggravated by injuries he received in the affray.

He was tried and convicted of resisting an officer of the government in the performance of his duty, (not under the Fugitive Slave Act) and, at the instance of Judge Hall, his sentence was postponed until the result of a motion to grant a new trial was known. The motion was to be argued at the next term of the Court in Canandaigua, on the third Tuesday of the present month. Perhaps it may not be improper to say that the friends of Reed deny his participation in the rescue, until after Jerry was brought out of the office, when it was discovered that he was unable to walk in consequence of the manacles on his feet, and the fugitive was taken up in the arms of stout men, and carried through the streets.

Reed had many faults, but no man ever possessed a more generous heart, or more honorable feelings.