Enoch Moore (Loyalist turned rebel)
Encyclopedia
Enoch Moore ,son of Samuel Moore U.E.
and Rachel Stone, married Elizabeth Smith, daughter of James Smith and Hannah Hawksworth, on March 30, 1803 in Old Holy Trinity Church, Lower Middleton, Annapolis, Nova Scotia. Elizabeth was born on April 18, 1784 in Wilmot Township, NS, died on March 3, 1871 and was buried in New Milford Cemetery, Winnebago Co., IL. Enoch was a direct descendant of one of New Jersey's early colonial officials, Samuel Moore
.
Enoch's political alignment seemed to swing from one extreme to the other throughout his lifetime. He was born in a Loyalist
refugee camp in New York City
and was evacuated with his Quaker
family, about 1784, to the Annapolis Valley
, Nova Scotia where his father, Samuel Moore, became a leader in the Quaker community. He moved to Upper Canada
about 1811, where he served as a dispatch rider in the Canadian militia during the War of 1812 against the Americans. His commanding officer was Col. Joseph Ryerson. By 1830, Enoch Moore, had gained the respectable status of school trustee. One of the teachers in his employ was Egerton Ryerson
son of Col. Joseph Ryerson, who became the founder of the public school system in Ontario. Enoch's first son, James Moore, is buried beside Col. Joseph Ryerson in the Methodist cemetery in Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County, Ontario.
Even though he was raised in a Loyalist and Quaker home , Enoch was elected Captain of the rebels at Malahide, Ontario during the Rebellions of 1837
. Enoch and his brothers comprised one of the most active Loyalist families to join the rebels. Court records show that Enoch was arrested and jailed in London on Dec. 21, 1837, convicted of high treason
, sentenced to death
, then reprieved
on May 19, 1838. His sentence was first commuted to transportation
to a penal colony
on Van Diemen's Land
(Tasmania
) for life, and then relaxed to 14 years of penal servitude but he was eventually pardon
ed and released on a peace bond
on Oct. 5, 1838. His brother, Elias Moore
, was released after a short stay in jail because the key witness absconded. Elias then returned to his seat in the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
.
Around this same time, Enoch's younger brother, Lindley Murray Moore
was founding an Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, N.Y..
Enoch and his wife and nine of their 11 children immigrated to the United States
in July 1840, settling in Ogle County, Illinois
. Enoch died the next year in Rockford
.
His brother, John Moore, built a fine home in Sparta, Ontario that is still standing, now known as the John Moore House.
Samuel Moore U.E.
Samuel Moore notable as a leader in the early establishment of the Religious Society of Friends in Maritime Canada, and as the progenitor of a number of civic, religious and political leaders in both Canada and the United States....
and Rachel Stone, married Elizabeth Smith, daughter of James Smith and Hannah Hawksworth, on March 30, 1803 in Old Holy Trinity Church, Lower Middleton, Annapolis, Nova Scotia. Elizabeth was born on April 18, 1784 in Wilmot Township, NS, died on March 3, 1871 and was buried in New Milford Cemetery, Winnebago Co., IL. Enoch was a direct descendant of one of New Jersey's early colonial officials, Samuel Moore
Samuel Moore (colonial official)
The Honorable Samuel Moore was born around 1630 and died on 27 May 1688, aged about 58, and was notable as one of the civil leaders in the early years of the Province of New Jersey....
.
Enoch's political alignment seemed to swing from one extreme to the other throughout his lifetime. He was born in a Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
refugee camp in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and was evacuated with his Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
family, about 1784, to the Annapolis Valley
Annapolis Valley
The Annapolis Valley is a valley and region in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located in the western part of the Nova Scotia peninsula, formed by a trough between two parallel mountain ranges along the shore of the Bay of Fundy.-Geography:...
, Nova Scotia where his father, Samuel Moore, became a leader in the Quaker community. He moved to Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
about 1811, where he served as a dispatch rider in the Canadian militia during the War of 1812 against the Americans. His commanding officer was Col. Joseph Ryerson. By 1830, Enoch Moore, had gained the respectable status of school trustee. One of the teachers in his employ was Egerton Ryerson
Egerton Ryerson
Adolphus Egerton Ryerson was a Methodist minister, educator, politician, and public education advocate in early Ontario, Canada...
son of Col. Joseph Ryerson, who became the founder of the public school system in Ontario. Enoch's first son, James Moore, is buried beside Col. Joseph Ryerson in the Methodist cemetery in Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County, Ontario.
Even though he was raised in a Loyalist and Quaker home , Enoch was elected Captain of the rebels at Malahide, Ontario during the Rebellions of 1837
Rebellions of 1837
The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
. Enoch and his brothers comprised one of the most active Loyalist families to join the rebels. Court records show that Enoch was arrested and jailed in London on Dec. 21, 1837, convicted of high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
, sentenced to death
Capital punishment in the United Kingdom
Capital punishment in the United Kingdom was used from the creation of the state in 1707 until the practice was abolished in the 20th century. The last executions in the United Kingdom, by hanging, took place in 1964, prior to capital punishment being abolished for murder...
, then reprieved
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
on May 19, 1838. His sentence was first commuted to transportation
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
to a penal colony
Penal colony
A penal colony is a settlement used to exile prisoners and separate them from the general populace by placing them in a remote location, often an island or distant colonial territory...
on Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
(Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
) for life, and then relaxed to 14 years of penal servitude but he was eventually pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
ed and released on a peace bond
Peace bond
In Canadian law, a peace bond is an order from a criminal court that requires a person to keep the peace.Usually, other conditions are attached such as a requirement to abstain from certain activities or avoid communicating, directly or indirectly with certain individuals and/or avoid certain...
on Oct. 5, 1838. His brother, Elias Moore
Elias Moore
Elias Moore born into a Quaker family in New Jersey just after the American Revolution began, later became a Member of Parliament in Canada....
, was released after a short stay in jail because the key witness absconded. Elias then returned to his seat in the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
13th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 13th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 8 November 1836. Elections in Upper Canada had been held 20 June 1836. All sessions were held at Toronto.The House of Assembly had five sessions 8 November 1836 to 10 February 1840....
.
Around this same time, Enoch's younger brother, Lindley Murray Moore
Lindley Murray Moore
Lindley Murray Moore is notable for his activities as an abolitionist, and educator....
was founding an Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, N.Y..
Enoch and his wife and nine of their 11 children immigrated to the United States
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
in July 1840, settling in Ogle County, Illinois
Ogle County, Illinois
Ogle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 53,497, which is an increase of 4.8% from 51,032 in 2000. Its county seat is Oregon, and its largest city is Rochelle...
. Enoch died the next year in Rockford
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
.
His brother, John Moore, built a fine home in Sparta, Ontario that is still standing, now known as the John Moore House.