FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO SYDNEY H. GAY

Rochester, [N.Y.] 8 Dec[ember] 1852.

S. H. Gay Esq.

MY DEAR SIR,

My friend, Boyed¹A fugitive from Virginia, George Boyd (1824--?) ran a beer shop in 1852 on South Water Street in Rochester, where he lived with his wife, also from Virginia, and their daughter. 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Monroe County, Rochester, 5th Ward, 183; Directory for Rochester, 1851, 77. called upon me to day and informed me, of his purpose to ransom himself. He also told me of your kind offices in the matter. Thinking that you might feel more assured in the undertaking on his behalf, if you knew—som[e]thing of the man, I take the liberty to say a word to you respecting him. When I came to Rochester five years ago, among the first colored persons to whom I was introduced was Mr. Boyd. He was then a respectable grocer, keeping his shop on Maine Street. I found him an upright, industrious, and enterprizing man, greatly respected by the white people, and loved among the intelligent colored people.

I am sure Sir, that whatever service you may render Mr. Boyed, will be service rendered to a worthy man.²During November and December 1852, Sydney H. Gay was raising funds to aid the slaves of Jonathan Lemmon of Virginia. The "Lemmon Indemnity Fund" amounted to more than $5,000 in early December 1852. George Body is not know to have been among the Lemmon slaves. NASS, 2 December 1852.

Very truly yours
FRED. DOUGLASS

ALS: Gay-Otis Family Papers, NNC.