John Reed

John Reed (1757 or 1758-1845) was one of the Hessian (or German) soldiers for hire whom Britain's King George III sent to colonial America to suppress the uprisings of colonists who were fighting for independence. Reed was one of many soldiers who realized that they could make a better life in the colonies than in their homeland. He married Sarah Kizer and they settled on a farm northeast of Charlotte.

In 1799, their 12-year-old son, Conrad Reed, found a gold nugget weighing 17 pounds in a stream. The rock contained more than $3,000 worth of pure gold. But John Reed did not understand the value of what his son had found, and sold it in 1802 for $3.50. By 1803, more gold was discovered near the Reed family's home. This led to the booming gold mining industry in Mecklenburg County and the surrounding region.

John Reed became an American citizen in 1842. He died a wealthy man in 1845. The Reed Gold Mine was later designated an historic site.

Related Links

Visit the North Carolina's Historic Sites website at http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/ncsites/gold.htm for more information about the Reed Gold Mine.