Ned lost his life in Danbury while fighting for freedom from British rule, though he did not enjoy liberty himself. Described as a “zealous” supporter of the Patriot cause, but not  a soldier himself, Ned was enslaved in Redding. He happened to be in the Danbury home of Maj. Daniel Starr when the British came through. When a few men opened fire on the British, he was killed. After his death, Ned’s enslaver, Samuel Smith, went to court seeking reimbursement for his lost property.