George Hewes in American Revolution
The American Revolution being one of major movements which led to the independence of the thirteen colonies from British Empire holds a great importance in American history. George Robert Tweleves Hewes was considered to be one of the last survivors of the American Revolution. Though his significance in the events leading up to the revolution is questionable, his biographies, one written by John Hawkes and the other by Benjamin Thatcher, give interesting insights into the events that led to the revolution.
After establishing Hewes’ sound memory and also cross-checking most of his statements, the biographers where able to confirm to certain extent his participation in Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party. Nonetheless, there is full evidence that Hewes not only was involved, but was the Centre of attraction during the “tarring and feathering” of John Malcom, a loyalist (Kindle Location 534). He also served as a privateer and in militia on and off from 1776 to 1781. He was present at the Stamp Act of 1765, but apparently he was just a by-stander.
On the night of 5th, March 1770, Hewes claimed that he was early on the scene at King Street when a barber’s apprentice was quarrelling with a British officer over an overdue bill. Young comments that the way Hewes said he soon joined the crowd on the as if it were “only natural that he should turn out in defense for his fellow townsmen against what was assumed to be the danger of aggressive action by the soldiers”. Soon there was a riot between the people and the soldiers during which Private Kilroy deals a blow on Hewes’ shoulder with his gun. He wasn’t calm with Captain Preston ordering the crowd to back-off and justified that they had every right to stay there as much as the soldiers did. He was horrified on the turnout of events where a political confrontation by people led to slaughter. Later the next day he was resisted by a group of soldiers for arming himself with a cane. He argues he has a right to carry the
After establishing Hewes’ sound memory and also cross-checking most of his statements, the biographers where able to confirm to certain extent his participation in Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party. Nonetheless, there is full evidence that Hewes not only was involved, but was the Centre of attraction during the “tarring and feathering” of John Malcom, a loyalist (Kindle Location 534). He also served as a privateer and in militia on and off from 1776 to 1781. He was present at the Stamp Act of 1765, but apparently he was just a by-stander.
On the night of 5th, March 1770, Hewes claimed that he was early on the scene at King Street when a barber’s apprentice was quarrelling with a British officer over an overdue bill. Young comments that the way Hewes said he soon joined the crowd on the as if it were “only natural that he should turn out in defense for his fellow townsmen against what was assumed to be the danger of aggressive action by the soldiers”. Soon there was a riot between the people and the soldiers during which Private Kilroy deals a blow on Hewes’ shoulder with his gun. He wasn’t calm with Captain Preston ordering the crowd to back-off and justified that they had every right to stay there as much as the soldiers did. He was horrified on the turnout of events where a political confrontation by people led to slaughter. Later the next day he was resisted by a group of soldiers for arming himself with a cane. He argues he has a right to carry the