Shoemaker
The American Revolution was a major force affecting the lives and memories of the American people. Alfred F. Young, the author of The Shoemaker and the Tea Party presents the trials and tribulations of a common Bostonian named George Robert Twelves Hewes. Hewes is placed in uncommon situations, experienced through the late part of the 18th century. George R. T. Hewes was a common man of occupation and wealth class but was unique to the events of the American Revolutionary War. His uncommon spot in history comes from witnessing almost every major Revolutionary event in Boston. The shoemaker was present at key events in the pre-Revolutionary movement: the Boston Massacre, the so-called Tea Party, and the tarring and feathering of the customs officer John Malcolm. The first event George R. T. Hewes encountered was the Boston Massacre. Hewes became part of the mob that formed after the bloody murder of a young schoolboy. Hewes was not the coordinator of any action, nor was he involved in any violence himself, but witnessed the event. He even knew four of the five Bostonians killed during the Massacre. He and his relatives testified or gave a deposition for the prosecution of the British commander who ordered his troops to fire. Ge
Again, Hewes, through rather different means, had similar effect as many of the great names of the revolution. Now, Hancock was like Hewes himself; in disguise doing similarly dirty work. This process of forgetting while commemorating Young brings to life by recounting the erection of official memorials to the Revolution, such as Charles Bulfinch's Doric column built on Beacon Hill in honor of the Revolution. However, his service was rather unremarkable and ordinary. Hewes remained a private throughout the entire conflict, never rising in rank. Hewes would not belittle himself to one viewed as better. This mob was a unified structure without social barriers. Hancock was a man Hewes bowed down to. It was much different physically and symbolically from the Tea Party. Young writes, "In their resistance to British policies, Whig leaders were preoccupied with harnessing, mobilizing, or suppressing the energies of the crowd. This seemed to be typical of the average men serving for the American army. He was nevertheless on equal stature with his peers. Still eager and willing to talk about the incident of the Revolution, Hewes gladly told his story to writers and after their accounts were published won acclaim in his native Boston. Letting people know exactly what happened or keep it in the family.
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