George Robert Twelves Hewes, Shoemaker to Revolutionary Essays

George Robert Twelves Hewes, Shoemaker to Revolutionary Alfred E. Young chronicles the events of a shoemaker?s life in The Shoemaker and The Tea Party to portray how the life of a poor shoemaker, with an ambition to improve his social status, shaped his opinion of the Revolution. In 1835, Young?s subject, George Robert Twelves Hewes, was believed to be the last surviving participant in the Revolutionary War. ?His memory itself became my subject,? Young writes as he pieces together historical records and two biographies dictated by Hewes near the end of his life (xii). Young recognizes that Hewes? memory of his involvement in political events was influenced by his years, personality and social class. Hewes was born in Boston and forced into the trade of shoemaking at the young age of fourteen as a result of his father?s death. Even though it was not a desirable way to start out in life, Hewes had little choice. ?Shoemakers, moreover, were low in status (15). Hewes? own father and uncle had struggled to improve their social class. They had sought the assistance of a rich merchant only to later see themselves as ?very laborious artisans who managed their trade with good skill, only to be ruined by a wealthy, arrogant merchant? (18). Even though this occurred before the young George Hewes was born, the resentment and contempt his father held toward the wealthy merchant must have made an impression on the young George. As a shoemaker apprentice, Hewes worked under a harsh master. He was often hungry, dressed poorly and occasionally whipped for his mischief. From this early age, Hewes disliked being treated as an inferior because of his poverty and lack of education. ?The memories of his childhood and youth that Thatcher elicited were almost all of defying authority (20). From an early age, Hewes?s behavior suggests he had a strong will and an independent mind. Even though his situation was less than ideal, Hewes finished his apprenticeship in 1763. Hewes struggled as a shoemaker, built a shop and married at age twenty-six. His wife was the daughter of a poor church sexton and brought him no dowry. Similar to his own father, Hewes often found himself in trouble for debt. At one point, he was imprisoned for being unable to pay his debts. Hewes? debt was for a suit to wear when he pursued his future wife. This emphasizes the pride of the man and also his desire to better himself. Sadly, Hewes was unsuccessful at establishing financial wealth and remained financially poor throughout his life. Hewes was disappointed and humiliated when his height disqualified him from being eligible to join the military. ?Anatomy is not destiny, but Hewes? short size and long name helped shape his personality? (17). Hewes demonstrated a sense of humor and pride toward the attention his long name brought him. Later, as a father, Hewes chose equally long, amusing names for two of his sons. ?One son was named Eleven, and the last born, George Robert Twelves Fifteen? (69). During 1765-1766, the first big activity in Boston occurred around the Stamp Act. This is the event that involved many of the working people. The Stamp Act was an act of Parliament to impose taxes on the colonists and it infuriated the colonists. The British ultimately repealed the Stamp Act because of the protests, but they insisted that they had the right to pass new trade regulations and new tax laws. To the knowledge of Alfred Young, Hewes was not active in the Stamp Act demonstrations even though he was a member of the working class. Hewes? personal memoirs of the revolution begin around 1768, when Great Britain sent thousands of soldiers to keep order in Boston. Hewes began to notice Britain?s unfair treatment of the colonists and reacted to occurrences that he personally witnessed on the streets. He watched a soldier hit and rob a woman. He repaired shoes for a British captain, and the captain refused to pay. As a result of Hewes? protests, an innocent soldier, not the captain, was whipped as punishment. Hewes was appalled that he had caused an innocent man to be whipped. As a child, ?Hewes was punished often, but if