In his biographies , written at the end of his life , Hewes recalled that his participation in the Patriot movement began on March 5 , 1770 , when he joined the mob of Bostonian apprentices and craftsmen present at what is now called the Boston Massacre . Hewes joined the crowd in support of the apprentice who was trying to collect on a debt from British Captain John Goldfinch . Hewes was unarmed during the riot that ensued , but nonetheless he suffered injury when British Private Kilroy struck him in the shoulder with his rifle . On his way home that night Hewes had a verbal confrontation with two British soldiers , which he related in an official deposition the next day
Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre
George Robert Twelves Hewes