tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post3162215494504327969..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Mr. Hewes and Pvt. KilroyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-40847731577830554602011-03-05T18:23:05.120-05:002011-03-05T18:23:05.120-05:00There might indeed have been a sexual dimension to...There might indeed have been a sexual dimension to this event. My general impression is that eighteenth-century British-Americans were a little more straightforward (on their terms) about sexual assault than the Victorians of the mid-1800s, so it’s conceivable that Hewes or Thatcher “cleaned up” the story in some way for publication in 1835.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-58051480178480595112011-03-05T12:59:26.209-05:002011-03-05T12:59:26.209-05:00Sorry I'm late with my comment. I'm still...Sorry I'm late with my comment. I'm still catching up on my internet reading.<br /><br />What chance is there that this would be a form of sexual assault ? Not all sexual assaults are rapes and it may have been another sort of frottage. That may also explain taking clothing articles as trophies as well as the victims demeanor when they were returned. She may have felt embarrassment which was interpreted as lack of gratitude.<br /><br />But, my theory may have trouble explaining the return of the items by Kilroy, unless he thought he had nothing to fear.<br /><br />An interesting story and another good story line. I enjoy your work very much.Waldo4mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07577350666062651359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-13029120572315248942011-03-03T17:11:00.466-05:002011-03-03T17:11:00.466-05:00Quite true. Another oddity is how Kilroy expected ...Quite true. Another oddity is how Kilroy expected to profit from such a robbery since the town was small enough that if he tried to sell the clothing he might well have been caught. <br /><br />But what if Kilroy wasn't just trying to rob the woman? What if they had been a couple, and he had given her the clothing, but then she broke it off, and he was angrily taking back those gifts? That might explain both his behavior and her reticence when Hewes showed up with the garments expecting thanks. <br /><br />In addition, Hewes could have exaggerated or misinterpreted what he saw, making a simple snatch-and-run into a violent mugging. Clearly he thought the worst of Kilroy, as did most of his Boston neighbors. <br /><br />If Hewes simply made up this tale, then I'd expect he would have made up a more grateful victim. As it is, I'm sure we don't have the full story, but I suspect there might have been details Hewes wasn't privy to.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-38130180160807217322011-03-03T15:03:54.520-05:002011-03-03T15:03:54.520-05:00I've always found this story hard to believe.
...I've always found this story hard to believe.<br /><br />Even if Kilroy was the mustache twirling villain everyone said he was, would he need to be THAT violent?<br /><br />Even if his goal is to rob lone women in the street, couldn't he easily intimidate them into surrendering their bonnets without slugging them?Daud Alzayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00159094499713375760noreply@blogger.com