 The fights he had as a result of his political association with the nativist Bowery Boys' anti-Immigration gang in 1855, were often particularly violent, and often involved weapons.Hyer is usually depicted as being born in New York City on January 1, 1819, but one source records his birth in Caernarvon Township near Churchtown, Pennsylvania in Lancaster County.He spent his youth in New York City, working as a tanner and was learning the fundamentals of boxing from his father by the age of twelve.