 One source notes that Hyer may have been born in Caernarvon Township in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and that his father Louis was employed as an iron maker at Windsor Forge in Churchtown, Pennsylvania as early as 1780.In October 1816 in Manhattan, Hyer (a butcher) fought Tom Beasley (an English mariner) in what is traditionally said to be the first professional American bout, in that it was open to the public and English boxing rules, specifically the Broughton rules, were observed.The fight has been described as a "grudge match," because the two had previously been involved in a street fight, and decided to settle the matter in a more formal venue.