"The crisis occurred when the customhouse officers attempted to seize a cargo of wine which John Hancock was trying to smuggle into Boston. It was said that Hancock had sworn not 'to sell or to drink wine polluted by the payments of unconstitutional duties.'
But rather than become a teetotaler, John Hancock took the easier course and became a smuggler.
In June 1768, the customhouse got wind of his activities, boarded his ship Liberty and demanded to see its cargo. Hancock and his men showed scant respect for these officials of His Royal Majesty. They locked them up in the cabin, landed the cargo, and when the work was done heaved the customhouse officers overboard.
Meanwhile the mob had learned what was going on at Hancock's wharf; and to punish the customhouse officers for their presumption seized the Collector and the Controller, drove them through the streets, and dragged the Collector's son along by the hair of his head.
The Commissioners of the Customs did not wait for their turns to come: they fled to Castle William and thus put three miles of blue water between themselves and the Boston Sons of Liberty.
When one of the commissioners was reported to have taken refuge in Newport, the Sons of Liberty searched 'Out-houses, Bales, Barrels, Meal Tubs, Trunks, Boxes, Packs, and Packages...in short every Hole and Corner sufficient to conceal a Ram Cat, or a Commissioner,' but they found neither.'
Origins of the American Revolution by John C. Miller
My new hero...