against the east end of the meeting-house, the commanding officer said something, what I know not, but upon that the regulars ran till they came within about eight or nine rods of about an hundred of the militia of Lexington, who were collected on said common, at which time the militia of Lexington dispersed, then the officers made an huzza, and the private soldiers succeeded them directly after this, an officer rode before the regulars to the other side of the body, and hallooed after the militia of said Lexington, and said, “lay down your arms, damn you, why don't you lay down your arms?" and that there was not a gun fired till the militia of Lexington were dispersed; and further saith not. "THOMAS RICE WILLARD.” LEXINGTON, April 25, 1775. "Simon Winship, of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, and province of Massachusetts-Bay, New England, being of lawful age, testifieth and saith, that on the 19th April instant, about four o'clock in the morning, as he was passing the public road in said Lexington, peaceably and unarmed, about two miles and a half distant from the meeting-house in said Lexington, he was met by a body of the king's regular troops, and being stopped by some officers of said troops, was commanded to dismount; upon asking why he must dismount, he was obliged by force to quit his horse, and ordered to march in the midst of the body, and being examined whether he had been warning the minute men, he answered no, but had been out, and was then returning to his father's. Said Winship farther testifies, that he marched with said troops, till he came within about half-a-quarter of a mile of said meeting-house, where an officer commanded the troops to halt, and then to prime and load: this being done, the said troops marched on till they came within a few rods of captain Parker's company, who were partly collected on the place of parade, when said Winship observed an officer at the head of said troops, flourishing his sword, and with a loud voice, giving the word fire, fire, which was instantly followed by a discharge of arms from said regular troops, and said Winship is positive, and in the most solemn manner declares, that there was no discharge of arms on either side, till the word fire was given, by the said officer as above. "SİMON WINSHIP." LEXINGTON, April 25, 1775. I, John Parker, of lawful age, and commander of the militia in Lexington, do testify and declare, that on the 19th instant, in the morning, about one of the clock, being informed that there were a number of regular officers riding up and down the road, stopping and insulting people as they passed the road; and also was informed that a number of regular troops were on their march from Boston, in order to take the province stores at Concord, ordered our militia to meet on the common in said Lexington, to consult what to do, and concluded not to be discovered, nor meddle nor make with said regular troops (if they should approach) unless they should insult or molest us ;-and, upon their sudden approach, I immediately ordered our militia to disperse, and not to fire.-Immediately said troops made their appearance and rushed furiously, fired upon, and killed eight of our party, without receiving any provocation therefor from us. "JOHN PARKER.” LEXINGTON, April 24, 1775. "I, John Robins, being of lawful age, do testify and say, that on the 19th instant, the company under the command of captain John Parker, being drawn up (sometime before sun-rise) on the green or common, and I being in the front rank, there suddenly appeared a number of the king's troops, about a thousand, as I thought, at the distance of about sixty or seventy yards from us huzzaing, and on a quick pace towards us, with three officers in their front on horse-back, and on full gallop towards us, the foremost of which cried, throw down you arms ye villains, ye rebels! upon which said company dispersing, the foremost of the three officers ordered their men, saying, fire, by God, fire! at which moment we received a very heavy and close fire from them, at which instant, being wounded, I fell, and several of our men were shot dead by me. Captain Parker's men I believe had not then fired a gun, and further the deponent saith not. "JOHN ROBINS." LEXINGTON, April 25, 1775. We, Benjamin Tidd, of Lexington, and Joseph Abbot, of Lincoln, in the county of Middlesex, and colony of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, of lawful age, do testify and declare, that, on the morning of the 19th of April instant, about five o'clock, being on Lexington common, and mounted `on horses, we saw a body of regular troops marching up to the Lexington company, which was then dispersing: Soon after, the regulars fired, first, a few guns, which we took to be pistols from some of the regulars who were mounted on horses, and then the said regulars fired a volley or two before any guns were fired by the Lexington company; our horses immediately started, and we rode off. And further say not. "BENJAMIN TIDD, "JOSEPH ABBOT.” LEXINGTON, April 25, 1775. "We, Nathaniel Mullokin, Philip Russell, Moses Harrington, jun. Thomas and Daniel Harrington, William Grimes, William Tidd, Isaac Hastings, Jonas Stone, jun. James Wyman, Thaddeus Harrington, John Chandler, Joshua Reed, jun. Joseph Simonds, Phineas Smith, John Chandler, jun. Reuben Cock, Joel Viles, Nathan Reed, Samuel Tidd, Benjamin Lock, Thomas Winship, Simeon Snow, John Smith, Moses Harrington the 3d, Joshua Reed, Ebenezer Parker, John Harrington, Enoch Willington, John Hormer, Isaac Green, Phineas Stearns, Isaac Durant, and Thomas Headley, jun. all of lawful age, and inhabitants of Lexington in the county of Middlesex, and colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, do testify and declare, that on the 19th of April instant, about one or two o'clock in the morning, being informed that several officers of the regulars had, the evening before, been riding up and down the road, and had detained and insulted the inhabitants passing the same; and also understanding that a body of regulars were marching from Boston towards Concord, with intent (as it was supposed) to take the stores, belonging to the colony, in that town, we were alarmed, and having met at the place of our company's parade, were dismissed by our captain, John Parker, for the present, with orders to be ready to attend at the beat of the drum. We further testify and declare, that about five o'clock in the morning, hearing our drum beat, we proceeded towards the parade, and soon found that a large body of troops were marching towards us: Some of our company were coming up to the parade, and others had reached it, at which time the company began to disperse: Whilst our backs were turned on the troops, we were fired on by them, and a number of our men were instantly killed and wounded. Not a gun was fired, by any person in our company, on the regulars, to our knowledge, before they fired on us, and they continued firing until we had all made our escape. 66 Signed by each of the above deponents." LEXINGTON, April 25, 1776. "We, Nathaniel Parkhurst, Jonas Parker, John Munroe, jun. John Winship, Solomon Pierce, John Muzzy, Abner Meeds, John Bridge, jun. Ebenezer Bowman, William Munroe the 3d, Micah Hager, Samuel Saunderson, Samuel Hastings, and James Brown, of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, and colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, and all of lawful age, do testify and say, that, on the morning of the nineteenth of April instant, about one or two o'clock, being informed, that a number of regular officers had been riding up and down the road the evening and night preceding, and that some of the inhabitants, as they were passing, had been insulted by the officers, and stopped by them; and being also informed, that the regular troops were on their march from Boston, in order (as it was said) to take the colony stores, then deposited at Concord, we met on the parade of our company in this town; after the company had collected, we were ordered, by captain Parker, (who commanded us) to disperse for the present, and to be ready to attend the beat of the drum, and accordingly the company went into houses near the place of parade. We further testify and say, that, about five o'clock in the morning, we attended the beat of our drum, and were formed on the parade; we were faced towards the regulars then marching up to us, and some of our company were coming to the parade with their backs towards the troops, and others on the parade, began to disperse when the regulars fired on the company, before a gun was fired by any of our company on them. They killed eight of our company, and wounded several, and continued their fire, until we had all made our escape. 66 Signed by each of the deponents." LEXINGTON, April 25, 1775. "I, Timothy Smith, of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, and colony of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, being of lawful age, do testify and declare, that, on the morning of the nineteenth of April instant, being on Lexington common, as a spectator, I saw a large body of regular troops marching up towards the Lexington company, then dispersing, and likewise saw the regular troops fire on the Lexington company, before the latter fired a gun; I immediately ran, and a volley was discharged at me, which put me in imminent danger of losing my life; I soon returned to the common, and saw eight of the Lexington men who were killed, and lay bleeding at a considerable distance from each other; and several were wounded: And further faith not. "TIMOTHY SMITH."” LEXINGTON, April 25, 1775. "We, Levi Mead and Levi Harrington, both of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, and colony of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, and of lawful age, do testify and declare, that on the morning of the nineteenth of April, being on Lexington commons, as spectators, we saw a large body of regular troops marching up towards the Lexington company, and some of the regulars, on horses, whom we took to be officers, fired a pistol or two on the Lexington company, which was then dispersing: These were the first guns that were fired, and they were immediately followed by several vollies from the regulars, by which eight men, belonging to said company, were killed, and several wounded. } ઃઃ "LEVI HARRINGTON, "LEVI MEAD." LEXINGTON, April 25, 1775. "I, William Draper, of lawful age, and an inhabitant of Colrain, in the county of Hampshire, and colony of Massachusettts-Bay, in New-England, do testify and declare, that, being on the parade of said Lexington, April 19th instant, about half an hour before sunrise, the king's regular troops appeared at the meeting-house of Lexington. Captain Parker's company, who were drawn. up back of said meeting-house on the parade, turned from said troops, making their escape, by dispersing; in the mean time, the regular troops made an huzza, and ran towards captain Parker's company, who were dispersing, and, immediately after the huzza was made, the commanding officer of said troops (as I took him) gave the command to the said troops, fire!" fire! damn you, fire!" and immediately, they fired before any of captain Parker's company fired, I then being within three or four rods of said regular troops: And further say not. 1 “ WILLIAM DRAPER.” "I, Thomas Fessenden, of lawful age, testify and declare, that, being in a pasture near the meeting-house, at said Lexington, on Wednesday last, at about half an hour before sunrise, I saw a number of regular troops pass speedily by said meeting-house, on their way towards a company of militia of said Lexington, who were assembled to the number of about one hundred in a company, at the distance of eighteen or twenty rods from said meeting-house; and after they had passed by said meeting-house, I saw three officers, on horseback, advance to the front of said regulars, when one of them, being within six rods of the said militia, cried out," disperse, you rebels, immediately," on which he brandished his sword over his head three times; meanwhile the second officer, who was about two rods behind him, fired a pistol, pointed at said militia, and the regulars kept huzzaing till he had finished brandishing his sword, and when he had thus finished brandishing his sword, he pointed it down towards said militia, and immediately on which the said regulars fired a volley at the militia, and then I ran off as fast as I could, while they continued firing, till I got out of their reach. I further testify, that as soon as ever the officer cried" disperse, you rebels," the said company of militia dispersed every way, as fast as they could, and, while they were dispersing, the regulars kept firing at them incessantly: And further saith not. THOMAS FESSENDEN.” "I, John Bateman, belonging to the fifty-second regiment, commanded by colonel Jones, on Wednesday morning, on the 19th day of April instant, was in the party marching to Concord, being at Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, being nigh the meeting-house in said Lexington, there was a small party of men gathered together in that place, when our said troops marched by, and I testify and declare, that I heard the word of command given to the troops to fire, and some of said troops did fire, and I saw one of said small party lay dead on the ground nigh said meeting-house; and I testify, that I never heard any of the inhabitants so much as fire one gun on said stroops. "JOHN BATEMAN." LEXINGTON, April 23, 1775. "We, John Hoar, John Whithead, Abraham Garfield, Benjamin Munroe, Isaac Parks, William Hosmer, John Adams, Gregory Stone, all of Lincoln, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts-Bay, all of lawful age, do testify and say, that, on Wednesday last, we were assembled at Concord, in the morning of said day, in consequence of information received, that a brigade of regular troops were on their march to the said town of Concord, who had killed six men at the town of Lexington; about an hour afterwards we saw them approaching, to the number, as we apprehended, of about twelve hundred, on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the said troops then took possession of the hill, where we were first posted; presently after this, we saw the troops moving towards the north bridge, about one mile from the said Concord meeting-house; we then immediately went before them and passed the bridge just before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred, arrived; they there left about one half of their two hundred at the bridge, and proceeded, with the rest, towards col. Barrett's, about two miles from the said bridge; we 1 then seeing several fires in the town, thought the houses in Concord were in danger, and marched towards the said bridge; and the troops that were stationed there, observing our approach, marched back over the bridge and then took up some of the planks; we then hastened our march towards the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge, they fired on our men, first three guns, one after the other, and then a considerable number more; and then, and not before (having orders from our commanding officers not to fire till we were fired upon) we fired upon the regulars and they retreated. On their retreat through the town of Lexington to Charlestown, they ravaged and destroyed private property, and burnt three houses, one barn and one shop. "Signed by each of the above deponents." LEXINGTON, april 23, 1775. "We, Nathan Barrot, captain; Jonathan Farrar, Joseph Butler, and Francis Wheeler, lieutenants; John Barret, ensign; John Brown, Silas Walker, Ephraim Melvin, Nathan Buttrick, Stephen Hosmer, jun. Samuel Barret, Thomas Jones, Joseph Chandler, Peter Wheeler, Nathan Pierce, and Edward Richardson, all of Concord, in the county of Middlesex, in the province of Massachusetts-Bay, of lawful age, testify and declare, that on Wednesday, the nineteenth instant, about an hour after sun-rise, we assembled on a hill near the meeting-house, in Concord aforesaid, in consequence of an information, that a number of regular troops had killed six of our countrymen, at Lexington, and were on their march to said Concord; and about an hour afterwards, we saw them approaching, to the number, as we imagine, of about twelve hundred ; on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the aforesaid troops then took possession of a hill where we were first posted. Presently after this, we saw them moving towards the north bridge, about one mile from the said meeting-house; we then immediately went before them, and passed the bridge just before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred, arrived. They there left about one half of these two hundred at the bridge, and proceeded with the rest towards colonel Barrett's, about two miles from the said bridge. We then seeing several fires in the town, thought our houses were in danger, and immediately marched back towards said bridge, and the troops who were stationed there, observing our approach, marched back over the bridge, and then took up some of the planks. We then hastened our steps towards the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge, they fired on our men, first three guns, one after the other, and then a considerable number more; upon which, and not before, (having orders from our commanding officer not to fire till we were fired upon) we fired upon the regulars, and they retreated. At Concord, and on their retreat through Lexington, they plundered many houses, burnt three at Lexington, together with a shop and barn, and committed damage, more or less, to almost every house from Concord to Charlestown. "Signed by the above deponents." "We, Joseph Butler, and Ephraim Melvin, do testify and declare, that when the regular troops fired upon our people, at the north bridge, in Concord, as related in the foregoing depositions, they shot one, and we believe two, of our people before we fired a single gun at them. Lexington, April 23, 1775. "JOSEPH BUTLER, CONCORD, April 23, 1775. "I, Timothy Minot, jun. of Concord, on the nineteenth day of this instant, April, after that I had heard of the regular troops firing upon Lexington men, and fearing that hostilities might be committed at Concord, thought it my incumbent duty to secure my family.-After I had secured my family, some time after that, returning towards my own dwelling, and finding that the bridge |