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The following depositions were given by citizens before justices of the peace following the skirmish at Lexington, Massachusetts, that began the American Revolution. They served as testimony for the Continental Congress, which sought to learn the facts of the incident.
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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 at 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 run 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 saith not. TIMOTHY SMITH.
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Lexington, April 25th, 1775.
Middlesex, ff. April 25th, 1775.
TIMOTHY SMITH, above-named, being duly cautioned to testify the truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed. Before us,
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William Read, Josiah Johnson, William Stickney, Justices of the Peace.
I WILLIAM DRAPER, of lawful age, and an inhabitant of Colrain, in the county of Hampshire, and Colony of the Massachusetts-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 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 saith not.
William Draper.
Middlesex, ff. April 25th, 1775.
WILLIAM DRAPER, above-named, being duly cautioned to testify the whole truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed. Before us,
William Read, Josiah Johnson, William Stickney, Justices of the Peace.
HANNAH ADAMS, wife of Deacon Joseph Adams, of the second precinct in Cambridge, testifieth and saith, that on the nineteenth day of April last past, upon the return of the King's troops from Concord, diverse of them entered our house, by bursting open the doors, and three of the soldiers broke into the room in which I then was, laid on my bed, being scarcely able to walk from my bed to the fire, not having been to my chamber door from my being delivered in child-birth to that time. One of said soldiers immediately opened my curtains with his bayonet fixed, pointing the same to my breast. I immediately cried out for the Lord's sake do not kill me, he replied, damn you, one that stood near said, we will not hurt the woman, if she will go out of the house, but we will surely burn it. I immediately arose, threw a blanket over me, went out, and crauled into a corn-house near the door, with my infant in my arms, where I remained untill they were gone, they immediately set the house on fire, in which I had left five children and no other person, but the fire was happily extinguished, when the house was in the utmost danger of being utterly consumed.
Hannah Adams.
Middlesex, ff. Cambridge, Second Precinct 17th May, 1775.
HANNAH ADAMS, the subscriber of the above deposition, personally appeared, and made oath to the truth of the same. Before me, Jonathan Hastings, Justice of the Peace.
Source: Library of Congress.
Appears in
Gage, Thomas; Lexington, Battle of; United States (History); Massachusetts; American Revolution
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