Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-05-15 00:00:00, page 2

AFFIDAVITS and DEPOSITIONS,
Relative to tie Commencement of tie lute Hos
tilities in tie province ^Massachusetts
Ba Y : Together with an ADDRESS from
the Provincial Convention of fold province,
to tie Inhabitants f Great• Britain,
trarfitted to tie CON GKESS nowfiring
m toil city, ahd padded by their order.
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
WE SOLOMON BROWN, JONA
THAN LORINC, and ELIJA II
SAND±RSON, all of rawful age, and of
Lexington, in the County of Middlesex, and Co
lony of the Maffachußtts-tay, in New-England,
do teftify and declare, that on the evening of the
IBth of April, instant, being on the road between
Copcord and Lexington, and all of us amounted
Jn horses, we wete about ten of the clock Sud
denly furprized by nine persons, whom we took
to be Regular Officers, who rode up to us,
mounted and armed, each having a pifcl in his
tand, and after putting pirtols to our breasts, and
seizing the bridles of our horses, they swore that
if we stirred another Rep, we should be all deal!
men; upon which we Surrendered ourselves. They
detained us until two o'clock the next morning', in
which time they searched and greatly abused tis,
having firft enquired about the magazine at Con
cord, whether any guards were polled there, and
whether the bridges were up, and laid four or
foe regiments of regulars would be in pofleffion of
the stores soon. They theh brought us back to
Lexington, cut the horses bridles and girts, tur
ned them look, ar+ th'en left us.
, . Solomon Brown,
?CT% , Jo^ rH A N L O R IN C,
/.pi 25, 1/75° Elijah SANDIRSok.
I ELIJAH SANDERSON, above
named, do further teftify and declare, that I was
on Lexington Common the morning of the igth
of April aforefaid, having been dilmiffed by the
Officers above-mentioned, and law a large body
of regular troops advancing towards Lexington
Company, many of whom were then dispersing.
1 heard one of the regulars, whom 1 took to be an
Officer, fay, " damn them, we will have them,"
and immediately the regulars ihouted aloud, run
and fired on the Lexington Company, which did
not lire a gun before the regulars discharged on
them. Eight of the Lexington Company were
killed while they were dispersing, arid at a consi
derable dilfance from each other, and many woun
ded, and altho' a fpedator, I narrowly efeaped
with my life. Elijah Sanderson.
Lexington, Aprihfo 1775.
Lexington, April 23d, 1775.
I THOMAS RICE WILLARD, oflaw
ful age, do teftify and declare, that being in
the houle of Daniel Harrington, of said Lexing
ton, 01) the nineteenth instant in the morning,
about half an hour before fun-rife, looked out at the
window of said boufe, and law (as I suppose)
about four hundred regulars in one body, coming
bp the road and marched toward the North part
of the common back of the meeting-house of
Lid Lexington, and as loon as said regulars were
'againft the east end of the meeting-house, the com
manding officeriaid lomething, 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 or Lexington who were collected on
laid common, at which time the militia of Lex
ington dispersed, then the , oncers made an huzza,
and the private foldlers lutdeeded them, directly
after this an officer rodt before the regulars, to
the other lide qfthe body, and hallooed after the
militia of said Lexington and said " Lay down
your arms, damn you, why dont you lay down
your arms," and that there was not a gun fired
till the militia pf Lexington were dispersed, and
further faith not. Thomas Rich WillakiL
Lexington, 2sthof April, 177 g.
SIMON WINSHIP,'of Lexington, in the
County of Middlelex, and Province of Mas
fachufetts-Bay, New-England, being of lawful
age teftifieth arid faith, that on the nineteenth of
April initaM, about four o'clock in the morning,
as he was palling the public road in said Lexing
ton, peaceably and unarmed, about two miles and
an half difta^t from the meeting-house in laid
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 difmaunt, upon
diking why he mult dismount, he was obliged by
force to quit his horse and ordered to march in the
tnidrt of the body, and being examined whether
he had been warning the minute men, he answered
ho, but had been out and was then returning to
his father's. Said Winlhip further teddies, tbathe
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 Capt. Parker's company, who weit part
ly collected off the place of parade, when said
•Wialhip pbfefved do officer at the head of laid
troops, fiouriffiing his sword, and with a loud
voice giving the word fire, fire, whibn was inftaht
fy followed by a discharge of arms ' from said re
gular troops, and said Wiafhip is potinve and in
the mod solemn ni inner declares that th^re was
no difeharge of arms on either fide till the word
fad was glyco by laid officer as above.
biMON WINSHIP.
Lexington, April ?^, 1775.
J JOHN PACKER, of lawful age, and
Commander of the Militia in Lexington, do
teftify and declare, that on the 19th instant, in
the morning, about one erf the clock, being in
formed that there were a number of regular Of
ficers riding up and d^wn the road, flopping and
intuiting people as they puffed 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 Lexing
ton, to conluit what to do, and concluded not to
& difeovered, not meddle or make with said rc-
gulartroops (if they Should approach) unless they
mould infall or molest us ; —and upon their Hid
den approach I immediately ordered cur Mihtia.
to dilpcrie and not to lire. Immediately sod
troops made their appearance and ruihed fuuouily,
tired, upon and killed eight of our party; without
receiving any provocation therefor from us.
John Parker.
v Lexington, Aprilz^.tb, 17,75.
I JOTI N ROT IN^ being 01 lawful age, do
testify and lay, that on the igihuilt. the
company under the Command of Capt. John Bar
ker, be ng drawn up (sometime before fun rife)
on the green or common, and I being inthe front
rank, there Suddenly appeared a number of the
King's troops, about a thousand as I thought, at
the diftaiice of about 60 or 70 yards from us,
Turtaing and on a quick pace towards us, with
three officers in their front on horse back and on
full gallop \6waics cs, the foremort of which
cried, throw.down your arms ye villains, ye re
bels, upon which- said company dispersing, the
forenloft ofthe three officers ordered their men,
laying fire, by God fire, at which moment we re
ceived a very heavy and close tire from them, at
which instant, being wounded I lell, and lever#! of
our men were lhot dead by me, Capt Parker's men
I believe had not then fired a gun, and further the
deponent faith not. John Robins.
WE BENJAMIN TIDD, of Lex
ington, and JOSEPH ABBOT, of
Lincoln, in the County of Middlelex, and Colo
ny of Maffachufetis-Bay, in New-England, of
lawful age, do teftify and declare, thlt oh the
morning,of the 19th of April instant, about five
o'clock, being on Lexington Common, and moun
ted on horse,, we law a body of regular troops
marching, up to the Lexington Company, which
was then dispersing: Soon after the regulars fired,
tirlt a few guns, which we took to be pistols, from
fame of the regulars who were mounted on hor
ses, and then the laid regulars fired a volley or
two, before any guns' were fired by the Lexington
Company; our horses immediately darted, and we
rode “off. And farther lay not.
Lexington,, Benjamin Tidd,
, April's, 1775, Joseph Abbot.
WE Nathaniel Mulieiin, Philip Rufell, Mo
ses Harrington, jun. Thomas and Daniel
Harrington, William Grimes, William Tidd, IJaac
diffings, Jonasutone, jun. Jamet Wyman, Thad
deus Harrington, pohn Chand er, Jojbaa Reed, jun.
Jojeph Simonds, Phineas Smith', John Chand,er, pin.
Reulen Lock, Joel Piles, Nathan Redd, Samuel
Tidd, Betyamin Lick, Thomas Winjhip, Simeon
Snow, John Smith, Elfes Harrington the 3d. jo
,ua Reed, Ebenezer Parker, Jlbn Hart iffton,
Enoch WilAngtin, John Harmer, Isaac Green, Phi
neas Stearns, faac Durant, and Thomas Head ey,
jun. all Of lawful age, and inhabitants of Lex
ingtoo, in, the county of Middlelex, and colony
of the MafTachufettS-Bay, in New England, Co
teftify and declare, that on the 19th of April in
stant, about one of 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 bhd incited the inha
bitants palling the fame; and allo underttanding
that a body of regulars were marching frorif Bbf
ton towards Coneord, with intent fas it was ft, -
poied) to take the stores belonging the colony in
that town, we were alarmed, and having met at
the place of our company's parade, weredifmiffed
by our Captain, John Paiker, for the present, with
orders to be ready to attend at the beat of the
drum. We further teftify and declare, that about
five o'clock in the morning, hearing our drum beat,
we proceeded towards the parade, and felon found
that a large body of troops were marching towards
us : Some of our company were coming tip 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 iofldhtly
killed and wounded. Not a gun was fired by any
perlon in our company on the regulars to our
knowledge; before they fired on us, and theycon
tinued filing until we had all made our escape.
Signed by each of the above deponents.
Lexington, April 25, 1775.
WE Nathaniel Parkhurfl, forias Parker, Johh
Munroe, jun. John Winfloip, Solomon Pierce,
John Muzzy, Abner Meeds, John Bridge, jun.
Ebenezer Bowman, William Munroe, the 3d, Mi
can Hager, Samuel Saunderson, Samuel Haftiny,
arid lames Brown, of Lexington, in the County
of Middlesex, and Colony of Maffachufer&Bay,
in New-England, and all of lawful age, do certi
fy and fay, that on the morning of the nineteenth
of AprilrniUnt; abo'bt one or two o'clock, being
informed that a number of tegular officers had been
riding up and down the read the evening and nigKt
preceding, and that some of the inhabitants as
they were passing, hdd been insulted by the offi
cers and flopped by them ; and being allo inform
ed 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 oider
ed by Capt. John Parker (who commanded us)
to disperse for the present, and to be ready to at
tend the beat of the drum, and accordingly the
companv went into houses near the place of pa
rade. We farther teftify and fay, that about five
0 clock in the morning we attended the beat ofour
drum and were formed on the parade, we were
faced towards the regulars then ranching 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
tired by any of our company on them. They
killed eight of our company and wounded seve
ral, and continued their fire until we had all made
our escape. Signed by each of the above deponents.
Lexington, 2,5 th f April, 1775.
IT IMOTHYSMITH, of Lexington, io
the County of Middlesex, and Colony of
MafTachufetts-Bay, in New-England, being of
lawful age, do certify and declare; that on the
I morning of the nineteenth of April instant, being
lat Lexington,Common as a fpeClator, I law a laige
body of regular troops marching up towaids the
Lexington company then dispersing, and likewise
law the regular troops fire on the Lexington com
pany before the latter fired a gun ; I immediately
ran, and a voiley was discharged at me, which put
me ib eminent danger of losing my life: I soon re
turned to the common and law eight of the Lex
ington men who were killed apd lay bleeding at a
corJnLrdble dirtance from each other, ^nd leveral
were wounded, and further faith not.
Timothy Smith.
Lexington, April 25th, 1775.
WE LEVI MEADand LEVI HAR
RI NGT PN, both of Lexington, in
the County of Middlelex, and Colony of Massa
chusetts-Bay, 10 New-England, and of lawful age,
do teftify and declare, that on the morning of the
19th of April, being on Lexington Common, as
Ipeclators, we law 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, firtd a fiftol or two on the
Lexington Company, which was then dispersing:
,1 hefe were the firft guns that were fired, and
they were immediately followed by several vollies
from the regulars, by which eight men belonging
to laid Company were killed, and several wounded.
Lexington, LEVI HARRINGTON,
April 2 5 , 177'5. Levi Mead.
Lexington, April 1775.
I william draper, of lawful $,
4 and an inhabitant of Colrain, in the county of
Hamplhire, and colony of Maffachufett's-Bay, in
New-England, 'do teftify and declare, that being
on the parade of said Lexington, April 19th in-
Ilant, about half an hobr before fonrife, the King's
regular troops appeared at the meeting-house of
Lexington. Capt. Parkers company, who were
drawn up back of said meeting-house on the parade
turned from laid troops, making their escape by
dispersing; in the mean time the regular troops
made an huiza and ran towards Captain Parker's
company who were drtpernng, and immediately
after the huzza was made the commanding officer
of said troops (as I took hiln) gave the command
to the said troops “ fire! fire! damn you fire !"
and immediately they fired before any of Captain
Barker's company fired, I then being within three
or four rods of laid regular troops : And further
fay not. William Draper.
Lexington, .April 177 c.
J THOMAS FESSENDEN, of lawful
I age, teftify and declare, that being in a pas
ture near the Mecting-Houfe, at said Lexington,
on Wednesday laid, at about half an hour before
fun rife, I saw a number of regular troops pals
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 18 or
20 rods from said Meeting-House ; and after they
bad parted by said Meeting-House, I saw three
Officers on horse-back advance to the front of said
regulars, when one of them, being within fix
rods ofthe said Militia, cried out, “ disperse you
rebels immediately," on which he brandished his
Iword over his head three times; mean while the
second Officer, who was about two rods behind
him, fired a pirtol, pointed at said Militia, and
the regulars kept hazzaing till he had finifhed
btandifhing his sword, and when he had thus fi
nilhed brandishing his sword, he pointed it down
towards said Militia, and immediately on which the
laid regulars lired a volley at the Militia, and then
I ran off as faft as I could, while they continued
firing till I got out of their reach. I futther tef
tify, that as soon as ever the Officer cried “ dis
perse }ou rebels," the said Company of Militia
dispersed every way as fart as they could, and
while they were dispersing, the regulars kept fir
ing at therd inceffanUy. And further faith not.
Thomas Fessenden.
, Lincoln, April 1774.
T JOHN BATEMAN, belonging to the
A fifty-fecond regiment, commanded by Colonel
Jones; on Wednesday morning, on the nineteenth
day of April instant, was in the party marching to
Concord, being at Lexington, in the county of
Middlesex, being nigli the meeting-house in said
Lexington, there was a (mail party of men gather
ed together in that place, when our laid troops
marched by, and I teftify 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 laid small party lay dead on the ground
high said meeting-house ; and I teftify that I ne
ver heard any of the inhabitants so much as fire
one gun on Lid troops. John Bateman.
;, Le.\tington, April 23d, 1775.
WE John Hoar, John Wbithead, Abraham
' ur fi e ^y Benjamin Munroe, Isaac Parks,
lei tiam Heftier, john Adams, Gregory Stone, all
of Lincoln, in the County of Middlesex, Massa
chusetts-Bay, all of lawful age, do teftify and fay,
that on Wednesday last we were assembled at
Concord iothe Morning of said day, in confe
quenceof information received, that a brigade of
regular troops were bn their march to the said
town of Concord, who had killed fix men at the
town of Lexington ; about tin hour afterwards we
saw them approaching to the number as we appre
hended of about twelve hundred, oii which we
retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the
said troops then took poffeflion of the hill where
we were 6rft ported, presently after this we law
the troops moving towards the north bridge, about
one mile from the said Concord meeting lioufe, we
t ten immediately went before them and parted the
bridge, just before a party of them, to the num
ber of about two hundred arrived ; they there left
abedt one half of their two hundred s the bridge,
aid proceeded with the rest towards Col. Barrett's,
about two miles from' the said bridge; we then
feeing several fires in the town, thought the oou
fesjn Concord were in danger, and marched #o
wards the said bridge, and the troops who were
ftatioried there observing our approach, marched
back over the bridge and then took up some of
the plank ; we then hastened our march towards
the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge
they fired on our men, foft three guns onp after
the other, and then a considerable number more
and then and not before (having orders hum our
Commanding Officers not to lire till we u ^e fired
upon) we tired upon theiegulars and they repeat
ed; on their retreat through the town of Lexing
ton to Charleftown, they ravaged and destroyed
private property and burnt three houses, one
barn and one shop.
Signed by each of the above depenentA
„ Langton, AprAfy 1 775 .
\A/ Nithan barrot,. C 4 ?taw, Jonathan Few
.VV rar, Joseph But,er, and Francis Wheeler,
Lieutenants, John Barret, Ensign, John Brown,
Silas Walker, Ephraim Melvin, Nathan Buttrich,
Stephen Hofaer, jun. Samuel Barrett, Thomas
Jones, jefeph Chandler, Peter IVheeler, Nathan
Pierce, and Edward Ricbardfon, all of Concord,
zn the County of Middlelex, in the Province of
Massachusetts-Bay, of lawful age, teftify and de
clare, that on Vfednefday the 19th instant, about
an hour after fun rile we assembled on a hill near
the Meeting-House in Concord aforefaid, in con
lequence of an information that a number of re
gular troops had killed fix of our countrymen at
Lexington, and were on their march to said Con
corde 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 aforefaid
troops then took pofTellion of a hill where we were
firtt posted. Presently after this we saw them
moving towards the North Bridge, about one
mile from said Mecting-Houfe, we then immedi
ately went before them, and parted the bridgejuft
before a party of them, to the number of about
two hundred, arrived. Chey there left about
one half of these two hundred at the bridge, and
proceeded with the rest towards Col, Barret's,
about two failes frorftthe said bridge Wo
then feeing several fires ih the town, thought our
houses were in danger, and immediately marched
back towards fa:d bridge, and the troops who
were stationed ther^, observing our approach,
marched back over the bridge, and then took up
some of the planks.—We then hastened our ftep^
towards the bridge, and when we had got near
the bridge, they fired bn our men, firft three guns
one after the other, and then a considerable num
ber more: Upon which, and not before, (having,
orders from ohr Commanding Officer not to firo
till we were fired upoa) we fired upon the regu
lars, aad they retreated. At Concord and on
their retreat through Lexington, they plundered
many houses, burnt three at Lexington, together
with a shop and a barn, ahd committed damage
more or less to almost every house from Concord
to Charleftown. Signed by the above dtponents.
WE, Joseph But,er and Ephraim Merain, do.
teftify and declare; that when the regular troops
filed upon our people at the North Bridge in Con
cord, as related in the foregoing depofiions, thejr
shot one, and we believe two, of our people, be
fore we fired a single gun at them.
Lexington, Joseph Butler,
April 23, 1775. Ephraim Melvin.
Concord, April 23, 1775.
f I IMOTHY MINOT, jun. of Concord;
l on the 19th 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 incunr
bent duty to fecuie my family—After I had se
cured my family some time after that returning
towards my own dwelling, and finding that the
bridge on the northern part of said Concord was:
guarded by regular troops, being a fpedator of
what had happened at laid bridge, declare, that
the regular troops stationed on said bridge, after
they law the men that were collected on the wes
terly tide of laid bridge marched towards said
bridge, then the troops returned towards the eas
terly tide of laid bridge and formed themselves, as
I thought, for regular tight; after that they fired
one gun, then two or three more, before the men
that were stationed on the weftcrly part of said
bridge fired upon them.
Timothy Minot, Junior.
Lexington, April 23, 1775.
IJ AME j BARREI, of Concord, Colonel
of a regiment of militia ill the county of Mid
dlesex, do teftify and fay, that on Wednesday
morning fall, about day bteak, I was informed of
the approach of a number of the regular troops to
the town of Concord, where were some magazines
belonging to this province, when there was as
sembled some of the militia of this and the neigh
boring towns, when I ordered them to march td
the north bridge (so called) which they had
parted and were taking up. I ordered said mili
tia to march to said budge and pass t!ic fame, but
not to fire on the King's troops unlels they wtre
lirft fired upon. We^advaoced near laid bridge,
waen the laid troops fired upon our militia and
killed two men dead on the ipot and wounded le
verri Others, which was the nrlt firing of guns in
the town of Concord : My detachment then re
turned the lire, which killed and wounded several
of the king's troops. JXm£s Barrett.
Lexington, April 23, 1775.
WE BRADBUR) ROBINSON,
SAMUEL SPRING, THAD
DEUS BANCROf r, all of Concord; and
JAMES ADAMS, of Lexington, all in the
county of Middlesex, ail of lawful age, do telli
fy and fay, that on Wednesday morning last, near
ten oi the clock, we saw near one hundred or re
gular troops, being in the town of Concord at the
Nuiti ißridge in said town (so called) and having
parted the lame they were taking up said bridge,
when about three hundred of our militia were ad
vancing towaid laid bridge, in order to pals laid
bridge, when without laying any thing to us they
discharged a number of gbns on us, which killed
two men dead on the fpet, and wounded several
others; when we returned the fire on them, which
killed two of them and wounded several, which was
the beginning of fortuities in the town of Concord*
Bradbury koniNsON,
Samuel Spring,
Thaddeus lAxckuf:,