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[No. 1] Lexington, April 25, 1775. We, Solomon Brown, Jonathan Loring, and Elijah Sanderson, all of lawful age, and of Lexington, in the County of Middlesex, and Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, do testify and declare, that on the evening of the eighteenth of April instant, being on the road between Concord and Lexington, all of us mounted on horses, we were, about ten of the clock, suddenly surprised by nine persons, whom we took to be regular officers, who rode up to us mounted and armed, each having a pistol in his hand; and after putting pistols to our breasts, and seizing the bridles of our horses, they swore that if we stirred another step we should be all dead men; upon which we surrendered ourselves. They detained us until two o’clock the next morning, in which time they searched and greatly abused us; having first inquired about the magazine at Concord, whether any guards were posted there, and whether the bridges were up; and said four or five regiments of Regulars would be in possession of the stores soon. They then brought us back to Lexington, cut the horses’ bridles and girths, turned them loose, and then left us. SOLOMON BROWN, MIDDLESEX, April 25, 1775: Jonathan Loring, Solomon Brown, and Elijah Sanderson, being duly cautioned to testify the whole truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition, by them subscribed. Before us, WM. REED, Lexington, April 25, 1775. I, Elijah Sanderson, above named, do further testify and declare, that I was in Lexington Common the morning of the nineteenth of April aforesaid, having been dismissed by the officers above-mentioned, and saw a large body of Regular Troops advancing towards Lexington Company, many of whom were then dispersing. I heard one of the Regulars, whom I took to be an officer, say, “damn them, we will have them;” and immediately the Regulars shouted aloud, run, and fired on the Lexington Company, which did not fire a gun before the Regulars discharged on them. Eight of the Lexington Company were killed while they were dispersing, and at considerable distance from each other, and many wounded; and although a spectator, I narrowly escaped with my life. ELIJAH SANDERSON. MIDDLESEX, ss., April 25, 1775: Elijah Sanderson, 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, WM. REED,
I, Nathaniel Gorham, Notary and Tabellion Publick, by lawful authority, duly admitted and sworn, hereby certify all whom it doth or may concern, that William Reed, Josiah Johnson, and William Stickney, Esquires, are three of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, and that full faith and credit are to be given to their transactions as such. In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my name and seal, this twenty-sixth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. NATHANIEL GORHAM, Notary Publick. [No. 2.] Lexington, April 23, 1775. I, Thomas Price Willard, of lawful age, do testify and declare, that being in the house of Daniel Harrington, of said Lexington, on the nineteenth instant, in the morning, about half an hour before sunrise, looked out of the window of said house and saw (as I suppose) about four hundred of Regulars, in one body, coming up the road, and marched toward the north part of the common, back of the meeting-house of said Lexington; and as soon as said Regulars were against the east end of the meeting-house, the commanding officers said something, what I know not; but upon that the Regulars ran till they came within about eight or nine rods of about a hundred of the Militia of Lexington, who were collected on said common, at which time the Militia of Lexington dispersed; then the officers made a 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 PRICE WILLARD, MIDDLESEX, ss., April 23, 1775: The within named Thomas Price Willard personally appeared, and after due caution to testify the whole truth and nothing but the truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the written deposition by him subscribed. Before us, WM. REED,
I, Nathaniel Gorham, Notary and Tabellion Publick, duly admitted and sworn, do certify that Wm. Reed, Jona. Hastings, and Duncan Ingraham, Esquires, are three of His Majesty’s Justices for the County of Middlesex, and that full faith and credit is to be given to their transactions as such. In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal this twenty-sixth of April, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. NATHANIEL GORHAM, Notary Publick. [No. 3.] 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 nineteenth of April instant, about four o’clock in the morning, as he was passing the publick 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 further testifies that he marched with said Troops until 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; 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 said officer as above. SIMON WINSHIP. MIDDLESEX, ss., April 25, 1775: Simon Winship, above named, appeared, and after due caution to testify the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed. WM. REED,
I, Nathaniel Gorham, Notary and Tabellion Publick, by lawful authority duly admitted and sworn, hereby certify
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