Deposition #12 of Thomas Fessenden
4/23/1775
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This is Deposition #12 of Thomas Fessenden regarding the events of April 18 and 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony. In this deposition Thomas Fessenden reports that the British "cryed disperse, you rebels."
This and other documents about the battles at Lexington and Concord are included in the Massachusetts State Papers from 1775 - 1787, in the Papers of the Continental Congress.
This and other documents about the battles at Lexington and Concord are included in the Massachusetts State Papers from 1775 - 1787, in the Papers of the Continental Congress.
Transcript
No. 12 Lexington April 23d 1775 34 1/2I Thomas Fessenden of Lawful age testify & Declare that being in a Pasture near the meeting house at said Lexington on Wednesday last at about half an hour before sun rise 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 horse back advance to the front of said Regulars, when one of them being within six rods of the said Militia cryed out,, Disperse you Rebels immediately,, on which he Brandished his sword over his head three times, mean while 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 ^[unintelligible]^ the officer Cryed ,,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.
Thos Fessenden
Middlesex ss April 23d 1775
The within named Thomas Fessenden appeared and after Due caution to testify the whole truth and nothing but the truth made solemn oath to ^in truth of^ the within Deposition by him subscribed.
Before us Wm. Read
Josiah Johnson Just Pac.
Wm. Stickney
Province of Massachusetts Bay Charlestown ss
I Nathaniel Gorham NOtary and Tabillian Public by Lawful authority Duly admitted and sworn hereby certifie all whom it may or Doth concern that William Reed and Josiah Johnson and William Stickney Esqs are three of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace of 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 set my hand and seal this twenty sixth of April Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and seventy five
Nathaniel Gorham Noty Pub LS
the foregoin instruments are true copies in witness wherof I have hereunto set my name & seal Nath Gorham Noy Pubk
This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier: 6883160
Full Citation: Deposition #12 of Thomas Fessenden Regarding the Events of April 18 and 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony; 4/23/1775; Massachusetts State Papers; Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774 - 1789; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/deposition-12-thomas-fessenden, March 28, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.