Deposition #14 by John Hoar et al.
4/23/1775
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This is Deposition #14 by John Hoar et al. regarding the events of April 18 and 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony. The deponents in this deposition are John Hoar, John Whithead, Abraham Garfield, Benjamin Munroe, Isaac Parks, William Hosmer, John Adams, and Gregory Stone. They reported that "when we had got near the bridge, they fired on our men...they ravaged and destroyed private property, and burnt three houses one barn and one shop."
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. 14 Lexington April 23, 1775We, John Hoar, John Whitehead, Abra. Garfield, Benjamin Munroe, Isaac Parks, William Hosmer, John Adams, Gregory Stone, all of Lincoln in the county of Middlesex Mass. Bay, all of lawfull age, do testify and say, that on Wednesday last, we were assembled at Concord in the morning of said Day in consequence of infor-mation 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 afterward 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 then, seeing several fires in the town, thought the houses in Concord were in danger and marched towards the said Bridge and the troops who were stationed there, observing our approach, marched back over the bridge & then took up some of the plank. We then hastened our march towards the Bridge, and when we had got over the bridge they fired on our men. first three guns one after the other & then a considerable number more, and then & 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 Lexington to Charlestown they ravaged & destroyed private property and burnt three houses, one bard & one shop.
John Hoar
John Whithead
Abra. Garfield
Benj. Munroe
Isaac Parks
Wm. Hosmer
John Adams
Gregory Stone
Middlesex April 23 1775
The written named John Hoar, John Whithead, Abra, Garfield, Benj Munroe, Isaac Parks, Wm. Hosmer, John Adams, Gregory Stone, appear'd and made Solemn Oath to the truth of the within deposition before us
Wm Reed
John Cummings
Jon. Hastings
Duncan Ingraham, Justices of the peace
Province of Massachusetts Bay, Charlestown Ss
J Nath. Gorham Notary & [illegible] public duty admitted and sworn, do certify that Willam Reed, John Cummings, Jon. Hastings, Duncan Ingraham Esq are four of His Majesties Justices, and that full faith is to be given to their transactions as such, in witness where of I have hereunto affixed my name & seal this twenty sixth day of April one thousand seven hundred & seventy five
This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier: 6883162
Full Citation: Deposition #14 by John Hoar et al. 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-14-john-hoar-et-al, April 25, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.