Deposition #15 of Nathan Barret et al.
4/23/1775
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The deponents in this deposition are Nathan Barrett, Captain; Jonathan Farrar, Joseph Butler, and Francis Wheeler, Lieutenants; John Barrett, Ensign; John Brown, Silas Walker, Ephraim Melvin, Nathan Buttrick, Stephen Hosmer, Junr., Samuel Barrett, Thomas Jones, Joseph Chandler, Peter Wheeler, Nathan Peirce, and Edward Richardson. They report that "when we had got near the bridge, they fir'd on our men."
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.
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No.15
Lexington April 23.1775
39
We Nathan Barrot. Captain. Jonathan Farrar. Joseph Butler & Francis Wheeler. Lieutenants. John Barret Ensign John Brown. Silas Walker. Ephraim Melvin, Nathan Buttrick, Stephen Hosmer Junr. Sam'l Barrett, Thomas Jones, Joseph Chandler, Peter Wheeler, Nathan Peirce and Edward Richardson all of Concord in the County of Middlesex in the province of the Massachusetts Bay of Lawful Age Testify and Declare that on Wednesday, the Nineteenth Instant, about an Hour after sunrise, we Assembled on a Hill near the meeting House in Concord afores'd, in consequence of an information, that a number of regular Troops had killed [entered above line] six of our Countrymen at Lexington & were on their march to s'd Concord, & 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, & the aforesaid Troops, then took possession of a Hill, where we were first posted. Presently after this we saw them moving towards the North Bridge, about one mile from s'd meeting House. We then immediately went before them, & passed the bridge just before a party of them to the the number of about Two Hundred arrivd -- They there left about one half of these two Hundred at the bridge, & proceeded with the rest towards Col.o Barret's, about two miles from ^ye^ s'd bridge -- We then seeing several fires in the Town, thought our houses were in Danger, and immediately mach'd back towards s'd bridge, & the troops who were stationed there, Observing our approach march'd back over the bridge & then took up some of the planks. We then hastned our Steps towards the bridge, & when we had got near the bridge they fir'd on our men, first three guns one after the other, & then a Considerable number more, upon which, & not before, /having orders from our Commanding Officer not to fire till we were fird upon/ we fird upon the regulars, & they retreated -- At Concord & on their retreat thro Lexington they plunder'd many houses, burnt three at Lexington together with a shop & a barn. and committed damage more or Less to almost every House from Concord to Charlestown --------. Nathan Barrett
Peter Wheeler Ephraim Melvin Jonathan Farrar
Nathan Peirce Nathan Buttrick Josephe Butler
Stephen Hosmer Jun.r Francis Wheeler
Edward Richarson
Samuel Barrett John Barrett
Thomas Jones John Brown
Joseph Chandler Silas Walker
40
Lexington April 23, 1775
We Joseph Butler & Ephraim Melvin do testify & declare that when the regular troops fir'd upon our people at the North Bridge in Concord, as related in the foregoing depositions, they shot one, & we believe two, of our people before we fir'd a single gun at them--
Joseph Butler
Ephraim Melvin
Middlesex ss April 23 1775
The within named Nathan Barrett, Jonathan Farrar Joseph Butler, Francis Wheeler, John Barrett, John Brown Silas Walker, Ephraim Melvin, Nathan Buttrick, Stephen Hosmer Jun. Sam.l Barrett, Thomas Jones, Joseph Chandler, Peter Wheeler, Nathan Peirce & Edward Richardson appear'd &made solemn Oath to the truth of the above Depositions, by them Subscribed Before us Johnathan Hastings
John Cumings Duncan Ingraham
Province of the Massachusetts Bay Charlestown ss
I Nathaniel Gorham notary & Tabellion Publick duly admitted & sworn, do hereby certify all whom it may or doth con-cern that Jon.a Hastings, John Cummings & Duncan Ingraham Esg.s are three of his majesty's Justices for the County of Middlesex & that full faith & Credit is to be given to their Transactions as such in Witness whereof I have hereunto fix'd my name & seal this Twenty sixth of April one Thousand seven hundred seventy five
Nathaniel Gorham Noty Publick
Charlestown May 2 1775
The foregoing instruments are true copies in Witness thereof I have hereunto set my name & seal
Nathaniel Gorham Not'y Pub'kThis primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier:
6883163Full Citation: Deposition #15 of Nathan Barret, 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-15-nathan-barret-et-al, May 4, 2024]