Deposition #8 of Nathanael Parkhurst, et al.
4/25/1775
Add to Favorites:
Add all page(s) of this document to activity:
Add only page 1 to activity:
Add only page 2 to activity:
This is Deposition #8 of Nathanael Parkhurst, et al. regarding the events of April 18 and 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Deponents in this deposition include: Nathanael Parkhurst, Jonas Parker, John Munroe, jun., John Winship, Solomon Pierce, John Muzzy, Abner Meeds, John Bridge, jun., Ebenezer Bowman, William Munroe the 3d, Micah Hager, Samuel Saunderson, Samuel Hastings, and James Brown. They report that "the Regulars fired on the Company, before a gun was fired by any of our company on them. They killed eight of our company, and wounded several, and continued their fire, until we had all made our escape."
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. 8 27We Nathanael Parkhurst, Jonas Parker, John Munroe, Junr, John Winship, Solomon Pierce, John Muzzy, Abner Mead, John Bridge, Jun Ebenezer Bowman William Munroe 3d, Micah Hager, Saml Saunderson, Samuel Hastings & James Brown of Lexington in the County of Middlesex and Colony of Massachusetts Bay in New England & all of lawfull age do Testify and Say that on the morning of the nineteenth of April Instant about one or Two OClock being informed that a number of Regular Officers had been riding up & down the Road the evening & night preceding & that some of the Inhabitants as they were passing had been Insulted by the Officers and stoped by them; and being also informed that the Regular Troops were on their march from Boston in order (as it was said) to take the Colony store then deposited at Concord. We met on the Parade of our Company in this town; After the Company had collected we were ordered by Capt John Parker (who commanded us) to disperse for the present and to be ready to attend the beat of the Drum and accordingly the Company went into houses near the place of Parade. We further Testify and Say that about five o clock in the morning we attended the beat of our Drum and & [sic] were formed on the Parade. We were faced toward the Regulars then marching up to us & 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 fired by any of our company on them. they killed eight of our company & wounded several & continued their fire until we had all made our escape.
Nathanael Parkhurst
Lexington 25th April 1775 Abner Mead Jonas Parker
Samuel Saunderson John Bridge Jr John Munroe, Jun
Samuel Hastings Ebenezer Bowman John Winship
James Brown William Munroe Solomon Pierce
Micah Hager John Muzzy
I Nathanael Gorham Notary & Tabellion Publick by lawfull authority duly admitted & sworn hereby certify all whom it doth or may concern that William Reed Josiah Johnson & William Stickney Esquires are three of his Majesties 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 name & seal this Twenty Sixth day of April Ano Domini one thousand seven hundred & seventy five
Nathaniel Gorham Noty Pubk
The foregoing instruments re true copies in witness whereof I have hereunto set my name and seal Nathaniel Gorham, Noty Pubk
Middlesex April 25th 1775 Nathanael Parkhurst Jonas Parker
This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier: 6883156
Full Citation: Deposition #8 of Nathanael Parkhurst, et al. Regarding the Events of April 18 and 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony; 4/25/1775; 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-8-nathanael-parkhurst-et-al, March 29, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.