Deposition of John Robins
4/24/1775
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This is the deposition of John Robins regarding hostilities at Lexington. On April 24, 1775, John Robins gave this account of the battle of Lexington, Massachusetts. Robins supports his commander’s account reporting that the militia began dispersing when they were fired upon by a thousand of the King’s troops being led by three mounted officers. Robins was wounded in the action. This deposition, which was delivered to the Massachusetts Assembly and later forwarded to the Continental Congress, presents the American perception of the battle.
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 5. 19Lexington April 24th. 1775
I John Robins being of lawfull age, do Testify & say that on the nineteenth Inst. the Company under the Command of Capn. John Parker, being drawn up, (sometime before sun Rise) on the Green or Common, And, I being in the front Rank, there suddenly appear'd a Number of the Kings ^Troops^, About a Thousand as I thought, at the distance of about 60, or 70 yards from us Hazzaring and on a quick pace toward us, with three officers in their front, on Horse Back and on full Gallop towards us, the foremost of which cryed, throw down your Arms ye Villains, ye Rebels, upon which said Company Dispercing. - The foremost of the three Officers orderd their Men, saying fire, by God fire, at which Moment we Received a very heavy & close fire from them, at which Instant, being wounded I fell, Several of our men were shot Dead by one, Capn. Parkers men, I believe had not then fired a Gun and further the Deponant saith not -
John Robins
Middlesex SS April
I John Robins within named appeared and being duely cautioned to testifye the truth & Nothing but the truth made Solemn Oath to the truth of the within Deposition subscribed by his Special order, he being so maim'd & wounded, that he thought he could neither write his Name nor Make his Mark.
Coram Wm Reed
Josiah Johnson } Just. Pacis
20 Province of Massachusetts Bay, Charlestown SS
I Nathaniel Gorham Notary & Tabellion Public by lawful authority Duly admitted & sworn hereby Certify all whom it Doth or may concern that William Reed & Josiah Johnson Esqrs. are two of his Majesty's ^Justices^ for the County of Middlesex and that full faith & Credit is 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 & seventy five
Natthaniel Gorham Not. Pubk. {LS}
the foregoing instaments are true copies
attest Nath Gorham Notary Publick
No. 5
This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier: 1663351
Full Citation: Deposition of John Robins Regarding Hostilities at Lexington; 4/24/1775; 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://docsteach.org/documents/document/deposition-john-robins, April 24, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.