Deposition #2 of Thomas Price Willard
4/23/1775
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This is Deposition #2 of Thomas Price Willard Regarding the Events of April 18 and 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony. In this deposition Thomas Price Willard quotes a British officer saying, "Lay down your arms, damn you, why don't you lay down your arms."
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 2dLexington April 23d 1775
I Thomas Price Willard of Lawful age Do Testify and Declare, that being in the House of Daniel Harrington of said Lexington on the Nineteenth, instant in the morning about half an hour before sun rise, looked out at the window of said house and saw (as I suppose) about four hundred of regulars in one Body, coming up the road, and marched toward the north part of the common back of the meeting house of said Lexington, and as soon as said Regulars were against the east end of the meeting house, the Commanding Officer said something, what I know not, but upon that the Regulars ran till they came within about eight or nine rods of about an Hundred of the Militia of Lexington who were collected on said Common, at which time the Militia of Lexington Dispersed, then the Officers made an huzza, and the private Soldiers succeeded them, Directly after this an officer rode before the Regulars, to the other side of the Body, and hallowed after the Militia of said Lexington and said "Lay Down your Arms, Damn you, Why Don't you lay Down your arms" And that there was not a gun fired till the Militia of Lexington were Dispersed, and further saith not - Thomas Price Willard
Middlesex ss April 23d 1775
The within named Thomas Price Willard personally appeared, and after Due caution to testify the whole truth and nothing but the truth made solemn oath to the truth of the within Deposition by him subscribed -
Before me Wm Reed Justices of
Jona Hastngs Peace
Duncan Ingraham
Province of Massachusetts Bay, Charlestown ss I Nathaniel Gotham Notary and Tabellian Public Duly admitted and sworn, Do certify that Wm Reed, Jona Hastings & Duncan Ingraham Esqrs are three 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 & seal this twenty sixth of April one thousand seven hundred & seventy five -
Nathaniel Gorham Noty Public
The foregoing are true copies attest Nath Gorham Notary Publik
This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier: 6883150
Full Citation: Deposition #2 of Thomas Price Willard 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://docsteach.org/documents/document/deposition-2-thomas-price-willard, March 17, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
