Deposition #3 of Simon Winship
4/25/1775
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This is deposition by Simon Winship regarding the events of April 18 and 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He describes a British officer "with a loud voice giving the word fire, fire."
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 3 Lexington 25 of April 1775 15Simon Winship of Lexington in the County of Middlesex & Province of Massachusetts Bay New England being of lawful age to testafieth and saith that on the Nineteenth of April instant about four o'clock in the Morning as he was passing the Publick Road, in said Lexington, peaceably and unarmed about two miles and an half Distant from the meeting House, in said Lexington he was met by a Body of the Kings regular Troops, and being stop'd by some Officers of said Troops, was commanded to Dismount. Upon asking why he must ^dismount^ he was obliged by force to Quit his Horse and ordered to march in the midst of the Body and being Examined whether he had been warning the Minute Men he answered no, but had been out, and was then returning to his fathers, said Winthrop further testifies that he marched with said Troops, untill he came within about half a Quarter of a mile of said meeting House where an Officer commanded the Troops to halt, and then to prime & Load, this being done the said Troops marched on till they came within a few Rods of Cap't Parkers Company, who were partly collected on the place of parade When said Winship observed an officer at the head of said Troops, flourishing his Sword and with a Loud Voice giving the word fire, fire which was Instantly followed by a Discharge of Arms from said regular Troops and said Winship is possitive & in the most Solemn manner Declares that there was no Discharge of arms on either side till the word fire was given by said Officer as above.
Simon Winship
Middlesex ss April 25th 1775
Simon Winship above named appeared and after due Caution to testify the whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth made solemn oath to the Truth of the above Deposition by him subscribed
Wm Reed
Josiah Johnson
This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier: 6883151
Full Citation: Deposition #3 of Simon Winship 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://docsteach.org/documents/document/deposition-3-simon-winship, March 19, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
