Deposition of Captain John Parker Concerning the Battle at Lexington
4/25/1775
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Less than a week after the events, on April 25, 1775, Capt. John Parker gave this account of the battle of Lexington, Massachusetts. After confronting the British Regulars, Parker ordered his men “to disperse and not to fire.” Suddenly a shot rang out, fired by an unknown person; the British reacted by firing, killing eight of Parker’s men. 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 4. Lexington April 25th, 1775I John Parker, of lawful Age, and Commander of the Militia in Lexington, do testify & declare that on the 19th Instant, in the morning, about one of the Clock, being informed that there were a Number of Regular Officers riding up and down the Road, Stopping and insulting People as they passed the Road, and also was informed that a Number of Regular Troops were on their March from Boston, in order to take the Province Stores at Concord, ordered our Militia to meet on the Common in said Lexington, to consult what to do, and concluded not to be discovered nor meddle or make with said Regular Troops (if they should approach) unless they should insult or molest us - and upon their sudden Approach I immediately ordered our Militia to disperse and not to fire - Immediately said Troops made their Appearance and rushed furiously, fired up-on and killed eight of our Party, without receiving any Provocation therefor from us,
John Parker
(in bracket)
Middlesex Ss. April 25th, 1775. The above named John Parker personally appeared, and, after being duly cautioned to declare the whole Truth, made solemn Oath to the truth of the above Deposition by him subscribed
Coram
Wm Reed
Josiah Johnson (bracket) Just of Peace
Wm Stickney
Province of Massachusetts Bay, Charlestown Ss.
I Nathaniel Gorham, Notary and Tabellian Publick,
by lawful Authority duly admitted and sworn, hereby
certify all whom it ^doth or^ may concern, that William Reed,
Josiah Johnson and William Strikney Esq are three
of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of
Middlesex, and that full Faith & Credit is and ought to be
given to their transactions as such - In Witness whereof
I have hereunto set my Name and Seal this twenty
sixth Day of April, one Thousand Seven Hundred and
Seventy five.
Nathaniel Gorham Noty Pubk (LS)
The forgoing are true copies
attest Nath Gorham Noty Publick
This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier: 595246
Full Citation: Deposition of Captain John Parker Concerning the Battle at Lexington; 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/john-parker-lexington, September 17, 2024]Activities that use this document
- Prequel to Independence
Created by the National Archives Education Team
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