Deposition No. 18
Please note that section headings and spacing have been added to make the text easier to scan and comprehend.
Testimony of Bradbury Robinson, et al, About the Battle of Concord
Lexington, April 23d, 1775
We Bradbury Robinson, Samuel Spring, Thaddeus Bancroft, all of Concord: and James Adams of Lexington, all in the County of Middlesex all of Lawful age Do Testifie and say that on Wednesday Morning last near ten of the Clock we Saw near one Hundred of Regular Troops being in the Town of Concord at the North Bridge in Said Town (so called) and having passed the same they were taking up Said bridge when about three Hundred of Our Militia were Advancing toward said bridge
in Order to pass Said Bridge when without saying any thing to us they Discharged A Number of guns on us which Killed two men Dead on the spot and wounded Several others:
when we returned the fire on them, which Killed two of them and wounded several which was the Beginning of hostilities in the Town of Concord.
Bradbury Robinson
Samuel Spring
Thaddeus Bancroft
James Adams
Witnesses to the Testimony
Middlesex, April 23d, 1775
the within named Bradbury Robinson Samuel Spring Thaddeus Bancroft and James Adams made solemn Oath to the Truth of the within Deposition by them subscribed
Before us —
Wm Reed
Wm Stickney
Jona. Hastings
} Justices of Peace
Certification of the Testimony
Province of Massachusetts Bay, Charlestown
I Nathaniel Gorham Notary and tabillion Publick Certify to all whom it doth or may Concern that William Reed, William Stickney and Jonathan Hastings Esqs: are three of his Majestys Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex and that full faith and Credit is and ought to be Given to their Transactions as such In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my name and seal this twenty sixth Day of Apl. A Dom one thousand seven Hundred and seventy five
Nathanial Gorham, Not. Pub.
Interesting Facts About the Deposition of Bradbury Robinson, et al
- Joseph Warren of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress wanted the depositions gathered as quickly as possible, so he could send them to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, and Benjamin Franklin in London.
- Franklin was the Agent for Massachusetts and acted as its representative. Warren wanted Franklin to have eyewitness accounts that could be used to help gain sympathy for the Patriot Cause.
- The witnesses who gave this deposition were from Concord and Lexington and were with the assembled militia forces.
- Around 10:00 a.m., they saw the British cross the bridge.
- Soon after, about 300 Americans advanced toward the bridge.
- The British forces fired on the militia, and the militia returned fire.
- The notary public, Nathaniel Gorham, went on to serve as the 8th President of the Continental Congress (June 6, 1786–February 2, 1787).
