Deposition No. 9
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Testimony of Timothy Smith About the Battle of Lexington
I Timothy Smith of Lexington in the County of Middlesex and Colony of Massachusetts Bay in New England being of lawful age, do testify & declare that on the morning of the nineteenth of April instant being at Lexington common as a spectator I saw a large body of regular troops marching up towards the Lexington company then dispersing, & likewise saw the regular troops fire on the Lexington company before the latter fired a gun;
I immediately ran, & a volley was discharged at me, which put me in imminent danger of loosing my life.
I soon returned to the Common, & Saw eight of the Lexington-men who were killed & lay bleeding at a considerabele distance from each other; and several were wounded, I further saith not.
Timothy Smith
Lexington April 25th, 1775
Witnesses to the Testimony
Middlesex, April 25th, 1775
Timothy Smith above mentioned named being duly cautione[d] to testify the truth made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposti by him subscribed
Coram
William Reed
Josiah Johnson
William Stickney
{ Justices of the Peace
Certification of the Testimony
Province of Massachusetts Bay, Charlestown
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, & Wm. Stickney Esqrs. are three of his Majesty’s Justices for the County of Middlesex & that full and credit is top 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 Pubk
the foregoing instruments are true copies as in Witness whereof I hereunto set my name & seal
Interesting Facts About the Deposition of Timothy Smith
- 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.
- Timothy Smith lived in Lexington.
- Smith was a spectator to the Battle of Lexington.
- He testified that the Lexington Militia dispersed and the British fired on them.
- The notary public, Nathaniel Gorham, went on to serve as the 8th President of the Continental Congress (June 6, 1786–February 2, 1787).
