sulted the inhabitants passing the
same; and also understanding that a body of regulars were
marching from Boston toward Concord, with intent (as it was
supposed) to take the stores, belonging to the colony, in that
town, we were alarmed, and having met at the place of our
company's parade, were dismissed by our captain, John Parker, for
the present, with orders to be ready to attend at the beat of the
drum. We further testify and declare, that, about five o'clock in
the morning, hearing our drum beat, we proceeded toward the
parade, and soon found that a large body of troops were marching
toward us. Some of our company were coming up to the parade, and
others had reached it, at which time the company began to
disperse. While our backs were turned on the troops, we were
fired on by them, and a number of our men were instantly killed
and wounded. Not a gun was fired by any person in our company on
the regulars, to our knowledge, before they fired on us, and
they continued firing until we had all made our escape.

"Signed by each of the above deponents,"

"LEXINGTON, _25th of April, 1775_.

"We, Nathaniel Parkhurst, Jonas Parker, John Munroe, jun., John
Winship, Solomon Pierce, John Muzzy, Abner Meeds, John Bridge,
jun., Ebenezer Bowman, William Munroe the 3d, Micah Hager, Samuel
Saunderson, Samuel Hastings, and James Brown, of Lexington, in
the county of Middlesex, and colony of the Massachusetts Bay, in
New England, and all of lawful age, do testify and say, that, on
the morning of the 19th of April instant, about one or two
o'clock, being informed that a number of regular officers had
been riding up and down the road the evening and night preceding,
and that some of the inhabitants, as they were passing, had been
insulted by the officers, and stopped by them; and being also
informed that the regular troops were on their march from Boston,
in order (as it was said) to take the colony stores then
deposited at Concord, we met on the parade of our company in this
town. After the company had collected, we were ordered by Captain
Parker (who commanded us) to disperse for the present, and to be
ready to attend the beat of the drum; and accordingly the company
went into houses near the place of pa