Deposition of Theodore Bliss, 1770
Paul Revere, "Four coffins of men killed in the Boston Massacre" (Library of Congress)
Captain Thomas Preston was tried for murder in Boston in connection with the Boston Massacre. Theodore Bliss was a prosecution witness. His testimony was crucial to determining whether or not Preston had ordered the Redcoats to fire on a Boston crowd on March 5, 1770.
Deposition of Theodore Bliss, October 25, 1770
Thursday
Theodore Bliss. At home I heard the Bells for fire. Went out. Came to the Town House. The People told me there was going to be a Rumpus with the Soldiers. Went to the Custom house. Saw Capt. Preston there with the Soldiers. Asked him if they were loaded. He said yes. If with Ball. He said nothing. I saw the People throw Snow Balls at the Soldiers and saw a Stick about 3 feet long strike a Soldier upon the right. He sallied and then fired. A little time a second. Then the other fast after one another. One or two Snow balls hit the Soldier, the stick struck, before firing. I know not whether he sallied on account of the Stick or step’d back to make ready. I did not hear any Order given by the Capt. to fire. I stood so near him I think I must have heard him if he had given an order to fire before the first firing. I never knew Capt. Preston before. I can’t say whether he had a Surtout on, he was dressed in red. I now know him to be the Man I took to be the Officer. The Man that fired first stood next to the Exchange lane. I saw none of the People press upon the Soldiers before the first Gun fired. I did after. I aimed a blow at him myself but did not strike him. I am sure the Captain stood before the Men when the first Gun was fired. I had no apprehension the Capt. did give order to fire when the first Gun was fired. I thought, after the first Gun, the Capt. did order the Men to fire but do not certainly know. I heard the word fire several times but know not whether it came from the Captain, the Soldiers or People. Two of the People struck at the Soldiers after the first Gun. I don’t know that they hit ’em. There were about 100 People in the Street. The muzzle of the Guns were behind him. After the first Gun the Captain went quite to the left and I to the right.
Source: Deposition of Theodore Bliss, October 25, 1770, Legal Papers of John Adams, vol. 3, Massachusetts Historical Society. To view full transcript, click here.
Deposition of Theodore Bliss, October 25, 1770
Thursday
Theodore Bliss . . . Went to the Custom house. Saw Capt. Preston there with the Soldiers. Asked him if they were loaded. He said yes. If with Ball. He said nothing. I saw the People throw Snow Balls at the Soldiers and saw a Stick about 3 feet long strike a Soldier upon the right. He sallied and then fired. A little time a second. Then the other fast after one another. One or two Snow balls hit the Soldier, the stick struck, before firing. I know not whether he sallied on account of the Stick or step’d back to make ready. I did not hear any Order given by the Capt. to fire. I stood so near him I think I must have heard him if he had given an order to fire before the first firing. I never knew Capt. Preston before. I can’t say whether he had a Surtout on, he was dressed in red. I now know him to be the Man I took to be the Officer. The Man that fired first stood next to the Exchange lane. I saw none of the People press upon the Soldiers before the first Gun fired. I did after. I aimed a blow at him myself but did not strike him. I am sure the Captain stood before the Men when the first Gun was fired. I had no apprehension the Capt. did give order to fire when the first Gun was fired. I thought, after the first Gun, the Capt. did order the Men to fire but do not certainly know. I heard the word fire several times but know not whether it came from the Captain, the Soldiers or People. Two of the People struck at the Soldiers after the first Gun. I don’t know that they hit ’em. There were about 100 People in the Street. The muzzle of the Guns were behind him. After the first Gun the Captain went quite to the left and I to the right.
Source: Deposition of Theodore Bliss, October 25, 1770, Legal Papers of John Adams, vol. 3, Massachusetts Historical Society. To view full transcript, click here.
Background
Captain Thomas Preston was tried for murder in Boston in connection with the Boston Massacre. Theodore Bliss was a prosecution witness. His testimony was crucial to determining whether or not Preston had ordered the Redcoats to fire on a Boston crowd on March 5, 1770.
Transcript
Deposition of Theodore Bliss, October 25, 1770
Thursday
Theodore Bliss. At home I heard the Bells for fire. Went out. Came to the Town House. The People told me there was going to be a Rumpus with the Soldiers. Went to the Custom house. Saw Capt. Preston there with the Soldiers. Asked him if they were loaded. He said yes. If with Ball. He said nothing. I saw the People throw Snow Balls at the Soldiers and saw a Stick about 3 feet long strike a Soldier upon the right. He sallied and then fired. A little time a second. Then the other fast after one another. One or two Snow balls hit the Soldier, the stick struck, before firing. I know not whether he sallied on account of the Stick or step’d back to make ready. I did not hear any Order given by the Capt. to fire. I stood so near him I think I must have heard him if he had given an order to fire before the first firing. I never knew Capt. Preston before. I can’t say whether he had a Surtout on, he was dressed in red. I now know him to be the Man I took to be the Officer. The Man that fired first stood next to the Exchange lane. I saw none of the People press upon the Soldiers before the first Gun fired. I did after. I aimed a blow at him myself but did not strike him. I am sure the Captain stood before the Men when the first Gun was fired. I had no apprehension the Capt. did give order to fire when the first Gun was fired. I thought, after the first Gun, the Capt. did order the Men to fire but do not certainly know. I heard the word fire several times but know not whether it came from the Captain, the Soldiers or People. Two of the People struck at the Soldiers after the first Gun. I don’t know that they hit ’em. There were about 100 People in the Street. The muzzle of the Guns were behind him. After the first Gun the Captain went quite to the left and I to the right.
Source: Deposition of Theodore Bliss, October 25, 1770, Legal Papers of John Adams, vol. 3, Massachusetts Historical Society. To view full transcript, click here.
Excerpt
Deposition of Theodore Bliss, October 25, 1770
Thursday
Theodore Bliss . . . Went to the Custom house. Saw Capt. Preston there with the Soldiers. Asked him if they were loaded. He said yes. If with Ball. He said nothing. I saw the People throw Snow Balls at the Soldiers and saw a Stick about 3 feet long strike a Soldier upon the right. He sallied and then fired. A little time a second. Then the other fast after one another. One or two Snow balls hit the Soldier, the stick struck, before firing. I know not whether he sallied on account of the Stick or step’d back to make ready. I did not hear any Order given by the Capt. to fire. I stood so near him I think I must have heard him if he had given an order to fire before the first firing. I never knew Capt. Preston before. I can’t say whether he had a Surtout on, he was dressed in red. I now know him to be the Man I took to be the Officer. The Man that fired first stood next to the Exchange lane. I saw none of the People press upon the Soldiers before the first Gun fired. I did after. I aimed a blow at him myself but did not strike him. I am sure the Captain stood before the Men when the first Gun was fired. I had no apprehension the Capt. did give order to fire when the first Gun was fired. I thought, after the first Gun, the Capt. did order the Men to fire but do not certainly know. I heard the word fire several times but know not whether it came from the Captain, the Soldiers or People. Two of the People struck at the Soldiers after the first Gun. I don’t know that they hit ’em. There were about 100 People in the Street. The muzzle of the Guns were behind him. After the first Gun the Captain went quite to the left and I to the right.
Source: Deposition of Theodore Bliss, October 25, 1770, Legal Papers of John Adams, vol. 3, Massachusetts Historical Society. To view full transcript, click here.
