Archive 2008 - 2019

Staples Chamberlain a True Holliston Hero

by Joanne Hulbert
1/29/2009

One need only look back several hundred years in Holliston history to find true American heroes. From Town Historian Joanne Hulbert's book Holliston A Good Town we learn of the exploits of Town Moderator Staples Chamberlain in the Winter of 1778.

We at the HollistonReporter.com suggest that current Town Moderator Kevin Clancy not try to imitate his predecessor's feat without the sound advice of the producers of "Survivor". T

Town records show a meeting called for January 13, 1778. Normally none would be called until the first Monday in March, but pressing business was at hand. With Staples Chamberlain as moderator one article of business was attended to, and a vote was passed "to provide one Shirt, one pair of Breeches, one pair of Shoes, and one pair of Stockings for Each and Send the Same to the Soldiers who Serve for this Town in the Continental Army.

The shirts and breeches were cut and sewed, the shoes made, the stockings knitted in two weeks time by the inhabitants of Holliston; and Staples Chamberlain, a man of 50 years of age, set out in a wagon traveling about 20 miles per day. He made one stop in Albany on February 6th, and left supplies for eight Holliston men stationed there. Four days later he reached Valley Forge where he left the rest of the load of much needed supplies, and lingered there for a few days. He somehow made it back to Holliston just in time to preside again as moderator over the annual Town Meeting held, as usual, on the first Monday of March.

Comments (1)

The same spirit of remembering our Holliston troops still holds true today. Many of our town citizens assist in providing "Goodie Parcels" to our service members overseas. Kudos for the history lesson.

George Snow | 2009-01-31 10:31:15