The Tour begins at Town Hall.
SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2025, 2:00 PM
Following the Town of Holliston’s year-long effort at restoration of five cemeteries, the Holliston Historical Commission offers a tour of the Central Burying Ground where 30 Revolutionary era soldiers rest in peace.
The stories of the people are numerous, and many will be featured on the tour along with a celebration of the efforts by the Town of Holliston to preserve our most valued history.
Who were these Revolutionary War veterans of Holliston? Many of them were farmers. Others were craftsmen. They left their homes and livelihoods behind and answered the alarm on April 19, 1775 and served the American revolutionary cause at Ticonderoga, the alarms in Rhode Island and even the “Secret Expedition” in 1777. A few of them joined the Continental Army and served until the end of the war.
Now, we celebrate these soldiers on the 250th anniversary of their service. Join us to hear about their bravery, sacrifice, and dedication to the American cause for freedom.
An inventory of the gravesites at the Central Burying ground was completed in 1912 and listed 30 veterans buried there. Several notable Holliston veterans there include:
Simeon Cutler. Born 1749.
Sergeant in Capt. Lealand’s Company of Minutemen, marched to Cambridge on April 19, 1775. Second Lt. of 4th Co., 5th Middlesex Regiment. To Bennington in 1777. Lt. in Capt. Chamberlain’s Company in 1780. (Titled Colonel in Town Records)
Timothy Rockwood. Sgt. in Capt. Lealand’s Co., April 19, 1775. Also listed as Private, Capt. John Stone’s Co., on the same day. Commissioned 2nd Lt. in Capt. Benjamin Marshall’s Co. 8th, 5th Middlesex Regt., 1777.
Daniel Eames. Lt., Capt. Henry Lealand’s company; receipt given for wages for service on “the last campaign” dated Hopkinton, Feb. 5, 1776; also, Captain, Col. Benjamin Haws’s regiment; marched Sept 29, 1777; service: 1 mo., 3 days; company marched on a secret expedition to R.I.
Rev. Timothy Dickinson. Holliston’s third minister. “A model of ministerial dignity and consistency.” At the age of 16, he joined the Amherst militia and served 15 months.
Join us at the Town Hall to hear their stories and visit the gravesites. There are many more stories here than there are gravestones. Let us honor and remember them all.
