Benjamin Chamberlin

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Benjamin Chamberlin was born in Pepperell, MA on December 20, 1761. He was the youngest son and ninth of the ten children born to Phinehas and Lydia (Williams) Chamberlain.

In 1771 Phinehas died in debt, and Lydia divested much of their property to pay off those debts. She died in 1773 and Benjamin and his other minor siblings likely went to live with family members until they came of age. Benjamin enlisted in the Continental Army from New Braintree in Worcester County, MA on February 21, 1778. Likely he was living there with a distant relative. His term of enlistment was "3 years or during war."

He died at the Continental Army's encampment at Valley Forge on or before April 15, 1778 when his death was reported. There is no record of his cause of death, but it was likely due to one of the many diseases that plagued the Continental Army during the harsh winter of 1777-1778. By modern standards sixteen seems very young to be away from home with the military. In Colonial Massachusetts all able-bodied men between 16 and 60 were expected to be in the local militia.

The gravestone in Walton Cemetery in Pepperell is a cenotaph--he is likely buried near where he died at Valley Forge. It was carved by the Park family.

Memento Mori

THIS MONUMENT

Is Erected in Memory of

Mr. Benjamin Chamberlin,

who departed this Life

In the Continental Army

at Valleyforge in the

year 1778; In ye 17th.

year of his Age.

He was ye son of Mr. Phinehas Chamberlin

and Mrs. Lydia his wife.