The Society of the Hawley Family, Inc.

established 1923

Samuel Hawley, Sr

1647-1734

Samuel Hawley, son of Joseph, was born around 1647 and came to Stratford with his

parents as early as 1650, where he always resided, except that he probably made his home

in the town of Derby, CT for a short time. He was a farmer, but dealt largely in real estate,

as the town records of Stratford show, and in 1699, according to a certain list of proprietors,

he was the largest landownerof undivided lands or commonage, except three in that

Suivez Moi

township. He continued to accumulate land until the close of his life, yet when he made his

(Follow Me)

will he had previously given it all to his children, who apparently were made quite independent;

for one son, Ephraim, received at one time 172 acres, besides other parcels, as good land

there was in the town, and as he had eight sons and three daughters to provide for,

HOME

probably rate, he must have given them 2000 acres; land in those days being the best stock

in the market. He was also one of the original 36 proprietors of the township of Newtown, CT.

OUR HISTORY

Samuel is buried in the

ABOUT US

Old Congregation Burying Ground in Stratford.

OFFICERS

Here lyes buried

ye body of Mr

MEMBERSHIP

SAMUEL HAWLEY

who departed this

BULLETINS

life August 24 AD 1734 in

the 87th year of his age

GENEALOGY

Samuel married first, Mary, daughter of Thomas Thompson and his wife, Ann Welles, of

DNA GENEALOGY

Wethersfield and Farmington. Ann was the daughter of Govenor Thomas Welles, who resided

for a time in Stratford. Following her death in 1691, he married Patience Nichols, widow of Lt.

HAWLEY SURNAME PROJECT

John Hubbell, of a place called Old Mill, which is now part of Bridgeport, CT. This place was

at first a highway laid out twenty rods wide by the order of the Colony of Connecticut, and

SOME OF OUR ANCESTORS

hence called the King's Highway, for everything the colony did was in the name of the King of

England. Along this highway Benjamin Franklin, while Colonial Postmaster General before the

JOSEPH HAWLEY (1603-1690)

Revolutionary War, set up milestones, it being on the mail route from Philadelphia to Boston.

SAMUEL HAWLEY, SR

One of these stones was set up not far from the home of Patience Hubbell, where she lived

WILHELMINA D HAWLEY

a number of years, it being just seventeen miles from New Haven on the Old Post Road.

Patience was the mother of Samuel's six younger children.

Samuel Hawley was a prominent citizen. Member of the church and officer of the town. The

year his father died, 1690, he was elected as a Representative of the town to the Colonial

Assembly. He was subsequently elected to this same office, seven times. His father had

been elected to this office thirty times. Following Samuel's death, his younger brother, John,

REUNIONS

was elected to this office nineteen times, so that during 66 years, some member of the

Hawley family had been elected to the Assembly 57 times from Stratford. This is a roll of

2008 REUNION-KANSAS CITY

honor worthy of being recorded.

2007 Washington DC

A recent discovery…

2006 Brookfield, CT

2005 Arlington, VT

A member recently located an original document dated 17 January 1717 in the hand of Samuel

Hawley, transferring ownership of land in what is now Trumbull, CT to his son Thomas.

See the original document

HERALDRY

To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come greeting. Know ye that I, Samuel Hawley, Senior of Stratford in ye County of Fairfield, in the Colony of Connecticut in New England, yeoman, for and in consideration of the good will and affection which I bare to my loving son Thomas Hawley of Stratfield, in the County above, yeoman as well as for diverse other good causes and considerations me hereunto moving have given, granted, conveyed, made over, and confirmed and by these presents do freely, fully and absolutely give, grant, convey, make over, and confirm said Thomas Hawley, his heirs and assigns forever a certain tract of land in the Township of Stratford above at or near a plait commonly called the White Plain containing by estimation twenty-four acres and two thirds of an acre be it more or less bounded northerly by swampy common land, easterly by my own land, southerly by land belonging to the heirs of Samuel and John Treadwell, dec’d, and westerly by Samuel French’s land. The said tract being one third part of a parcel of

Seventy four acres formerly laid out to Mrs. Jane Blackman. To have and to hold the said given and granted premises with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof to him the said Thomas Hawley his heirs and assigns forever. To his and their sole proper benefit and behalf forever. I, the said Samuel Hawley avouching that before the enseating hereof, I am the true and sole owner of the above described premises and have in myself good right full power and lawful authority to dispose of the land in the manner as above and that it shall be lawful for him the said Thomas Hawley his heirs and assigns forever by fact and virtue of these presents to have and hold ___ occupy and enjoy the above described premises with the privileges and appurtenances free and clear of all encumbrance whatsoever promising for my self, my heirs (executor and descendants) to for ever. Warrant and secure him or heirs therein from the lawful demands of any persons _________ whatsoever from by or ____________ my heirs, executors, descendants and assigns. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of January in the fourth year of the reign of our

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Sovereign Lord, George, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, anno domini one thousand seven hundred seventeen. Signed, sealed and delivered, two interlinings were made before signing………………….

updated November, 2007