The Hawley Society was organized in 1923 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, by descendants of Joseph Hawley (1603-1690), believed to be one of the first Hawleys to settle in the new world. We exist to preserve the memory, records and history of the Hawley Family, and to promote friendly acquaintance and sociability among our members.

 

We were incorporated in Connecticut in 1927 and are a corporation managed by an Executive Committee who serve as volunteers. There are no employees on payroll. Membership dues help fund the ongoing operations. Two of our primary missions are continuing the search to find our English antecedents and to update and republish THE HAWLEY RECORD, 1890.

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2019 Reunion settled where Joseph Hawley first settled

2019 Reunion settled in where Joseph Hawley
first settled – Stratford & Trumbull CT in October 2019

The 87th Reunion of the Hawley Society took place in Trumbull, Connecticut, not far from Stratford, where our ancestor Joseph Hawley settled in or around 1627 – 1630.  (One day we may be able to verify.)  We shared our time trekking where Hawleys lived and worked for centuries in both Stratford and Trumbull.

Reunion co-chair (and former Society president) Joseph S. Hawley enlisted the help of his wife Susan in planning the lodging, events and dining spots. Though there was some rain, Hawley descendants were not to be deterred. We may have gotten lost, but we found our way eventually. Imagine the 1600s without GPS or even maps.

(L to R: Susan Hawley, R. James Hawley, Mary Hawley Eddy, Linda D. Hawley, David Eddy, Joseph Hawley (first cousins and two spouses).

The long weekend began with an extended Happy Hour on Thursday at the Trumbull Marriott on, of course, Hawley Road.

Hawley descendants came from two countries and 12 states – from the East, South, Midwest, Southwest, and West.

Mayor Laura Hoydick helped us kick off the 3 days by presenting a proclamation declaring October 5, 2019 “Joseph Hawley Day” in Stratford.

Society president Linda Hawley presented the Stratford Historical Society with an original 1883 program booklet celebrating the 63th birthday of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman at the Portland in Washington DC.  It was signed by numerous notables in attendance, including Senator Joseph Roswell Hawley.

The printed program was a gift to be given by The Hawley Society to the Stratford Historical Society by Mrs. Paul R. Hawley, wife of Gen. Paul Ramsey Hawley.

The Ephraim Hawley House, a colonial saltbox house in Trumbull. Though exact date is unknown, records show farmer Ephraim Hawley who married Sarah Welles, granddaughter of Connecticut Colony Governor Thomas Welles, built it between 1683 and 1690.

Mac Harbor, where Joseph Hawley landed in Stratford in the 17th century.

Many thanks to both the Trumbull and Stratford Historical Societies for their knowledge, interest, speakers, tours, and everything planned to give us a meaningful time in their towns. They even offered many local dining spots.

The Annual Meeting featured Hawley descendant, Kerry S. Wood, 29th District Representative to the Connecticut General Assembly who presented “Hawleys in the Connecticut Legislature” – and there were and are many.

We were all so grateful and charmed by Joe and Susan Hawley who were our 87th Reunion co-chairs. They thought of everything during the planning of our events from Thursday evening through Saturday evening.

Sadly, just 5 months later, the unimaginable happened when Joseph S. Hawley, former Society president, contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus and passed away on April 2, 2020 at the age of 67. Joe was so full of fun and quickly embraced everyone he met, making the news even more shocking to all. Whether those who met him for the first time at the Reunion or those who have known him for many years as a close relative or a distant one, it was a reality that was difficult to grasp.

Both the Trumbull and Stratford Historical Societies just could not believe this person they felt they had known for years was gone so soon.  The Society mourns Joe’s passing and offers support to Joe’s wife Susan, his three children and their families.

At the Hawley Memorial Library

In Memory of Frederick William Hawley, III

In September 2019, we lost another former Hawley Society president, Frederick William (Bill) Hawley, III, at age 88. He and his wife Valeska rarely missed a Hawley Reunion until health issues kept them from our gatherings. He had a distinguished career to match the distinguished man he was.

Bill Hawley served our country as a Ranger in the U.S. Army, a member of the Central Intelligence Agency, in the White House as Assistant Director to the Council of International Economic Policy. In 1975, he moved to the private sector, where he rose to serve as Director of International Government Relations at Citibank, N.A. until his retirement in 1998. 

Bill served on the Boards of several professional and community organizations, including 10 years as Hawley Society president.

We thank all of his family for sharing Bill with us for so many years.

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