Our History

On August 3, 1923, the Society of the Hawley Family, Inc. was formally organized at the historic Hotel Stratfield in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The gathering was initiated by Mr. Raymond Hawley of Bridgeport, who served as temporary president, with Mr. Samuel Mills Hawley as temporary treasurer and Mr. Alfred Van Buren Hawley of Danbury—acting as temporary secretary and chief sponsor of the event.

The occasion began with a banquet in the hotel’s breakfast room, attended by nearly one hundred guests. Following the meal, participants assembled in the sun-parlor, where they heard a memorable historical address delivered by Miss Emily C. Hawley. Her talk recounted the story of the family’s pioneer ancestor, Joseph Hawley of England, who had settled in Stratford, Connecticut Colony, before 1650. She highlighted the significant role his descendants played in shaping what would become the City of Bridgeport, as well as their wider contributions to the growth of New England and the western states over the following three centuries.

Following Miss Hawley’s inspiring address, the society formally appointed its first officers: Raymond Hawley of Bridgeport, Connecticut, as President; Eugene W. Hawley of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as Vice President; M. C. Hawley of Hartford, Connecticut, as Treasurer; and Emily C. Hawley of Brookfield Center, Connecticut, as Secretary.

The establishment of the Society of the Hawley Family, Inc. marked an important milestone in safeguarding and celebrating the heritage of the Hawley name. Guided by the dedication of its members and leaders, the society has continued to honor the legacy of its pioneering ancestors and their enduring contributions to American history.

2025 Executive Committee

The bylaws of the Society of the Hawley Family established an Executive Committee to oversee the ongoing operations of the Society.    Elections are held each year at the annual meeting, usually in October.    We serve as volunteers to the organization as there is no one employed by the Society. 

Serena Williams, President
Ryan Hawley, Vice President
Kathy Nelson, Secretary
Trudy Hawley, Genealogist and Newsletter Editor
Ted Ericson, Treasurer
R. James Hawley, MD, DNA Project Coordinator
Sue Honoré, British Archivist
Pam Hawley Marlin, Webmaster

Coat of Arms

The Hawley Society recognizes that its use of the Coat of Arms is purely symbolic, serving only as an emblem for the Society. This version was originally included by Elias Sill Hawley in The Hawley Record and was formally adopted by the Society’s first Executive Committee in 1923.

In fact, the arms properly belong to the Baronet Hawleys of Leybourne Grange, Kent. The Hawley Baronetcy, of Leybourne Grange in the County of Kent, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain on March 14, 1795, for Henry Hawley. The third Baronet, who served as High Sheriff of Kent in 1844, was succeeded by his brother. The fifth Baronet was both nephew to the 3rd and 4th Baronets and the son of Rev. Henry Charles Hawley, Rector of Leybourne. The sixth Baronet died without issue and was succeeded by his nephew, who later served as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1962.

Today, the title remains dormant. The ninth and present Baronet has chosen not to use the title and has not sought to prove succession, and thus is not entered on the Official Roll of the Baronetage. The baronetcy has been regarded as dormant since 1988.