83rd Annual Reunion

October 2-5, 2013

Northampton, Massachusetts

We are very excited to return to the East Coast this year as we get to know more about some of the descendants of Thomas Hawley, thought to be Joseph’s brother.

Thomas Hawley was killed in a conflict with Native Americans at Sudbury.   The conflict is known as King Philip’s War.     We will focus on the fascinating life of his grandson, Lt Joseph Hawley (Hawley Record #6207), born 1682.    He lived in a time filled with significant religious reformation, known as The Great Awakening.    His nephew, Jonathan Edwards led the movement.

Susan Stinson, local historian, is publishing a new historical novel, Spider in a Tree, and we will attend the book signing and lecture for the launch.   We are very pleased that Miss Stinson will also be our tour guide and guest speaker.    She said,

I’m not a genealogist, but I can tell you some fascinating things about Rebekah, Joseph and Elisha Hawley of Northampton in the mid-eighteenth century.  Rebekah Hawley was sister to the mother of the famous theologian Jonathan Edwards, and the cemetery tour follows the story of Edwards in Northampton through of the graves of local residents, which includes the Hawleys and many others related to them or important to them in other ways.  It’s a dramatic story with lots of historical importance.  The cemetery is a beautiful place with many wonderful 18th century stones that are a pleasure to explore for their own sake.

We are planning to visit the Historic Northampton museum, the renowned gardens of Smith College and a trip to Historic Deerfield.

Spend a day in old New England. Visit Historic Deerfield, an authentic 18th-century English settlement in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. Tour beautifully restored museum houses with period architecture and furnishings. See Yankee ingenuity at work in demonstrations of colonial-era trades. And explore our world-famous collection of early American crafts, ceramics, furniture, textiles and metalwork. It’s a celebration of New England heritage.

We expect to finish finalizing the negotiations with the hotel and venues within a few days.   It is not too early to book your flights if you will be flying.       Although Spring has barely arrived, we are already looking forward to seeing you in the fall.

Michael