The Society of the Hawley Family, Inc. was founded August 3, 1923 in Hawleyville, Connecticut by Emily Hawley, a descendant of Joseph Hawley (1603-1690) at a gala banquet at the then new Stratfield Hotel in Bridgeport, Connecticut. We were incorporated in 1927. Although the first official gathering of the Society, it was not the first gathering of the extended Hawley family in the area. In the simpler times of the day, descendants of common ancestors would gather and distant cousins would be reunited at a potluck or picnic. They would share recollections and memorabilia and family ties would be renewed and strengthened. David Booth Hawley organized just such a gathering of Benjamin Hawley's descendants at the home of Tyrus Hawley at Hawleyville on October 2, 1855. Glover Hawley, with his daughter Martha, gathered much family history for the day. All three men were great grandsons of Benjamin. The Sheldon Stoughton Hawley family in October, 1881