Nero Hawley

Trumbull, Connecticut

Information on Nero Hawley was provided by 'From Valley Forge to Freedom A Story of a Black Patriot' by E. Merrill Beach (also see Daniel Hawley) and the current owner of the Ephraim Hawley House, T. Pieragostini.
Photo-left: Nero Hawley's grave at the Riverside Cemetery in Trumbull, Connecticut and was visited July 2010 (more photos in column to right).

Nero's Early Life
In studying my Hawley history I came across Nero Hawley, a black man who was slave to Daniel Hawley, a descendant of pioneering ancestor, Joseph Hawley. Nero's master was not known until his recorded emancipation document was located in the town records of Stratford, Connecticut, signed by Daniel Hawley, his master. The facts about Nero's life were not known until the 1960's when one of his descendants decided to investigate further and Stratford native, E. Merrill Beach, wrote a book about it called 'From Valley Forge to Freedom A Story of a Black Patriot.' It is made evident in the research that I have personally done, that Nero was a highly regarded black man in his community and even after earning his freedom by fighting in the Revolutionary War, he continued to work in Daniel Hawley's grist mill, not as a slave, but a free man, eventually owning properties of his own.

The Hawley family was not known to be slave owners, but when Daniel Hawley married Phebe Mallet, daughter of Peter Mallet, Nero became property of Daniel Hawley. Peter Mallet, Daniel's father-in-law, was known to barter negro slaves and it is concluded that Nero, then seventeen years of age, was presented to Daniel and Phebe Hawley during their wedding year by Mr. Mallet, thus taking on his master's name. While living as a servant of Daniel Hawley Nero gained much experience in the handling of timber at the sawmill of his master. Daniel Hawley owned a grist mill, cider mill, and a bricking making business in the area. Nero would have spent considerable time working at these sites. Nero attended the Church of Christ in North Stratford, Connecticut. It was there he met Peg, servant to the Reverend James Beebee. They were married in 1761 by the Reverend and once married, Nero joined Peg at the Beebee home and although title to Nero still remained with Daniel, he also worked on Reverend Beebee's farm. Nero and Peg were fruitful having many children who would have the surname of Hawley.
Photo right: Artist's rendering of Nero Hawley's home

Nero and the Revolutionary war
The Revolutionary War had been going on for two years when Nero joined the Continental Army on April 20, 1777. Many others from the Stratford area joined the effort including other Hawley family members, Abraham and Nathaniel. Reverend Beebee delivered a sermon to the soldiers before they left for the battlefield. Nero and the other men of Connecticut were ordered to assemble at Danbury, where he was placed in captain Granger's Company of the 2nd Regiment under Colonel Charles Webb. The 2nd Regiment was eventually ordered to join General George Washington's army in Pennsylvania. During the winter of 1777-1778 the 2nd Regiment wintered at Valley Forge. In April 1791 Nero received honorable discharge from the army and although he had enlisted for the duration of the war, it indicated on his monthly muster rolls that he had suffered a 'war-originated disability' during the last few months of 1779.


Photo-left: Note the bricks at the foot of the grave
Nero's Freedom
In Connecticut the institution of slavery had full social recognition and approval. Many prominent men owned slaves, but they were designated as Negro men or women, very seldom called slaves. In Connecticut slaves were protected by the law and were well treated by their masters and were admitted into the church. At forty-one years old Nero received a document dated November 4, 1782 that granted to him full emancipation from his legal master, Daniel Hawley. Many slaves were given their freedom informally but Nero, in want of a more legal notice of emancipation of four of his children, recorded the following document in August 1801. It is now in the Trumbull town records:

To all people to whom it may Concern Know ye that I, Negro Hawley of Trumbull in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut grant and give to my Son Obadiah Hawley and my three daughter - Clary hawley, Slome Hawley and Dina Hawley, to all of them their Freedom to take for themselves this 15 Day of August 1801. 7

Nero continued to work with Daniel Hawley at the grist mill and brick making company. In 1785 he purchased five acres of land known as the Clay Pit where he continued brick making. He continued his interest in handling timber by purchasing a woodland area called Hedgehog as part of an interest with others. He also purchased nearly seven acres near the Hawley sawmill on the Pequonnock River and a three acre wooded area west of Daniels Farm Hill from David Beebee. Nero and Peg were unable to write their names, but instead used an 'X' as their signature.

Toward the end
Photo left: Nero Hawley house today in Connecticut Around 1813 Nero began to dispose of his real estate holdings. His health continued to fail and in 1815 he applied for additional pension from the US Government. He was granted an increase in pension and his total monthly pension was increased by $3.00 to $8.00. On January 30, 1817 Nero died. He was 75 years old. Nero was buried at Riverside Burial Ground located beside the house and the land that he had worked so hard. Daniel Hawley's house which still stand today at 49 Daniels Farm Road (next to Riverside Cemetery) where he had spent so much time, was just a stone's throw away.

Nero Hawley's ghost
The house at 49 Daniels Farm Road (Daniel Hawley's home) has had several tenants since it was built in 1756. During the late 1960's a highly regarded couple with their two children were living there. It was there at 2:00 in the morning that the mother was attending to one of her children. She was startled to see a ghostlike black man in a grayish blue uniform of a soldier standing in the doorway of the kitchen. Being afraid she was assured when the ghost spoke and said, 'Have no fear, I will do no harm." When she called her husband, the apparition disappeared.

Today
Nero Hawley's House is still standing and is located on the Daniel Hawley House property and is a crude 1 & 1/4 storey saltbox built around 1800. Its dimensions are 24 feet by 18 feet which follows "ashanti" or African architecture bulding dimensions found elsewhere in Connecticut.