Bridgeport, Connecticut

We first visited Bridgeport, Connecticut in Summer of 2010. Many Hawley's, Captain David Hawley, Abijah Hawley, and Major Aaron Hawley all lived and died in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Upon our visit there, it seems that Bridgeport was once a thriving industrial town, but is a shadow of itself with most factories deserted and left to ruin. Captain David Hawley once owned the first brick house within the city limits at the corner of Water and Gilbert streets. The Old Burying Ground in Bridgeport has seen better days and has not been maintained very well with most of the gravestone breaking off or falling apart. We could not find Captain David Hawley's grave. The entrace to the Old Burying Ground, which was placed there by the Daughter of the American Revolution in 1901, is at the back of an apartment complex and was not easy to get to. It is best to visit the cemetery from Briarwood Avenue on the opposite side. The marble like marker at the entrance lists the soldiers from the Revolutionary War who are buried there. The Hawleys were very prominent in the early history of the Colony of Connecticut covering a period of eighty years, members of the family had been seventy times elected to the assembly. They were among the wealthy families of Connecticut and a familiar phrase among the people of Bridgeport, Connecticut used to be; As rich as the Hawley's. Read more on the history of Bridgeport, Connecticut:

The history of Bridgeport, Connecticut began in the late 17th century, and for many decades revolved around land aquisitions from native inhabitants in support of farming and fishing ventures. Much of the land that became the city was originally occupied by the Pequonnock Indians of the Paugussett Nation. On village in the area consisted of five to six hundred inhabitants and contained up to 150 buildings.

Other than Blackrock and parts of Brooklawn, most of Bridgeport was originally part of the township of Stratford. The first English settlement on the west bank of the mouth of the Pequonnock River came in 1665 and was named Pequonnock. As more people settled inland and to the West, the area became collectively known as Fairfield Village in 1694, and was officially changed to Stratfiled in 1701, most likely due to its location between Stratford and Fairfield. Beyond the early fishing and farming industries in the area, the ecclesiastical history of Bridgeport begins about this time. In 1678, the Statford Ecclesiastical Society formed and built a school, and in 1695 formed the first Congregational Church for the region.

During the American Revolution, Bridgeport became a center for privateering. The Bridgeport commnity was an integral part of the patriot naval effort in the Long Island Sound, through aiding in battles and harrassing or commandeering British ships. Black Rock Harbor became infamous during the war due to the prizes won by Captain David Hawley of Stratfield. Captain Hawley was born into a Connecticut seafaring family in 1741. Hawley was appointed a Lieutenant on July 11, 1776 to serve on the state man of war USS Oliver Cromwell. He served under Benedict Arnold at the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain on October 11th, 1776. Over the years of the war, he was taken prisoner numerous times, but released in exchanges each time. Each time he continued his work as a privateer, protecting the Connecticut coast in the Long Island Sound.

In 1779, Hawley led a daring raid from Stratford, CT, across the Sound, and kidnapped from Long Island Thomas Jones, an English Judge, to be exchanged for General Gold Selleck Silliman. The next spring, in 1780, Hawley began a period of monthes where he capture and destroyed or sold over 20 British ships still lingering around the colonies. His life has largely been overlooked in mainstream history of the Revolution, but when one studies things further they can see that he was an integral part of the war effort in New England.

In 1800, Newfield village on the west bank of the Pequonnock was chartered as the borough of Bridgeport, and, in 1821, the township of Bridgeport, including more of Stratfield, was incorporated. Finally, Bridgeort was chartered as a city in 1836.

Much like most other cities in New England, Bridgeport's early years were dominated by farming, fishing, and mercantilism. The city's location on the deep Newfield harbor (mouth of the Pequonnock) fostered a boom in shipbuilding and whaling in the mid-19th century. To aid navigation, Bridgeport Harbor Light was constructed in 1851, and renovated in 1871. In 1840, the opening of the first railroad through Bridgeport acceclerated the area's development greatly. By 1849, rail connected Bridgeport with New Milford, Waterbury, New Haven, and finally New York City.




Bridgeport, Connecticut, Map
A great map of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1824 showing where the Hawley Family lived. Check out Main Street near Gold Street. Also Gllbert, State, and Thomas streets off Main Street. It is interesting to think how the Hawley's lived during this time. They were leaders in the military and businesse in the area. A more detailed MAP shows the home of Major Aaron Hawley.





Text above: an excerpt from History of Bridgeport and vicinity, Volume 1 By George Curtis Waldo talks about the Hawley's who lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut. (Google books)



Photo is of the entrance of the Old Burying Ground, Bridgeport, Connecticut, taken July 2011.