Descendants of Joseph Hawley (1603-1690), who emigrated from England to Stratford in the 1630s, will celebrate the life and giving of Newtown Benefactress Mary Elizabeth Hawley at the Hawley Family Reunion, September 28-30.

The event marks the centennial of The Hawley Society, originally founded in Bridgeport in 1923.

Events will include Thursday night Hawley Trivia Contest at a local eatery, a tour on Friday of Edmond Town Hall (a gift of Mary Hawley to the town, the building was named to honor her great-grandfather), and a visit to Newtown Village Cemetery for a brief service and laying flowers at Mary Hawley’s grave.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal will attend and present a proclamation declaring September 29 “Society of the Hawley Family Day” in Newtown.

Afternoon speakers at Edmond Town Hall are Town Historian Ben Cruson and Gordon Williams of Newtown Historical Society presenting on both the history of Newtown and Miss Hawley. A guided walking tour of Newtown will follow, appropriate as the Hawley motto is “Suivez Moi” (French for “Follow Me”).

Saturday will be the Hawley Society’s Annual Meeting at Edmond Town Hall.

Mary Hawley was the first child born to Sarah (Booth) and Marcus Hawley. Her father was the eighth generation in descent from Joseph Hawley.

The Society of the Hawley Family, Inc, a genealogical group, was founded in 1923 in Bridgeport and incorporated in 1924. It is now a 501(c)(3) corporation managed by a fully volunteer executive committee. Members include Joseph Hawley descendants as well as other unconnected Hawley lines from around the world.

For information on the 90th Hawley Reunion, visit hawleysociety.org.