Nero Hawley
Encyclopedia
Nero Hawley born into slavery
in North Stratford, now Trumbull, Connecticut
, enlisted in place of his owner, Daniel Hawley, in the Continental Army
on April 20, 1777 during the American Revolution
and earned his freedom . His heroic life is featured in the book, From Valley Forge to Freedom, which also notes other areas of Trumbull, Connecticut associated with Hawley's life.
was raised in Spring of 1777 for the new army or Continental Line and was made up of men and slaves from throughout the state of Connecticut. Ordered to assemble in Danbury, Connecticut
to prepare to take the field, they went into camp in Peekskill, New York
soon after. They served during the summer and fall of 1777 along the Hudson River
under the command of General Israel Putnam
. On November 14, 1777, they were ordered to join General Washington's main army in Pennsylvania where they engaged in the sharp action of the Battle of White Marsh
on December 8, 1777. The unit lost a number of officers and men, killed and wounded in the battle .
spent the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge
, Pennsylvania under the command of General George Washington
. He was a Private in Captain James Beebee's Company, Huntington's Brigade of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment
, 1st Connecticut Division . On March 12, 1778, the parish of North Stratford, now Trumbull, Connecticut, made donations of provisions for those residents serving in the southern army stationed at Valley Forge. Of the fifteen men serving there from North Stratford, three were Hawley's; Abraham, Nathan and Nero. Nero Hawley answered seven roll calls between December 1777 and June 1778 during the harsh winter encampment.
, New Jersey. Hawley was assigned to the 2nd Connecticut Brigade commanded by Huntington and camped at White Plains before spending the winter of 1778-1779 with the division at Redding, Connecticut. He served on the east side of the Hudson River in General Heath's wing during operations of 1779 and with the Light Company under Captain Ten Eyck. He was then detached to Meig's Light Regiment and engaged the enemy at the Battle of Stony Point
on July 15, 1779. Wintered during 1779-1780, at Morristown, New Jersey
, serving on the outposts . In 1780, he served with the main army along the Hudson River and wintered at Camp Connecticut village above the Robinson House during 1780-1781.
, in 1761. They raised seven children, five born before Nero enlisted in the army. Hawley was emancipated in 1782, however, the children born to Nero and Peg were the property of Reverend Beebe. Two children were listed in Beebe's inventory of his estate after his death in 1785. Nero formally emancipated all four children in 1801 when they were twenty-six and thirty-four years of age.
On March 14 1791, Hawley, described in the old North Stratford Ecclesiastical Society book as a free Negro man, withdrew with others from the Congregational Society of North Stratford, now Trumbull, and became a member of the Episcopal Church at Ripton, now Huntington .
On May 26, 1808, Hawley's pension was increased to $3.33 per month. After the war, Hawley became a brick maker and received a final pension increase to $40 per year in 1813 . Nero Hawley died in 1817 at the age of 75, and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Trumbull Center.
to construct a church building. The church, now known as the Walter's Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, is the oldest black church in Bridgeport and celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2010.
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in North Stratford, now Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut in the New England region of the United States, is bordered by the towns of Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield and Easton along Connecticut's Gold Coast. The population was 36,018 according to the 2010 census.Family Circle magazine...
, enlisted in place of his owner, Daniel Hawley, in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
on April 20, 1777 during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and earned his freedom . His heroic life is featured in the book, From Valley Forge to Freedom, which also notes other areas of Trumbull, Connecticut associated with Hawley's life.
2nd Connecticut
The 2nd Connecticut Regiment2nd Connecticut Regiment
The 2nd Connecticut Regiment was authorized in the Continental Army on September 16, 1776. It was organized between 1 January - April 1777 at Danbury, Connecticut of eight companies from the counties of Fairfield, Windham, and Hartford in the state of Connecticut and assigned on 3 April 1777 to...
was raised in Spring of 1777 for the new army or Continental Line and was made up of men and slaves from throughout the state of Connecticut. Ordered to assemble in Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
to prepare to take the field, they went into camp in Peekskill, New York
Peekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products...
soon after. They served during the summer and fall of 1777 along the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
under the command of General Israel Putnam
Israel Putnam
Israel Putnam was an American army general and Freemason who fought with distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War...
. On November 14, 1777, they were ordered to join General Washington's main army in Pennsylvania where they engaged in the sharp action of the Battle of White Marsh
Battle of White Marsh
The Battle of White Marsh or Battle of Edge Hill was a battle of the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought December 5–8, 1777, in the area surrounding Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania...
on December 8, 1777. The unit lost a number of officers and men, killed and wounded in the battle .
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
Nero HawleyHawley
-People:* Alan Ramsay Hawley, early American aviator* Cameron Hawley, American fiction writer* Caroline Hawley, BBC war correspondent* David Hawley , Stratfield, Connecticut, captain and privateer during the American Revolution...
spent the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
, Pennsylvania under the command of General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. He was a Private in Captain James Beebee's Company, Huntington's Brigade of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment
2nd Connecticut Regiment
The 2nd Connecticut Regiment was authorized in the Continental Army on September 16, 1776. It was organized between 1 January - April 1777 at Danbury, Connecticut of eight companies from the counties of Fairfield, Windham, and Hartford in the state of Connecticut and assigned on 3 April 1777 to...
, 1st Connecticut Division . On March 12, 1778, the parish of North Stratford, now Trumbull, Connecticut, made donations of provisions for those residents serving in the southern army stationed at Valley Forge. Of the fifteen men serving there from North Stratford, three were Hawley's; Abraham, Nathan and Nero. Nero Hawley answered seven roll calls between December 1777 and June 1778 during the harsh winter encampment.
Battle at Monmouth, New Jersey
On July 28, 1778 he fought in the Battle of MonmouthBattle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
, New Jersey. Hawley was assigned to the 2nd Connecticut Brigade commanded by Huntington and camped at White Plains before spending the winter of 1778-1779 with the division at Redding, Connecticut. He served on the east side of the Hudson River in General Heath's wing during operations of 1779 and with the Light Company under Captain Ten Eyck. He was then detached to Meig's Light Regiment and engaged the enemy at the Battle of Stony Point
Battle of Stony Point
The Battle of Stony Point was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on the night of July 15–16, 1779. A select force of Continental Army infantry made a coordinated surprise night attack and stormed a fortified position of the British Army on the Hudson River south of West Point, New...
on July 15, 1779. Wintered during 1779-1780, at Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
, serving on the outposts . In 1780, he served with the main army along the Hudson River and wintered at Camp Connecticut village above the Robinson House during 1780-1781.
Private life
Nero married Peg, the slave servant of the Unity Parish pastor, Reverend James BeebeJames Beebe
James Beebe , Reverend, presided over the Unity Parish at North Stratford, now Trumbull, Connecticut, between 1747 and 1785. He was an Army Preacher in the French and Indian War and a patriot.-Biography:...
, in 1761. They raised seven children, five born before Nero enlisted in the army. Hawley was emancipated in 1782, however, the children born to Nero and Peg were the property of Reverend Beebe. Two children were listed in Beebe's inventory of his estate after his death in 1785. Nero formally emancipated all four children in 1801 when they were twenty-six and thirty-four years of age.
On March 14 1791, Hawley, described in the old North Stratford Ecclesiastical Society book as a free Negro man, withdrew with others from the Congregational Society of North Stratford, now Trumbull, and became a member of the Episcopal Church at Ripton, now Huntington .
On May 26, 1808, Hawley's pension was increased to $3.33 per month. After the war, Hawley became a brick maker and received a final pension increase to $40 per year in 1813 . Nero Hawley died in 1817 at the age of 75, and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Trumbull Center.
Descendants
Nero's grandsons Grant and Peter Hawley were named trustees of the Zion Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in June 1835 when the church purchased land on Broad Street in Bridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
to construct a church building. The church, now known as the Walter's Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, is the oldest black church in Bridgeport and celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2010.