History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

82 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON, [1735.
Pamiiy.
Lieut. Hawley was the son of Joseph Hawley,
who was prominent in the early history
of the town, and was born August 22'', 1682. He married
in 1722, Rebekah, daughter of Rev, Solomon Stoddard,
They had two children, Joseph and Elisha. The former,
Major Joseph Hawley, was one of the most eminent men
of his time. Elisha was killed in the expedition against
Crown Point, in 1755,
Rebekah, wife of Joseph Hawley, was the
The Mother of Major
Hawley. eleventh child of Rev. Solomon Stoddard.
A woman of great energy and decision,
of remarkable industry and economy, she exhibited also
business talents of a high order. She was a person of great
eccentricity, of strong prejudices, and aristocratic tendencies.
Her eldest son, Joseph, was but twelve years of age
at the time of his father's death, and the care of the two
children, as well as the management of the farm and merchandise,
devolved upon her. An expert dairy woman, her
butter and cheese were in great demand, and probably she
made more of the latter product than any other person in
town. In proof of her eccentricity it is related that when
the suicide of her husband was made known to her she
was in the dairy, and refused to go to him till she had finished
turning the cheeses. ^ In 1753, when sixty-seven
years old, she built an addition to her house, for a cheese
room and buttery. A gallon of rum was needed for the
refreshment of the raisers. She was much opposed to the
marriage of her son Joseph, and after that event, though
she lived in the same house with liim, she had her own separate
apartments, and managed her own household. In the
new meeting-house she was seated in the third wall pew to
the left of the pulpit, adjoining the pew allotted to the pas-
latter part of his time, he grew much discouraged, and melancholy grew amain upon
him, till he was wholly overpowered by it, and was in a great measure, past a capacity
of receiving advice, or being reasoned with to any purpose. The devil took the
advantage, and drove him into despairing thoughts. He was kept awake nights, meditating
terror, so that he had scarce any sleep at all, for a long time together. And
it was observed at last, that he was scarcely well capable of managing his ordinary
business, and was judged delirious by the coroner's inquest."—Rev. Mr. Edwards'^
Narrative ot Surprising Conversions, p. 7A.
1 As the catastrophe happened on Sunday morning, too much credence must not
be given to this statement.