Patriot Story – Abel Hawley, Matross at Fort Black Rock

The Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Mary Silliman Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution celebrates America 250! In anticipation of the July 4, 2026, 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the 13 Colonies, the DAR wishes to remind everyone of the sacrifices and heroism of everyday men and women who fought for our freedoms that we enjoy today.

This is a story about 16 year old Abel Hawley who enlisted in Capt. Isaac Jarvis’ Artillery Company at Fort Black Rock in Fairfield. Throughout the Colonies, boys younger than 15 were in each town’s militia and, after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, many boys enlisted in their State Troops. Abel Hawley was born May 2, 1763 in New Stratford Parish (now Monroe) and, as he said in his Pension affidavit (W11245), he was almost 16 when, in March 1779, he enlisted as a private guarding the sea coast at Black Rock Harbor, Fairfield, CT.

He was a Matross - one of the most dangerous positions at Fort Black Rock. A Matross assisted artillery gunners in loading, firing, sponging and moving the guns. Being next to the cannon that were being fired, meant that the cannon from the British Ships in Long Island Sound were firing back trying to knock out the cannon at the Fort.

Abel was at the Battery when the British attacked and burned Fairfield on July 7, 1779. In his pension affidavit (S18633), Lt. Aaron Turney, one of Abel’s commanding officers, stated: “The Battery was attacked by row galley and was also fired upon by the British after they landed. We returned fire and kept possession of the Battery.”

Abel Hawley served 9 months and was discharged in December 1779.

Abel Hawley married Sarah Nichols 29 Oct 1783 in New Stratford (now Monroe), CT. They had 14 children. Abel died in Monroe on 1 Mar 1855 aged 91 years, 10 months. Sarah followed on 25 Dec 1855 in Bridgeport. They are buried at the Tashua Burial Ground in Trumbull.

The DAR is a non-profit women’s service organization dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. Any woman over 18 who can prove lineal descent to an ancestor who served in the American Revolution is a prospective member. For more information on the DAR visit http://www.sarahriggshumphreysDAR.org

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution asks everyone to celebrate the 250th Birthday of the United States of America and the Patriots that achieved American Independence. For more information visit https://honoringourpatriots.dar.org/