Annual Reunions
of the Hartwells of America
of the Hartwells of America
Our 2024 and 87th Annual Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, at the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Concord, Massachusetts
The Hartwells of America annual reunion is traditionally held each year on the last Saturday in June. We usually meet at the Trinitarian Church in Concord and occasionally at Hartwell Tavern in Minuteman Historical Park. A typical agenda consists of gathering mid to late morning for coffee and donuts, BYO lunch (a good deli is close by for takeout), a business meeting at 1:00pm, a program of interest and adjournment with more informal conversation afterward.
For those who cannot attend in person in June, we also plan to hold a separate Reunion on Zoom, date/time TBD.
For those who cannot attend in person in June, we also plan to hold a separate Reunion on Zoom, date/time TBD.
Most recent newsletter - June, 2023
Past Reunions: Newsletter and Photograph Archive
Photograph of the 1884 Reunion, held at the Cattle Show Grounds in Concord, Massachusetts
The Association has compiled and digitized newsletters and photographs of the annual reunions of the Hartwells of America as far back as 1884. The newsletters especially make fascinating reading, and who knows, you might spot a close relative among the many reunion photographs.
Use the the Reunion History drop down menu above to select the period you wish to view. Click on any image to view it in a separate larger window where you can zoom in for additional magnification.
As for the Association Reunions themselves, in 1882 Mr. Lyman W. Densmore called together the Hartwells of the Boston area, with other branches from Virginia and Indiana, to form the Hartwell Family Association. Meetings were held, usually in Concord, for around twenty years, and were well attended. The support of this organization enabled Mr. Densmore to publish his two books, The Handbook of Hartwell Genealogy in 1887, and The Hartwell Family in 1895. It is unclear why the organization was discontinued. Mr. Densmore was the moving spirit and it is possible his health was beginning to fail. He died in 1898.
In 1937, Claude S. Hartwell, a young lawyer from Boston, called together all the Hartwells within 50 miles of Boston. About 50 responded, and an organization was effected called the Hartwells of America. A genealogical committee was appointed, dues were set, and the annual meeting was fixed for the last Saturday in June. Meetings have been held every year since then, with the exception of one year during World War Two.
In 1937, Claude S. Hartwell, a young lawyer from Boston, called together all the Hartwells within 50 miles of Boston. About 50 responded, and an organization was effected called the Hartwells of America. A genealogical committee was appointed, dues were set, and the annual meeting was fixed for the last Saturday in June. Meetings have been held every year since then, with the exception of one year during World War Two.
If you have edits, suggestions or material to contribute, please contact Stephen Hartwell at cchartwell72@gmail.com.