HAWLEY, Gideon, Rev. [1727-1807] -- American missionary

A protégé of Jonathan Edwards [qv]. He accepted a paid position from the Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians to establish a mission among the Six Nations on the Susquehanna; he was ordained in Old South Church, Boston, July 31, 1734 for this position and left for the site, in Broome county, New York, near the contemporary town of Windsor. This was near the place where Rev. Elihu Spencer had made an unsuccessful attempt at ministry five or six years before. Besides acting as a missionary, Hawley also acted as an interpreter at this post.

This mission also had the approval of crown officials, who had heard that Jesuit missionaries had been active and successful among the Iroquois.

We know about Hawley's mission because he wrote a narrative that tells in edifying detail how he crossed the hills, on a trail "obstructed by fallen trees, old logs, miry places, pointed rocks, and entangling roots," from Schoharie Creek to the Susquehanna. He wrote, when the strain was almost beyond endurance, "I need, greatly need, something more than human to support me. I read my Bible and Mr. Brainerd’s [qv] Life, the only books I brought with me, and from them have a little support."  IS/publishing/Celeb/people/HAWL314.htm.IH">