Annual Reunions of the Sergeant William Harlow Family Association
Join Us for the Next Reunion August 29-30, 2026
Each year a weekend is devoted to renewing our family fellowship. A Saturday Annual Business Meeting is followed by a supper open to all "cousins." A Sunday Morning Ecumenical Service is conducted on the lawn of Harlow Old Fort House; luncheon is served there also; a prominent speaker with a timely message is featured and officers for the coming year are elected. Meetings are held on the Saturday and Sunday preceding the last Monday in August every year. Prospective members are cordially invited to attend; please use the contact form at the bottom of this page for more information.
Here is the schedule for the 2026 Reunion:
Friday, August 28:
4:00-5:30 pm: Visit the Alden House Historic Site,105 Alden Street, Duxbury
You are invited to kick off the reunion weekend with a tour of the Alden House Historic Site, which sits on part of the original land grant given to Mayflower passengers John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden in 1627. Our tour guide will be Desiree Mobed, Executive Director of Alden Kindred. This property, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2008, is still owned by the Alden family through the Alden Kindred of America. The program on Friday will include a tour of the site's First Period house, the earliest parts of which were built circa 1700 by Jonathan Alden. We will also have the opportunity to explore the recently completed J. Alden & Virginia E. Keyser Center for Living History, featuring state-of-the-art immersive exhibits that tell the story of the Aldens and Plymouth Colony. The cost is $12 per person. Please email Carol Ferreira if you plan to attend. Her email address is in the June 2026 issue of Harlow Happenings.
Duxbury was incorporated in 1637 and is one of the earliest communities settled by the colonists from Plymouth. The first Harlow to settle in Duxbury may have been Dr. Eleazar Harlow (1719-1812)*. As well as being a descendant of Sgt. William Harlow, Dr. Eleazar was a great-grandson of Rebecca Alden, daughter of John and Priscilla. Over 20 graves of Harlow family members from the late 18th and early 19th centuries are located in the Dingley Cemetery on West Street and the Mayflower Cemetery on Tremont Street, including those of Dr. Eleazar and members of his family. You may wish to visit one or both of the cemeteries before or after the tour.
Saturday, August 29:
Day 1 Activities will be at the Beal House, 222 Main Street, Kingston
2:00 pm: Beal House will be open for visiting and relaxing prior to the meeting.
4:00 pm: Annual Meeting. Please come to be part of maintaining and strengthening the family organization. We are always open to new ideas and views to be explored and discussed. The meeting follows an agenda and includes recent findings by our genealogist, updates on family-related projects, and the budget.
6:00 pm: Family Reunion with Supper and Auction. The supper will be pizza and salad from Mama Mia's, followed by dessert. Please bring an item or two (especially if it's a "Harlow" item or from a hometown) for spirited bidding that will help to offset the costs of the Association. This year's auction will also feature over 60 historic postcards donated by Peggy Harlow of Virginia, including at least twenty different designs of the Harlow House. Advance registration and payment is required. The registration form is in the June 2026 issue of Harlow Happenings.
Sunday, August 30:
Day 2 Activities will be at the Harlow Old Fort House, 119 Sandwich Street, Plymouth
(If the weather is inclement, instructions about alternate arrangements will be given at the supper and at the Best Western Cold Spring.)
9:30 am: Choir Rehearsal in Preparation for Worship Service (all are welcome to sing).
9:45am: Chair Set Up (all are welcome to help).
10:00 am: Ecumenical Worship Service.
11:00 am: Group Picture and Completion of the Annual Meeting and Reunion.
12:00 pm: Lunch. Please indicate your preferences on the reunion registration form. Payment will be collected at lunch.
12:30 pm: Completion of the Business Meeting including nomination of officers and elections.
1:00 pm: Guest Speaker: Patrick Browne, Executive Director of the Plymouth Antiquarian Society, will speak about Privateers and Warships of Plymouth Harbor during the Revolution.
1:45 pm: Family Reunion continues until 3:00 pm. Bring and share photos and stories! Talk to the genealogist! Explore Burial Hill! As the weekend winds down, please consider volunteering to help in breaking down chairs and cleaning up.
6:00 pm: Various Dinner Outings (normally organized at the reunion)
The unofficial headquarters is the Best Western Plus Cold Spring at 180 Court Street, Plymouth (508-746-2222). Copies of the schedule of events will be available at the front desk late Friday, August 28.
