Johnson, Edmund

Edmund JOHNSON (1612 - 1651) and Mary (? - 1663)

my 8g-grandparents

Edmund and Mary JOHNSON were among the early American colonists. They came to New England in 1635, just 15 years after the Mayflower. They were the parents of at least 4 children, including Dorcas JOHNSON, who married Samuel PEARSON.

Edmund was probably a son of John JOHNSON. 

There are some discrepancies in the records, on the origins of Edmund and Mary. I will discuss that below.

Origins

"EDMUND JOHNSON was twenty-three years old, a carpenter by trade, when in 1635 he, and wife Mary, came from Romsey to this country; sailing from London, in the Ship James." [JG, p. 3]

[Romsey is a village in Hampshire county, southern England.]

"EDMUND JOHNSON
ORIGIN: Unknown.
MIGRATION: 1635 on the James (on 13 Jul 1635, 'Edmond Johnson', aged 23, was enrolled at London as a passenger for New England on the James.) [Hotten 107]
FIRST RESIDENCE: Newbury.
REMOVES: Hampton 1639. OCCUPATION: Carpenter [NLR 2:184]."
[GM, p. 62]

"Edmund, son of John Johnson, came from Wales in 1633, and settled in Winnicumet." [C&A, Vol II, p. 773] [Winnicumet was later named Hampton, NH.]

The origin of Edmund's wife, Mary, is a mystery. It seems that they were married by 1639, when they appeared in Hampton.

JOHNSON. 

The  first  Johnson  in  this  country,  from  whom  descended  the Johnsons  of  East  Weare,  was  Edmund  Johnson,  who,  with  his wife,  Mary,  came  from  Wales  to  New  England  in  1635,  and  settled in  Winnicumet.

There  is  a  well-kept,  and  perhaps  well-founded,  tradition,  handed down  from  generation  to  generation,  of  two  generations  in  Wales back  of  the  Edmund  who  came  to  this  country.  The  first  of  these two  generations,  who  was  also  named  Edmund,  was,  with  his  six eldest  sons,  drowned  while  fishing  in  the  river  at  Ponty  Pool,  in  the south  of  Wales,  about  the  year  1600,  leaving  one  son,  John,  who remained  at  home  with  his  mother  and  thus  escaped  the  fate  of  his father  and  elder  brothers.  John  was  born  in  1588,  being  twelve years  old  at  the  time  of  his  father's  decease.  John  had  two  sons, John  Ap  John,  who  was  a  distinguished  co-laborer  with  George  Fox in  founding  the  Society  of  Friends,  or  Quakers,  in  1653,  and  Edmund, who  settled  in  Winnicumet,  in  1635,  and  perhaps  other  children. 

[HWNH, pp. 917-8]

The Johnsons of this sketch are descended from one of the pioneer settlers of Winnicumet, New Hampshire, which then embraced what is now the towns of Hampton, North Hampton,  Kensington, Hampton Falls, a part of Rye and a part of Seabrook.

(I) Edmund Johnson, earliest known ancestor of this family in the male line, according to well-kept and perhaps well-founded tradition, with six of his sons, was drowned about the year 1600, while fishing in the river at Pouty Pond, in the south of Wales.

(II) John, only surviving son of Edmund Johnson, escaped the fate of his father and brothers by being at home with his mother. He was born in 1588, and was twelve years old at the time of his father's death. He had two sons, John Ap John, a distinguished colaborer with George Fox in founding the Society of Friends or Quakers, in 1653; and Edmund, next mentioned; perhaps others.

(III) Edmund (2), son of John Johnson, came from Wales in 1633, and settled in Winnicumet.

[C&A, pp. 773-4]

The Quaker movement was founded in the mid 1600s, in England, and from the beginning, Quakers were severely persecuted by other religious groups. Many immigrated to America to avoid persecution, only to find themselves very unwelcome among the Puritans and Presbyterians. Many of Edmund's descendants joined the Quakers. 

"John ap John was born about 1625 at a freehold- property called Pen y Cefn. (Please note that this is not to be confused with the villages of Pen y Cefn). Although we cannot be certain of its precise location, this property was probably situated in township of Cristionydd Kenrick which belonged to the parish of Ruabon and County of Denbighshire." [HP]

[Ruabon is in northern Wales.]

It is a mystery how Edmund JOHNSON Sr and 6 of his sons could drown while fishing in a river, even in 1600. However in 1607 there was a major flood, caused by a storm surge, in the Bristol Channel, that killed over 2,000 people. [BCF] Maybe that's what happened. 

So, perhaps Edmund Sr and sons lived near Bristol Channel, or traveled there, drowned in Pouty Pond, had one remaining son John, and John had sons John ap John and Edmund Jr. 

I have not found any place named Pouty Pond. There is a village called Pontypool, about 10 miles north of Bristol Channel, on the Afon Lwyd river, in the county borough of Torfaen, South Wales. Also, on the 6-mile road between Ruabon and Llangollen, in North Wales, is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, constructed in 1805. (In Welsh, "pont" or "ponty" means "bridge", so there could be many in Wales. I don't believe "pouty" is a Welsh word. Maybe a surname? Also, "pond" just means "pond".) 

I am satisfied that Edmund embarked from London in the James, on 13 Jul 1635, and must have landed in New England in Jul or Aug 1635. He was 23, hence born about 1611 or 1612, a carpenter by trade. He first settled in what is now Newbury, MA, and by 1639 he had a wife named Mary, and they lived in Hampton, NH. 

The history of Edmund and his descendants in NH is well-documented. 

Pontypool is about 100 miles south of Ruabon, and 100 miles northwest of Romsey.

Edmund JOHNSON in New England

Winnicumet  contained  at  that  time  Hampton,  North  Hampton, Kensington,  Hampton  Falls,  also  a  part  of  Rye  and  Seabrook.  The land  at  first  was  all  held  in  common  by  the  grantees  of  the  territory. The  first  settlers,  who  came  in  a  large  company  at  or  about  the  same time,  set  apart  by  vote  to  each  one  of  themselves  a  sufficient  terri- tory for  a  homestead,  varying  from  five  to  ten  acres.  Their  pasture was  cleared  in  common,  and  occupied  what  is  now  Boar's  Head. 

In  1639  Winnicumet  was  privileged  to  be  a  town,  and  no  outside party  could  settle  there  without  first  obtaining  leave  by  vote  of  the town,  and  when  that  was  granted  the  town  would  vote  him  a  home- stead and  such  a  other  lands  as  they  saw  fit.  They  also  confirmed  as town  what  they  had  done  as  settlers.  As  a  specimen  vote  of 1639  the  following  is  given  :  "To  Edmund  Johnson,  10  acres  for  an home  lot,  six  acres  of  fresh  meadow  whereoff  three  acres  or  there- abouts lying  near  brother  Jones  runneth  between  into  the  upland, and  the  rest  he  is  to  have  near  ye  widow  Bristow's  lot,  and  the  rest in  the  east  field  if  it  be  there  to  be  had.  Also  fifteen  acres  of  plant- ing ground,  part  of  it  adjoining  his  house  lot,  and  the  rest  in  the east  field."  Edmund  was  at  this  time  granted  three  shares  in  the ox  common,  three  shares  in  the  cow  common,  and  at  a  subsequent time  three  shares  in  the  town  common  and  meeting-house  green. This  home  lot  has  remained  in  the  Johnson  name  for  two  hundred and  fifty  years,  and  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Joseph  and Nathaniel  Johnson,  two  excellent  farmers  and  direct  descendants  of the  first  Edmund  Johnson. 

Edmund  d.  March  10,  1651 ;  his  widow  m.  Thomas  Coleman. Ch.  of  Edmund  and  Mary  Johnson  :  — 1.  Peter,  b.  1639.  John,  b.  1641. 3.  James,  b.   1643  ; Daniel  in  1675. 4.  Dorcas,  b.  1645.

[HWNH, pp. 917-8]

EDMUND JOHNSON and his wife, Mary, were in Hampton in 1639. In June of the following year, he received from the town a house-lot and some other tracts of land ; and in 1646 three shares in the cow common. His house-lot included the homestead of the late John Johnson, and extended to the “Academy Road,” taking in the southern part of John A. Nudd’s field, the house-lot of Nathaniel Johnson and the cemetery near it. Besides this was a small grant on the other side of the road—“abought thirtye rod which his house stand of [on] in the meeting house green layeing neere upon a square, Joyning up to a common way towards the east—otherwise the green goeth round about it.” [Laid out in September.] “Bro : Crosse wth 5 other brethren are appointed to sett out unto Edm : Johnson a little ground about his house, not prejudicing the beasts going to drinke in the Runne.”

Edmund Johnson’s home lot was given by him to his two sons, Peter and James, the latter having the eastern part, which came down to the late John Johnson by heirship and is now George A. Johnson’s (of another family), by purchase. James Johnson’s house stood a few rods south of the one now on the lot. Edmund Johnson died Mar. 10, 1651, and his widow married, second, Thomas Coleman.

[JD, Vol. II, p. 770]

Thomas Coleman, born 1602, came from Marlboro, in Wiltshire, England, 1635; settled first in Newbury; removed to Hampton, 1650; was a selectman, 1654; bought the widow Mary Hussey place in 1657. After 1680, he removed to Nantucket, Mass., where he died, 1685.

THOMAS COLEMAN (above) married, first, Susanna—, who died at Newbury, Nov. 17, 1650; socond, Mary, widow of Edmund Johnson (1), of Hampton, July 11, 1651. She died on Jan 30, 1663; married, third, Margery—. Children:
Benjamin, b. May 1, 1640. Joseph, b. Dec. 2, 1642. Isaac, b. Feb., 1647. Joanna. John. Tobias (son of Margery). [JD, p. 645]

Hampton was first settled by Europeans in 1638, and originally called Winnacunnet (many spellings).  The town, incorporated in 1639, once included what is now Seabrook, Kensington, Danville, Kingston, East Kingston, Sandown, North Hampton and Hampton Falls.

Who were John JOHNSON and Nathaniel JOHNSON, in the article from [JD]?  Surely related to Edmund, since his property contained theirs. Could it be that Edmund's father John JOHNSON had immigrated, settled in Hampton, and died before Jun 1639? Or, more likely, maybe Edmund's house-lot included what later became the homestead of the late John JOHNSON and what later became the house-lot of Nathaniel JOHNSON.

The 1738 map of Hampton [1738] shows property #7 belonging to James JOHNSON, and property #43 belonging to Peter JOHNSON. The 1841 map [1841] shows properties on the south side of the town, belonging to A. JOHNSON, Asahel JOHNSON, E. JOHNSON and Elisha JOHNSON. These are probably descendants of Edmund JOHNSON.

Descendants

My 8-g grandparents, Edmund and Mary JOHNSON had 4 or 5 children: Peter, John, James, Dorcas, and possibly Dorothy. Mary remarried after Edmund died.

Mary d. 30 Jan 1663
+ Edmund JOHNSON b. 1612 in Wales, d. 10 Mar 1651 in NH, age 39

1. Peter JOHNSON b. 1639 in NH or MA, d. 16 Nov 1674 in Hampton, NH, age 35
+ Ruth MOULTON m. 3 Apr 1660
2. John JOHNSON b. Hampton, NH, bapt. 16 May 1641, d. Dec 1642, age 18-19 months
3. James JOHNSON b. 1643, in Hampton, NH, d. 16 Jun 1715, age 72
+ Sarah DANIELS m. 26 Mar 1675, d. Jan 1718
4. Dorcas JOHNSON b. 1650 in Hampton, NH.
+ Samuel PEARSON, b. 29 Jul 1648 in Rowley, MA, m. 16 Apr 1672 in Haverhill, MA, d. 4 Dec 1721 in Lyme, CT

+ Thomas COLEMAN b. 1602 in Marlboro, in Wiltshire, England, m. 11 Jul 1651, d. 1685 in Nantucket, MA, age 83

1. Peter JOHNSON was born in early 1639, the same year his parents appeared in Hampton. Whether he was born in Hampton is unknown. On 3 Apr 1660, he married Ruth MOULTON, daughter of John MOULTON. He drowned in the Hampton River on 16 Nov 1674, at age 35. It's strange that he drowned in a river, like his great-grandfather and grand-uncles. Peter played a role in the history of witchcraft persecution.

Witchcraft.— Eunice  Cole, widow of William Cole, was a fruitful source of vexation to the  good people of Hampton for a long series of years. Hated and despised for her ugly and malicious disposition, she was also feared by many on account of her supposed alliance with the devil, who had given her power to inflict whatever punishment or injury she chose upon all who had the daring in any way to offend her. But notwithstanding her reputation of being a witch, it did not prevent the young people of that day from playing upon her many a  trick, which the fact of her living solitary and alone afforded them a good opportunity. The story goes that Peter Johnson, who was a carpenter, was a ringleader among her tormenters. At one time he was framing the second meeting-house, when attempting to hew off a chip from a stick of timber, while she was standing by waiting to pick it up for her fire, he  struck blow after blow without producing any apparent impression upon the stubborn wood. This caused her to laugh at him, and taunt him with his great skill as a carpenter, which so irritated him that he threw his axe directly at her. It, however, passed her, and stuck in the ground, with the handle upwards. He caught hold of the handle with the intention of taking it up, but in vain. At length after repeated unavailing efforts, he requested her to give him his axe again, and told her that he was very sorry for what he had done. She immediately went and pulled the axe out with the greatest ease. 

It is also related that at one time some of the more daring of the young people looked  into her windows one evening, when they saw her very busily engaged in turning a bowl with something in it, apparently in the shape of a boat. At last she turned it over, and exclaimed, "There, the devil has got the imps!" That night news came that Peter Johnson, carpenter, and James Philbrick, mariner, were drowned at the same hour from a boat in the river, near  the creek now known as Cole's Creek. The drowning of these men, who were much lamented, increased the fear and hatred of the old woman. 

On the Rockingham County records is the following: " At a Quarter Court held at Hampton,  in the Province of New  Hampshire, 7  Sept. 1680, Maj. Richard Waldron Pres., Eunice Cole,  of Hampton, by Authorite, committed to  prisson on suspition of being a witch, & upon examination of Testimonys the Court vehemently suspects her so to be, but not full proof is sentenced, & confined to Imprissonment, & to be kept in durance untill this Court take furthe ords with a lock to be kept on her legg. In meane while the Selectmen of Hampton to take care to provide for her as formerly that she may be retained. 

“The testimony put on file." 

She lived in a little hut in the rear of the academy, and upon her death the people dragged the body to a hole and covered it up with all speed, and then drove a stake through it with a horseshoe attached, to prevent her from again troubling the good people of Hampton.

The fear of her name would alarm the most courageous or subdue the worst temper from generation to generation.

[HRS, pp. 321-2]

1. Peter JOHNSON b. 1639 in MA, d. 16 Nov 1674 in Hampton River, age 35
+ Ruth MOULTON b. 1641 in England, m. 3 Apr 1660, d. 1718, age 77

i. Mary JOHNSON b. 2 Jul 1663 in Hampton, NH, d. 8 Jan 1745 in Haverhill, MA, age 81
+ Samuel AYER, 11 Nov 1654 in Haverhill, MA, m. 12 Dec 1681 in Hampton, NH, d. 29 Aug 1708 in Haverhill, MA, age 53

ii. Ruth JOHNSON b. 13 May 1666 in Hampton, NH, d. 25 Jul 1751 in Haverhill, MA, age 84
+ Timothy AYER b. 13 May 1666 in Hampton, NH, m. 24 Nov 1682 in Haverhill, MA, 14 Aug 1689 in Haverhill, MA, age 23 

iii. Edmund JOHNSON b. 8 May or 3 Jul 1671 in Hampton, NH, d. 11 Nov 1737 in Kensington, NH, age 66
+ Abigail GREEN b. 1669, m. 25 Sep 1693 in Hampton, NH
+ Judith

iv. Peter JOHNSON b. 25 Nov 1674, d. 1713 in Rye, NH, age 38
+ Esther HOBBS, b. 12 Apr 1679 in Hampton, NH, m. 1 Apr 1708, d. 24 Aug 1741, in Hampton, NH, age 62

(V) Edmund (3), eldest son of Peter and Ruth (Moulton) Johnson, was born May 8, 1671, and died November 11, 1737. He settled in the north part of Hampton, on Little river, and lived there till 1701, when he had leave by vote of the town to lay down his land on Little river and take up over toward Kingston, in the parish of Kensington. At this time (1701) Edmund and his father-inlaw's family, the Greens, and Elihu Chase, took up three large tracts of land in and around what is now the village of Kensington, and settled upon the same, the three farms adjoining. The Greens and the Chases have always kept their farms along in their respective names. The Johnson farm has passed from the Johnson name. Edmund Johnson married Abigail Green, in 1693. Children: Abigail, Ruth, Esther, Dorcas, Peter, Obadiah, Mary and Patience. [C&A, Vol. II, pP. 774-5]

HOGPEN FARM

Hogpen Farm, so called, was originally granted to Rev. Seaborn Cotton, and was laid out in 1668. The farm had since been sold, and considerable inconvenience—not to say injury—was experienced by those owning land adjoining it, by the present owners refusing to show the bounds of the farm. The selectmen judging it necessary to have the bounds accurately determined, in order to prevent controversy, directed that the farm should be re-surveyed. They gave seasonable notice to the owners, of their intention to meet on the farm for this purpose, on the first day of November, 1714. They also notified to be present all persons owning land adjoining, and “other persons who dwelt on or near ye sd farme 40 or 50 years” before, to give the best information they could, relating to the bounds. The selectmen, surveyors and lot-layers accordingly met at the time appointed. The selectmen then requested the owners of the farm, who were present, viz.: Edmund Johnson, John Green and Benjamin Green, to show them the bounds thereof. They replied, that they had never known them. Information was then sought from aged men, who had been acquainted with the property many years; and having fully satisfied themselves in relation to some of the bounds, the selectmen and lot layers made the survey, and marked out the farm by metes and bounds. Their Return was entered on the Town Book. “Hogpen meadow,” belonging to the farm, was surveyed the following February. [JD, pp. 178-9]

Abigail (JOHNSON) BROWN

Edmund Johnson, son of Peter, was born in Hampton in 1671, and married Abigail, daughter of Abraham Green. He lived on the Hogpen farm, now in Kensington, was rated here in 1709, but disappears before 1727. His daughter Abigail married John Brown, son of Benjamin. It was she who gave the negro man, "Cæsar," his freedom in 1757, a notice of which appears elsewhere. [WB, p. 614]

John, born in 1688, married Abby Johnson, lived in Seabrook ... [WB, p. 617]

COLORED PEOPLE.

There were quite a number of negroes living here in the early days of the town. There were some slaves; some were given their freedom. All slaves had either died or received their freedom before 1800. We find the marriage of Andrew and Dinah, Mr. Worth's negroes, recorded September 22, 1736. The Millers, who lived upon Murray's Row, were mulattoes. Many of the colored people were members of the church. Special seats were assigned them in the meeting-house and they were expected to confine themselves to the seats given them. The following will be of interest to people living at the present time:

To all people to whom these presents may come, Know ye that I, Abigail Brown, widow of John Brown, late of Hampton Falls, deceased, in the province of New Hampshire in New England, Know ye that I do by these presents do for me and my heirs, executors,, administrators, and assigns, every one of us, clearly and absolutely promise, release, and forever quit you the said negro man Cæsar from me and my heirs forever; after the service of four years, which four years will be ended on the fourteenth day of March and in the year 1751 & 2, and in confirmation of what is above written, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this ninth day of May in the twenty first year of the reign of King George the Second.

ABIGAIL BROWN. (L. S.)

Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of us.

JACOB BROWN.
JEREMIAH PEARSON.

Mrs. Abigail Brown was a Quaker and probably, like others of her sect, did not believe in slavery. We find that in 1756 Cæsar, a negro freeman, was rated, province tax, £5 10s. 11d.; school tax, £3 4s. 4d.; which is the only mention made of him after receiving his freedom. He must have been possessed of some property at that time, as there are many in the list whose rates were much less than his. Cæsar appears to have moved to Pittsfield, when he ceased to be rated here. [WB, p. 298]

2. John JOHNSON was born in Hampton, and baptized 16 May 1641, and died in Dec 1642, age 18-19 months.

3. James JOHNSON was born about 1643, in Hampton. He spent some time in Kittery, Maine, and owned some property there. Kittery is on the Maine-New Hampshire border, on the coast, about 15 miles northeast of Hampton. James married Sarah DANIELS on 26 Mar 1675, and they had 9 children. James died on 16 Jun 1715, and Sarah died in Jan 1718.

Children:

i. James, b. 4 Feb 1677, d. 6 Nov 1752, m. 10 Nov 1698 to Elizabeth MASON, dau. of John MASON.

ii. Samuel, b. 18 Aug 1678, m. Elizabeth HASKINS, settled in Kittery, ME.

iii. John, b. 1679, d. 6 Jan 1680. 

iv. Dorcas, b. 16 Jun 1681.

v. Hannah, m. 12 Dec 1705 to Joseph SHAW, b. 1 Nov 1681, son of Benjamin SHAW and Esther RICHARDSON.  Lived in Hampton Falls.

vi. John, b. 16 July 1687, d. young.

vii. Mary, b. 4 Nov 1688, m. 27 Jun 1716 to Edward SHAW, d. 2 Dec 1764, son of Benjamin SHAW and Esther RICHARDSON. Edward married (2) on 2 Jul 1727 to Abigail MARSHALL, she d. 4 Jun 1757, age 71.

viii. Benjamin, b. 22 Nov 1691, settled on the David KNOWLES place, in No. H.

ix. John, b. 27 Oct 1694, d. Apr 1750 m. 13 Jun 1718 to Martha REDMAN, dau. of John REDMAN and Martha CASS. b. 23 Dec 1674. Settled a little south of the Knowles pond, in North Hampton.

4. Dorcas JOHNSON was born about 1650 in Hampton. She married Samuel PEARSON, as his second wife, in Haverhill, MA on 16 Apr 1672. They were my 7-g grandparents. See the Samuel PEARSON page.

Sources

[1841] Map of Hampton, NH 1841

[BCF] Bristol Channel Flood of 1607

[C&A] Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, Vol. II (1910), by William Richard Cutter and William Frederick Adams

[CMT] Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America. (1878) by Cyrus M. Tracy

[EJG] Edmund Johnson on Geni

[GM] The Great Migration/Immigrants to New England 1634-1635 by Robert Charles Anderson et al (1999) (requires Ancestry.com license)

[HEC] History of Essex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men (1888) by D. Hamilton Hurd,  Vol. 1

[HL] History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant (1865) by Alonzo Lewis and James Robinson Newhall

[HMNH] The pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623 to 1660; a descriptive list, drawn from records of the colonies, towns, churches, courts and other contemporary sources, (1908) by Charles Henry Pope

[HRS] History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, by D. Hamilton Hurd, 1882

[HWNH] The history of Weare, New Hampshire, 1735-1888 by William Little, 1888

[JCH] The original lists of persons of quality; emigrants; religious exiles; political rebels; serving men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700 : with their ages and the names of the ships in which they embarked, and other interesting particulars; from mss. preserved in the State Paper Department of Her Majesty's Public Record Office, England (1874) by John Camden Hotten

[JD] History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire: From Its Settlement in 1638, to the Autumn of 1892, by Joseph Dow (1893), Volume I and Volume II also searchable on ancestry.com

[JG] Johnson Genealogy/Ancestors and Descendants of Elisha Johnson, of Freedom, Waldo County, Maine (1915) by George D. Johnson

[WB] History of the town of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire (1900) by Warren Brown

Updated 4 May 2026 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.