Johnson, Edmund

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 w^th 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]

Peter JOHNSON

( IV ) Peter, eldest child of Edmund (2) and Mary Johnson, was born in 1639, in Winnicumet, and was drowned in the Hampton river, November 16, 1674. He was baptized in infancy by Father Bacheler, as he was called, early in 1639, and became a member of the church. From his time many of this family have adhered to the Quaker faith. Peter married "2nd month 7th day 1660," Ruth Moulton, of Hampton, and they had Mary, Ruth. Edmund and Peter. [C&A, Vol. II, p. 774]

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 y^e s^d 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]

JAMES JOHNSON, mill-wright, son of Edmund (1), married Mar. 26, 1675, Sarah Daniels ; lived in Hampton, on the easterly end of his father’s homestead, as stated above ; but he spent several years in Maine. C. T. Libbey, Esq., of Portland, says : He probably learned his trade of Henry Sayward, in Hampton, and removed with him to York, as one of his workmen. In 1669, he is described as of York, in a grant of land to “Henry Sayward, James Johnson and Thomas Patty.” A document signed by him Dec. 23, 1670, gives his residence again as Hampton. May 28, 1683, James Johnson, of Hampton, bought ten acres of land at Spruce Creek ; and Apr. 5, 1685, James Johnson, of Hampton, mill-wright, bought of John Shapleigh, of Kittery, one-fourth of a mill on Spruce Creek. On Oct. 26, 1699, Enoch Hutchins, of Kittery, deeded property to “Mr. James Johnson, of the same place, millwright.” June 25, 1700, other parties deeded to the same. His death is entered on the town records of Hampton and he probably died here. He left no will, but his heirs made a division deed of the property, according to his own wishes. His son Samuel received all his Kittery lands ; his homestead, lands in Hampton and personal property went to the other children. His widow died Jan., 1718. [JD, Vol. II, p. 770]

Hannah (JOHNSON) SHAW

On Ordination hill in Warren Brown's field probably lived Joseph Shaw, son of Benjamin of Hampton. He married, in 1705, Hannah, daughter of James Johnson, and had eight children. He appears to have left here about 1740. [WB, p. 570]

Edward SHAW and family

April 10, 1727, a little after break of day, a thunder-storm came over the town. At first the thunder was but low and seemed to be at a distance, but all at once came an amazing clap. The lightning then fell upon the house of Mr. Edward Shaw. It took off all that part of the chimney which was above the roof, and broke down all the fore part of the chimney in the northeast end of the house, till it came to the chamber hearth in the lower room of that end of the house, where the man's mother and one of his grandchildren lodged. It took a small table within four feet of the head of her bed and carried off the leaf which was next to the bed. It went from thence down into the cellar, where it moved two hogsheads which stood near the foundation of the chimney. One of them, which was full, was turned partly upon its head. The wooden hoops upon it were loosened, but the iron hoops were not moved. In its passage into the cellar it went through the hearth, where, after the rubbish was removed, was found a large hole that was made by it, and in the foundation, a little over one of the hogsheads, was observed a small hole where it is probable the lightning had its vent. In the southwest room of the house where the man and his wife lodged, it entered into a small cupboard, where it broke divers earthen dishes, but yet the door of the cupboard was not burst open. By the great mercy of God no person in the family was hurt. Even the aged woman who was in so great danger received not the least damage. She was only waked out of her sleep by it, and knew not the cause of the noise till she saw the next flash of lightning. [WB, pp. 410-11]