Landmarks in Ancient Dover, New Hampshire by Mary P. Thompson, 
Durham, N.H. ©1892, Printed by the Republican Press Association, 
Concord, N.H. 


LANDMARKS:  Johnson’s  Creek

NAMES:  JOHNSON, Thomas; CHESLEY, Philip; FFOLLETT (FOLLET), Nicholas;
	     GIBBONS, Ambrose; HILL, Valentine; HILL, Nathaniel; STORIES, William; 

	Johnson’s Creek.  This is the first inlet from Oyster river above Bunker’s creek, in 
Durham.  The name, however, was generally given at an early day, not only to the tidal 
portion, but to the fresh-water brook above it.  This brook rises in the marshes above the 
Hooper land in the Back River district, Dover.  The name is derived from Thomas 
Johnson, who was in Dover as early as 1639, and afterwards had a grant of 100 acres of 
upland next Philip Chesley’s.  Thomas Johnson of Pascataway, planter, conveyed to 
Nicholas ffollett house, field, marsh, goods, cattle, etc., Sept. 6, 1652.  This was perhaps a 
mortgage, for the inventory of Thomas Johnson’s estate, made July 1, 1661, mentions his 
house, land, and marsh.
	"The path at the head of Johnson’s Creek" was one of the old bounds between the 
Oyster River precinct and Dover proper, when defined Dec. 21, 1657.  Permission was 
granted Ambrose Gibbons the 5th, 10 mo., 1659, to erect a sawmill at the head of Thomas 
Johnson’s creek-- that is, at the head of tide water.  Twenty acres of land granted to 
Valentine Hill the 5th, 10 mo., 1652, were laid out Dec. 2, 1709, to Nathaniel Hill, only 
son of said Valentine, on "the east side of Thomas Johnson’s creek, between Wm. Stories 
100 acre lot and the swamp."
	Johnson’s creek bridge is often mentioned in the Durham and Madbury records, 
generally referring, not to the bridge near the mouth, but to the one on the road to Back 
River, on the line between Durham and Madbury.  When this line was perambulated Jan. 
9, 1802, it ran from Cedar Point in a westerly direction "to the middle of Johnson’s creek 
bridge." (Durham Records.)
	The name of Johnson’s creek is still retained, but the tidal portion is sometimes 
called Jone’s Creek.

PG 115-16



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