74. 
KILLS, CREEKS AND BROOKS. 
The Chum. Logan’s Spring or Harbor Brook. The late Mr. Geo. W. Wright, 
of West New Brighton, contributed the following: “The brook you call the 
Harbor Brook passes through the premises of the late Geo. Wm. Curtis and 
was by his guest, Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne, years-since, named ‘ The Chum.’ 
I think this name antedates yours. I think Mr. Hawthorne found in his ram- 
bles that his brook and the one through Mr. Goodhue’s united before running 
into the Kills, and as they both passed through the same channel to the Kills 
suggested the term ‘Chum.’ Mr. Curtis is my authority for the name. The 
statement above suggesting the name is simply my fancy.” 
Soria Brook. An old name for the brook that flows through the grounder 
of the Sailor’s Snug Harbor. See Proceedings Nat. Science Assn., Vol. VII 
p. 55. 
Thompson’s Creek. The second small creek southwest of Old Place Creek. 
Though comparatively broad at its mouth it only extends a short distance into 
the meadow: 
Oyster Creek. “ . . . with ten acres of salt meadow lying at Karles 
Neck in the County and province above st to the southward of a certain 
creek commonly called and known by the name of the Oyster Creek.” 1721 
Liber C.p. 152. 
Van Cleft Creek. “A certain tract of salt meadow in the town of West- 
field, beginning at a stake on the bend of a certain creek known by the name of 
Van Cleft Creek, on the north side of said creek, and running from thence 
north 65 degrees and 30 minutes east 11 chain and 26 links along a range of 
stakes to the line of the land of Jesse Morgan . . . thence along said 
river [S. I. Sound] and Great Fresh Kill Creek to said creek known by the 
name of Van Cleft Creek, including an island of salt meadows known by the 
name of Van Cleft Island, thence along said creek called Van Cleft Creek to 
the southermost side thereof . . . till opposite the place of beginning. 
From thence crossing said creek to the place of beginning. Being bounded on 
the north by the said creek and meadows of the said John Journeay, on the east 
by land of Jesse Morgan, on the south by meadows of Charles Morgan and 
Winant Winant and on the west by said river and Great Fresh Kill Creek.” 
Richmond County Gazette, May 10th, 1865. 
Shell-heap Creek. ‘“ All that certain piece or parcel of land situate lying 
and being in the town of Northfield, 'County of Richmond and State of New 
York on the northerly side of the Turnpike road from the Bull’s Head to the 
Blazing Star ferry, bounded as follows, to wit: On the northwest by the land 
of William Pettit, on the southeasterly by the said Turnpike Road, on the 
southwest by land of Elias Decker and on the west by Shell-heap Creek and 
Staten Island Sound . . . ” 1873. Deeds, Liber 103, p. 57. 
Carle’s Neck Run. “ . . . bounded on the east by the Great Swamp; 
to the north by the land of Edward Jones, formerly John West’s, and west by 
the land of John Crocheron, and south by Carle’s Neck Run, and the land of 
Isaac and Bart Simonson.” 1785. Liber E, p. 355. 
Johnson’s, Mills’ or Benedict’s Creek. Names for what is now generally 
called Benedict’s Creek, near Rossville. 
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