At a General Court, holden at Boston, the 18th of May, 1631, there were
present Mr. Winthrop, governor; Mr. Dudley, deputy-governor; Mr. Ludlowe,
Capt. Endicott, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Pinchon, Mr. Bradford, assistants (at
which the governor and lieutenant-governor were chosen),--"Thomas Willins
[Drake gives the name as Williams] hath undertook to sett up a ferry
between Winnisimmet and Charlestown, for which he is to have after three
pence a person and from Winnisimmet to Boston four pence a person." Mr.
Savage, in a note to Winthrop's journal, speaking of Samuel Maverick at
Noddle's Island, says, "Winisemet Ferry, both to Charlestown and Boston,
was also granted to him forever." He certainly did conduct a ferry on one
or both these routes for a time.
Jan. 23, 1635.--"Thomas Marshall was chosen by general consent for ye
keeping of a ferry from Milne Point [Copps' Hill] vnto Charlestowne, and
to Wynnyseemitt, and to take for his ferrying vnto Charlestowne, as ye
ferryman there hath, and vnto Wynnyseemitt for a single psn six pence; and
for every one above ye number of two, two pence apiece." It is not
probable that this ferry was continued for many years.
In December, 1637, Edward Bendall was "to keepe a sufficient ferryboate to
carry to Noddle's Island and to the shippes ryding before the Town: taking
for a single person ij_d._ and for two 3_d._"