In 1648, "the ferrymen, Francis Hudson and James Heyden, state in a
petition to the General Court, that the ferry never was less productive:
that contrary to law disorderly passengers would press into the boats, and
on leaving refuse to pay their fare; that some pleaded they had nothing to
pay, and others that they were in the country's service. And they further
state, that the payment generally tendered was 'usually in such refuse,
unwrought, broken, unstringed and unmerchantable peag' (wampum), at six a
penny, that they lost two pence a shilling, being forced to take peag at
six a penny and pay it at seven. They petition that if the Court intend
'all soldiers with their horses and military furniture be fare-free,' that
they might be paid for it by the colony: that strangers, not able to pay,
may be ordered to give in their names: that the 'peag hereafter to us paid
may be so suitably in known parcels handsomely stringed, and their value
assigned, that it may henceforth be a general, current and more agreeable
pay.'"
At a session of the General Court, at Boston, the 10th of the eight month,
1648, "For preventing ferry men's Damage by Persons not paying, &c., it
shall be lawful for any Ferry man to demand and Receive his due before his
Boat put off from the Shore, nor shall he be bound to pass over any that
shall not give satisfaction, & any Ferry Man may refuse any wampum not
stringed or Unmerchantable and such persons whether Horse or Foot which
are passage free by Order of the Court must show something sufficient for
their Discharge, or else pay as others do, except Magistrates and
Deputies, &c., who are generally known to be free."
And again, Oct. 18, the Court ordered that "all 'payable peag' should be
'entire without breaches, both the white and the black, suitably strung in
eight known parcels, 1_d._, 3_d._, 12_d._, 5_s._, in white; and 2_d._,
6_d._, 2-6_d._, and 10_s._, in black.' The Court also ordered that for
transporting officers in the colony service, the ferrymen should be
allowed L4 per annum for the past, and L6 per annum for the time to come."