Penny Ferry, across the Mystic River, where the Malden Bridge now is, was
established by the town in April, 1640, when it was voted, "That Philip
Drinker should keep a ferry at the Neck of Land, with a sufficient boat,
and to have 2_d._ a single person, and a penny a piece when there go any
more." It was not a source of any profit to the town for many years.
In 1651, the Penny Ferry was granted for a year to Philip Knight, who
appears to have had the income of it for taking care of it, he agreeing
"to attend the ferry carefully, and not to neglect it, that there be no
just complaint."
In 1698, Judge Sewall makes the following entry in his diary: "February
19, I go over the ice and visit Mr. Morton, who keeps his bed. 21st, I
rode over to Charlestown on the ice, then over to Stower's (Chelsea), so
to Mr. Wigglesworth. The snow was so deep that I had a hard journey--could
go but a foot pace on Mystic river, the snow was so deep. 26th, a
considerable quantity of ice went away last night, so that now there is a
glade of water along Governor's island, about as far as Bird island. 28th,
a guard is set upon Charles River to prevent persons from venturing over
on the ice for fear of drowning; and the ferrymen are put upon cutting and
clearing the ice, which they do so happily, that I think the boat passeth
once a day."