USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of the county of Hudson, New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 21
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" Whereas the Inhabitants of Bergen and Communipaw have nade choice of Pieter Hetfelsen to be their ferryman betweene Communipaw and New Yorke for the constant transporting to and againe their persons, goods and Cattle, for which they have Requested my Lyeense, These are therefore to Lyeense and appoint the said Pieter Hetfelsen to be the only and constant ferryman between the saide Communipaw and the Citty of New Yorke, for and during the time of three yeares from the day of the date hereof, and to be continued for a longer time, unless ye In- habitants of the townes aforesaid have any just Exceptions against him. Which said Ferry the said Pieter Hetfelsen is to have and to hold to his own proper use and Benefit, Upon the conditions hereafter mentioned hereby prohibiting all persons whatsoever to transport or Carry over any person, goods, corne or cattle without ye consent or license of the said ferryman upon the pen- alty of paying to the use of the ferryman aforesaid the sum of tenn shillings sterling for every such default, being first convinced thereof by the Justices or Magistrates of the place, and shall notwithstanding pay to the ferryman the fraight for such per- sons, corn or cattle as shall be so Illegally transported to the prejudice of the said ferryman, Notwithstanding it shall and may be lawful for any person to keep a canoe or boate of his owne for the transporting and carrying over of such goods, corne and cattle as properly belong unto himselfe and the persons of his own family and no other upon the penalty aforesaid.
1N. Y. Col. MSS, Part ii , 4.
235
THE COMMUNIPAW FERRY.
" Conditions, The ferryman aforesaid is to maintain one good sufficient boat or more for the convenient transporting of all passengers to and again from Communipaw to New York, to- gether with their goods, corne and Cattle at all tymes and on all occasions, but more particularly he is hereby obliged to attend upon the said Inhabitants of Bergen and Communipaw three dayes in the week unless some other Extraordinary Occasions does hinder him, viz. : Mondayes, Wednesdayes and Fridayes, or upon such other dayes as they shall unanimously agree upon, on which dayes the said Inhabitants are to attend with their goods and cattle at the honer and tyme appointed, and punctually to pay and satisfie the said ferryman for his fraight according to these following rates, Whoe is to Recover the same, For case of Delay or Refusall, by ordr of Justice without any charge or forme of process ; Always provided that the Gonernor and his family are to be freed from paying of anything for their persons transporting as aforesaid.
There shall be paid to the ferryman six stuivers a head Wampum for every passenger, 6 st.
For his fraight Extraordinary at all other tymes iff but one man 4 Guilders in Wampmm, but iff by night and unseasonable weather as the parties cann agree, 4 gl.
For every Scheppell of corne 2 stiv. in Wampum, - - 2 stiv.
For 3 a barrell or § a fatt of beere 10 stiv. in Wampnm,
for a whole barrell 20 Stivers for all other goods & Liegt's in cash proportionable, - - - 20 stiv. For a horse or Mare 4 GI. in Wampum, - 4 gl.
For a cow 3 gnilders, for an ox 4 guilders in Wampum. For a hogg or sow 15 Stivers in Wampum, - - 15 stiv.
For sheep 15 Stivers a head in Wampum, - 15 stiv.
" Secondly the ferryman is hereby obliged on all occasions to ferry over any person for the sum of four guilders in wampum excepting what is before excepted.
" Thirdly, the said ferryman is at all tymes and on all occa- sions for the publieq service when thereunto Required by the Governor or those Authorized by him to carry over any person,
236
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
letter, packett or message gratis, but if it be upon any business that concernes any particular man's interest, although com- manded by the Governor, he is to be satisfied and paid according to the rates above mentioned.
" Given under the seal of the Province the day and year above written.
" June 25, 1669."1
Hetfelsen continued to manage the ferry until the 18th of January, 1672, when John Tymensen was commissioned to take charge of it, upon the same conditions, and with power to receive the same fare.
From this latter date no mention is made of this ferry for more than a century. It is probable, however, that it continued in operation until swallowed by its more successful and pretentious rival at Paulus Hoeck. Attention is attracted to it again in 1783. After the war was over and peace declared, but while the British were yet in possession of New York and Paulus Hoeck, an advertisement appeared by which Aaron Longstreet & Co. made it known that " constant attendance was given by the boats at the Ferry Stairs, near the Exchange, at 3 P. M., to bring Passengers to Communipaw, where the Newark Stage" would be ready to convey them to Newark, and thence by " The Excellent New York and Philadelphia Running Machines," in one day to Philadelphia.2
When the enemy evacuated Paulus Hoeck, the line of travel turned again in that direction, and the COMMUNIPAW FERRY again slept for nearly another century. When it awoke the old sail boats and periangers3 were no more, and it was honored with the finest ferry boats on the Hudson. When the extension of the Central Railroad of New Jersey from Elizabethport to Jersey City was completed, the ferry was revived and now runs from
1 E. J. Rec. Lib., iii., 27. " Rivington's Gazette, August 20, 1783.
3 A periauger was the old Spanish pirogue, which had found its way into Dutch waters. It was pointed at both ends, had two masts, but no bowsprit. When horses and carriages were to be transported they were detached and lifted into the boat.
237
THE WEEHAWKEN FERRY.
the Central Railroad depot in Jersey City to the foot of Liberty street in New York.
Names of boats, and when placed upon the ferry.
Central, Communipaw,
Elizabeth, -
Plainfield,
August 1, 1864. 1865. June 25, 1867. June 3, 1869.
Names of' Superintendents.
George W. Howe,
April, 1863, to 1866.
James J. Winant, - - October 17, 1866, to October 1, 1872.
Jacob Winant, -
October 1, 1872.
WEEHAWKEN FERRY.
The exact date of the commencement of this ferry is not known. The first record concerning it is an act passed in the third year of the reign of George the First (Jan. 26, 1714), by which the rates of ferriage were established as follows :
Man and horse to or from New York, Eighteen Pence. Single Person, - - One Shilling. If above three Persons, per piece, Three Pence. Everything per Bushel, - One Penny. Hogs, Sheep, &c., per head, Two Pence. Three Pence.
Beef per Quarter, -
Barrels,
Hogsheads, Pipes,
Four Pence. One Shilling. Eighteen Pence.1
The ferry was erected, however, before the year 1700, as appears by the petition of Samuel Bayard, which seems to have been prompted by a desire to destroy an opposition ferry. There is no date to the petition, but Governor Hunter, to whom it is addressed, was not Governor of New York after 1719, and as
Nevill's Laws, i., 60.
238
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
the petition alleges that the ferry then had been in operation for upward of twenty years, it is clear that it must have been in operation prior to the date above mentioned.1 Bayard was then owner of Weehawken.2 His petition was as follows :
" To His Excellency Robert Hunter, Esq., Capt Generall & Govern' in Chief of the Province of New York, &c .. & Vize- Admiral of the same :
" The Humble Petition of Samnel Bayard humbly showeth : That your petitioner having a small parcell of land called Wiehake in Bergen County in the Eastern Division of the Prov- inee of Nova Cesarea, most convenient for a ferry of any between New Yorke Island and the southermost clifts of Tappaen and Ahasimes, wch place hath been the accustomed ferry for trans- portation of passengers, cattle, horses and country produce in these limits for upward of twenty yeares, and as such hath been assessed & taxed by the Assembly of the said Province, as by the printed acts to weh your petitioner refers may appear. Notwithstanding seaverall persons and places bounding upon the River within said limmits not assessed or taxed by the Assembly, nor permitted by the Crownes grantes have for some time made it theire Buysenesse to transport passengers, cattle, horses & coun- try produce to and from New Yorke Island at the same rates as the ferry at Wiehake, and do keep and suffer other people have- ing no propertys upon the Riverside to keep Boats and Canowes for transportation to and from New Yorke Island to the greate prejudice of the ferry at Wiehake.
" Wherefore your petitioner humbly prayes that yr Excels would be pleased to facvour your petitioner with her majtys grant under the seal of the Province whereby the ferry between the southermost clifts of Tappaen and Ahasimus might be lin- mited to be keep at said place called Wichaken, only upon the usuall and accostomed ferridge, and that no person or persons in said limmits haveing a property upon the River might be per- mitted to transport to or from New Yorke Island any passen-
1 This petition is bound up between two papers, dated respectively, Sept. 29, and Oct. 19, 1710.
2 Winfield's Land Titles, 38.
239
THE WEEHAWKEN FERRY.
gers, horses, cattle or country produce but what properly belongs to themselves, nor suffer any other person whatsoever that have not any property upon the River to keep any vessels for trans- portation to the prejudice of said ferry at Wiehake. And as in duty bound shall ever pray, &e.
"SAMUEL BAYARD."1
Nothing further is heard of the ferry until October 22, 1742, when Francis Covenhoven and Samuel Bayard join in a petition to the Governor and Council of New York for a ferry to " We- hawk."2 The petition was granted. Until the Hoboken ferry was erected, this was the popular, and, in fact, only regular ferry to New York for the farmers in the upper part of Bergen County, and even for half a century after its powerful rival started upon its career, it continued to be patronized. Its land- ing place on the Jersey side was at or near the mouth of the Weehawken Creek, just below King's Point.
On the 9th of July, 1788, the privilege of landing on the New York side for the " Weehaack " ferry was granted by the common council to JJoseph Smith for three years for £20 per annum.3 John Stevens being, at that time, owner of the Hobo- ken ferry, made an effort to seeure the control of this ferry, but failed.4
On the 5th of August, 1802, Charles and Philip Earle be- came the lessees for £50 per annumn.5 Shortly after this a " new Weehank ferry " was put in operation. On the 15th of April, 1805, the " old ferry " was leased to Garret Neefie, and the " new ferry" to Charles Earle, each at £50 per annum.6 Neefie soon gave up his lease, and Lewis Concklin took charge of the " old ferry."" From this time nothing is heard of it until June, 1819, when Charles Watts, of New York, became its lessee. It is then pronounced a "very ancient ferry," grown into disuse by the improvements in Powles Hook and Hoboken
I.V. Y. Col. MSS. (Land Papers), v., 69.
"/ bid, ix., 101.
Ibid, xiii., 383.
I bid, ro., 518.
2N. Y. Records, v., 51.
+ Ibid, ix., 197.
" Ibid, xv., 176.
240
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
ferries. Watts took a lease of it for fifteen years from the 1st of May, 1819, on the following terms : For the first five years, rent free ; for the second five years, $50, and for the third five years, $200. The landing place on the New York side was to be between the north bounds of the Hoboken ferry lease and Christopher street. On the Jersey side it was to be within one quarter of a mile on each side of " Wehawk." By the terms of the lease, he was bound to keep a " team boat."1 He found the expense too heavy for the income, and at the expiration of five months abandoned the "team boat." For this the Common Council of New York annulled his lease, and let the ferry to Philip Howe, on condition that he should, on or before the first of May, 1821, put on the ferry two good sail boats, and one horse boat.2 But the days of sail boats and horse boats had passed. A mightier agent had come and supplanted them. And already, even in so short a time, the " Wehawk " ferry is almost forgotten. It was, however, spoken of as a "present ferry " in the charter of the Paterson and Hudson River Rail- road, approved Jan. 21, 1831.
The present Weehawken Ferry Company was incorporated March 25, 1852, and the ferry revived on the 1st of January, 1859. Its present landing place on the Jersey side is at Slaugh's Meadow, and on the New York side at Forty-second street. This Company bought of the Union Ferry Company two steamboats, the " Lydia " and " Abbie," used on the East River. The name of the " Lydia" was changed to " Weehawken," and the " Abbie" to " Hackensack." Owing to the navigation laws, however, the old names were soon restored. The " Abbie" was afterward sold and taken to Albany, where it is yet in use as a ferry boat, under the double name of " Abbie" and "Eli Perry," and plies between that city and Greenbush. The " Roslyn " was placed on the ferry in the summer of 1870, and the "Midland " on the 1st of August, 1872.
It is proper in this connection to produce the grant of George
N. Y. Records, xxxviii., 267.
2I bid, xli., 249.
241
THE WEEHAWKEN FERRY.
the Second to Stephen Bayard in 1752. It covers the ground now used by the ferry. It is as follows :
" George the Second, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. : Whereas our loving subject, Stephen Bayard, by his humble petition pre- sented unto Jonathan Belcher, Esq"., Captain-General and Com- mander-in-Chief of our Province of New Jersey, hath set forth that a ferry over the North River, from the government of New Jersey to the opposite shore, within the Bounds hereafter de- scribed, would be of great advantage to his Majesty's subjects who have occasion to go to New York, especially in the winter Season when the Ice renders the Passage from the usual Ferrys very dangerous, and therefore Praying our letters Patent to him, his Heirs and assigns for keeping the said Ferry under such con- ditions as are usual in like Cases. KNOW YE that the taking the Premises into our Royal Consideration, and being desirous to facilitate the Passages of all our loving Subjects over the said North River, and also to encourage the said Stephen Bayard to the Expenses & Trouble he has and may be at for the Public benefit, HAVE, of our special Grace, certain knowledge and meer motion for us and for our Successors, given, granted, ratified and confirmed, and by these Presents Do give, Grant, Ratify and Confirm unto the said Stephen Bayard, his Heirs and assigns the Sole keeping of the said Ferry over the North River, Beginning at Bergen North line and so along the Shore half a mile below or to the Southward of a Place called the Great Slaugh,1 Hereby giving and granting exclusive of all others, unto the said Stephen Bayard, his heirs and assigns, on Royal License and Authority to Transport Passengers, Horses, Cattle and Goods over the said North River within the Bounds aforesaid, for so long a time as he, the said Stephen Bayard, his heirs and assigns shall sufficiently attend and keep, or canse to be attended and kept, one or more ferries within the Bounds aforesd for the Transporting of Passen- gers, Horses, Cattle and Goods over the said North River within the Bounds aforesaid. And We by these Presents Do Give,
1 Once the property of Jacob Slaugh, from whom it received its name.
16
242
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Grant, ratify and Confirm unto the said Stephen Bayard, his heirs and assigns, Power and Authority to ask, Demand & re- ceive from all and every the Passengers for Transporting or Ferrying over of them, their Horses, Carriages, Cattle and Goods, all Rewards, benefits and advantages whatsoever, as are already Legally established, or hereafter may be within our Province of New Jersey, for performing the Services aforesaid. To HAVE und To HOLD the keeping of the said Ferry or Ferries over the North River within the Bounds aforesaid, with all the benefits, perquisites and advantages whatsoever, unto him, the said Ste- phen Bayard, his heirs and assigns, to the Sole use, benefit and behoof of the said Stephen Bayard, his heirs and assigns, for so long time as he and they shall well and sufficiently attend and keep, or canse to be attended and kept, the Ferry aforesaid. Yielding and paying therefor yearly and every year during the Term aforesaid unto us, our Heirs and Successors, at the City Hall of Amboy, on every twenty-fifth day of March, the sum of Two Shillings lawful money of America, if the same be lawfully Demanded. IN TESTIMONY whereof we have caused the Great Seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed, and these our Letters to be made Patent. Witness our Trusty and Well be- loved Jonathan Belcher, Esqr., our Captain-General and Com- mander-in-Chief in and over our Province of Nova Cæsaria or New Jersey in America, Chancellor and Vice Admiral in the same, at the Borough of Elizabeth, in our said Province, the Seventh day of February, in the Twenty-Sixth year of our Reign."
THE JERSEY CITY FERRY
was established June 18, 1764.1 In the New York Mercury of July 2, 1764, we find
" GOOD NEWS FOR THE PUBLIC.
" The long wished for Ferry is now established and kept across the North River, from the Place called Powless's Hook to the
1 Dunlap's History of N. Y., ii., erci.
243
THE JERSEY CITY FERRY.
City of New York ; and boats properly constructed, as well for the Conveniency of Passengers as for the carrying over of Horses and carriages, do now constantly ply from one shore to the other. The landing on the New York Side is fixed at the Dock com- monly called Mesier's Dock, and at Powless's Hook is situate nearly opposite to the said Dock, the distance between the two Places being about three Quarters of a Mile, and as the boats may pass and repass, at all Times of the Tide, with almost equal Despatch, it is thought by far the most convenient Place for a Ferry of any yet established, or that can be established, from the Province of New Jersey to the City of New York ; and what will give it the Preference by far of all the other ferries in the Winter Season, is that rarely a Day happens but that Boats may pass at this Ferry without being obstructed or endangered by Ice. Constant attendance is given at Powless's Hook by Michael Cor- nelisse, where the best of Stabling and Pasture is provided for Horses."
It was started as an important part of the new route to Phila- delphia via Bergen Point and Staten Island. Abraham Mesier and Michael Cornelissen were its founders. They made arrange- ments with Cornelius Van Vorst for a landing place at Paulus Hook. Cornelissen then built the house afterward known as Major Hunt's tavern. The landing place on the New York side was fixed at Mesier's Doek, at the foot of Cortlandt street. The two periangers first on the ferry were the " Liberty " and " Prop- erty." The projectors of the ferry did not consult the authorities in New York as to the propriety or necessity of the same. Thereupon the Aldermen, on the 10th of September, 1764, ap- pointed a committee to take the opinion of counsel whether the people of " that part of Jersey called Powles Hook have any right of ferriage to and from this city."1 What the opinion of the counsel was, or that he gave any, or that anything further was done. does not appear. At that time Van Vorst was owner of all the land between the road leading to Bergen on the north, the Hudson River on the east, Communipaw Cove and the Creek of
N. Y. Records, ri., 243.
244
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
the Woods on the south and west. The route to Philadelphia by boat to Amboy was about to be superseded by a more certain means of conveyance. Transportation was to be by stage. This must be reached by means of a ferry, and there was no point so convenient for that purpose as Paulus Hoeek. And, what was more to the purpose, Van Vorst saw that it was an enterprise which in the end would pay. The millions who annually pour across that ferry, and the thriving city built on his old farm, more than realize his utmost expectations.
Others were not slow to see what a harvest would be realized from this ferry, and could not forego an attempt to reap it for themselves. Van Vorst's hereditary enemy of the Duke's Farm -Captain Archibald Kennedy-anticipating trouble between Van Vorst and the Common Council of New York, joined one William McAdams in a petition to that body on the third of May, 1765, for an exclusive right of ferry between New York and the Jersey shore. This, if granted, would take the ferry from Paulus Hoeck to Ahasimns, where the Pavonia Ferry now is. Van Vorst was not slow to head off this movement by a counter petition on the 14th of October in the same year. He set forth that he had been to a very considerable expense in erect- ing his ferry " at a place called Powles Ilook, lying in the county of Bergen," and that he was obliged to maintain a causeway half a mile long and a lane nearly twice as long ; he therefore desired the board to establish and regulate the ferry on such reasonable terms as would be for the public good. In consideration of the expense he had been put to, he requested the privilege of receiv- ing for some time the benefits of both sides of the ferry.1 On the 31st of January, 1766, these petitions for an "exclusive grant of the right of ferriage " across to " their respective lands on the Jersey shore" were taken into consideration by the Com- mon Council of New York. That body saw the necessity and advantage to their city of a ferry to the Jersey shore, and appointed a committee to make the best arrangements they could get.2 To that committee Van Vorst proposed that he would give
IN. Y. Records, vi., 286.
2 Ibid, vi., 306.
245
THE JERSEY CITY FERRY.
to the City of New York £40 a year for seven years, and the corporation should have the power to fix the rates of ferriage ; that after said term he would give the corporation a free landing on his side for the purposes of a ferry, provided he should have the same privilege of landing in New York. He stated that he had three large and two small boats for the ferry, which he in- tended to keep in repair and ready for use. He consented that the corporation might decide upon the landing place on the New York side, though he recommended that it should be at the place then used for that purpose. These propositions were accepted, and the landing place fixed at the " ground or pier of Nicholas Roosevelt, Esqr., at the lower end of Thomas street."1
It seems, however, that these arrangements were never com- pleted, for on the 23d of March, 1767, the ferry was let at public ontery to Jacob Van Voorhis, a merchant in New York, for £310 per annum for four years from the first of May, 1767.2 Abraham Mesier, Abraham Russing and Peter Mesier, jr., were at the time, or shortly afterward became associated with Van Voorhis. They soon found that there were other expenses than those of the ferry properly connected with the enterprise. The causeway between Paulus Hoeek and the upland of Ahasi- mus was occasionally overflowed by the tides. This inconven- ienced travelers and diminished the lessee's revenue. Ile there- upon sought and obtained an abatement of half a year's rent, for the purpose of repairing the causeway.8 Long before the expira- tion of his lease he found that his expenses and heavy rent ren- dered the business unprofitable. He therefore abandoned the lease, and on the first of March, 1771, the ferry was let to Abra- ham Mesier for three years for the sum of £120 per annum. Thus was saved to the "firm " £180 a year for the balance of the term.4 The unpaid rent of Van Voorhis was acquitted for the reason that from May 1, 1767, to May 1, 1771, his disburse- ments and rent paid equaled his receipts. He had lost his labor, and it was thought unjust that he should pay the balance of rent
IN. Y. Records, vi., 311.
3 Ibid, vi., 381, 466.
Ibid, vi., 371.
4 Ibid, cii., 99.
246
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
and thus lose money along with his labor.1 On the first of March, 1774, Abraham Mesier obtained a new lease of the ferry for three years from the first of May following at a rent of £210 per annum.2 Shortly afterward Mesier died, and the Hoboken Ferry coming into existence, his executors obtained an abate- ment of £50 on the last year's rent. The probability is that Mesier's widow remained in charge of the ferry during the war, subject to military control. Soon after the war her name is again connected with the ferry, and in 1786 she petitioned for repairs to the ferry stairs on the New York side.3 The ferry was now but poorly appreciated. The Legislature of this State had imposed upon it a tax of £50, which had not been paid. The rent had fallen off from £310 a year in 1767 until on the 15th of April, 1789, John Holdron obtained a three years' lease for £50 per annum.4 But under his management the ferry be- came so prosperous that at the end of his term in 1792 he was obliged to give £380 a year for a three years' lease, and in addi- tion provide ferry stairs and all other conveniences.5 Whether this sum was drawn out of him by auction puffers or not is im- possible to tell. One thing is certain, he soon found the load too heavy to carry, and called for an abatement of rent. It was agreed on the 5th of May, 1794, that upon his paying £250 the balance of the rent should be remitted. At this rent he held it up to the first of May, 1796.6 On this date he took a new lease for three years at £300 a year. He agreed (and this is the first regulation looking to the accommodation of the public) to pro- vide two large boats for horses, cattle, carriages, etc., and two row boats for passengers. He also agreed to run the boats from sun- rise till 9 o'clock P. M. from May 1st to Oct. 1st, reserving the privilege of charging double ferriage after sunset .?
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