USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of the county of Hudson, New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
On the 11th of March, 1799, the Common Council of New York City established the following rates of ferriage for this ferry, viz. :
IN. Y. Rec , vii., 244.
+ Ibid, ir., 186, 199, 206.
Ibid, xi., 365.
"Ibid, cit., 297.
5 Ibid, r., 200.
3Ibid, viii., 480.
"I bid, xi., 120, 222.
247
THE JERSEY CITY FERRY.
A Passenger, -
€0 0 9
A Coach, Chariot, Coachee, or covered Wagon, 0 8 0
A Phaeton, 0 50
A Chaise or top chair, 0 3 6
A Chair,
0
2
6
A Sleigh, -
0
2 6
Horses and Cattle,
() 1 9
A Sheep, Calf or Hog, -
0 6
A large trunk or chest, 0 1 ()
A small do
do
0
2
A Pipe or Hogshead of Wine, Spirits or Molasses, 0 6
A Barrel of do 0 10
A Barrel of Beef, Pork, Flour or Fish, C 1 (
Plank of every kind, each, 0 0
Boards
do
0 0 1
A side of sole Leather, -
0 0) 2
A Raw Hide, 0 0 3
0
6
A Desk,
0 3 0
A large table, -
0 0 9
A small do -
0 0 4
A mahogany Chair, 0 0 2
A common do -
0 0 1
Basket or Bag of Fruit of 2 Bushels,
0 0 4 0 0 3
Bag of Grain do -
Bag of Flour or Meal, - 0 () 3
A Crate of Earthen Ware, -
-
0 2 0
A Tierce of Earthen Ware,
0 2
C 0 6 A Feather Bed, -
A Clock Case, - 0 1 0
A chest of Tea, -
0 2 ()
Dye Wood, per ewt., -
0 0 6
Indigo and Copperas, per ewt., -
0 6
Gunpowder, per ewt., - 0 1 0
A large Bale of Cotton, 0 2 0 -
An empty Hogshead or Pipe, -
010
13
do upper do 0 1
Iron, Steel, Lead, &c., per ewt.,
-
-
248
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
£0 0 3
An empty Barrel, - Shad, per hundred, 02 0
Cabbages, per hundred, 0 16
And all other articles and things in like proportion.1
These rates, in the light of the present day. >eem somewhat exorbitant. They appeared the same to the people on this side of the river at that time. How could they exist and pay ferriage on their cabbages at the exorbitant rate of one shilling and six- pence per hundred. Rates must come down, or the Knicker- bockers must go unfed of cabbage, and pine in want for their kohl slaugh ! But cabbages beget sixpences, and sooner than such a shining progeny should be untimely cut off, and their ghosts left to haunt the unplanted gardens, the people would make known their grievances. This they did. They held a public meet- ing, and, in true modern style, passed sundry " Whereases " and " Resolves " upon the subject. Over this meeting Isaac Nichols presided with a dignity becoming the occasion. After the solemn deliberations were ended, good old " Isaac " was chosen to pro- ceed to New York, and there make known their grievances, to- gether with their views expressed "in public meeting assem- bled." This he did in a becoming manner. It is sad to relate, however, that the whole effort was wasted. Mr. Nichols and the resolutions were duly received, the former bowed out, the latter laid upon the table, and no attention paid to either.
At this time, colored Abraham-Brom for short-the most skillful master of a sail boat in his day, was the man of this ferry.
On the 5th of August, 1802, Holdron took another three years' lease at $2,125 per annum. As usual, in 1803 he sought an abatement of rent, and alleged as a reason that a new ferry had been erected for ten months past, which had injured his business. It is probable that this was Budd's ferry at Ahasimus. If so, Budd had erected his ferry and put it in operation before he asked for permission to land on the New York side, as may be seen by reference to the remarks on that ferry. But his request
N. Y. Records, xii., 458.
249
THE JERSEY CITY FERRY.
was refused. Nevertheless, by renewals of the lease, he held on to the ferry. On the 22d of February. 1808. he took a new lease for two years and nine months.1
From the commencement of the ferry up to 1804, Cornelius Van Vorst was its owner, as he was of the adjoining land. On the 2d of February, 1804, he contracted with Anthony Dey to sell Powles Hook and the ferry, subject to a lease which Major David Hunt held, to expire in 1805. Dey received a deed for the same on the 26th of March, 1804. On the 16th of April. 1804, Dey agreed to lease to Hunt the right of ferriage for two years after the 1st of May, 1805. The Major continued in charge of the ferry for a number of years. In 1804 " The Associates of the Jersey Company " were incorporated, when the land and ferry were conveyed to them. After Major Hunt came Joseph Lyon, of Elizabethtown. as ferrymaster. He occu- pied the old tavern. His stables were in the rear, and to accom- modate him the ferry landing was moved from the foot of Grand street (a little west of Hudson), to opposite the gate of his yard between Grand and York streets, so that people coming from New York could signal the hostler to have their carriages ready.
Up to this time the accommodations for the ferry had been a few row boats, each with two oarsmen, with a few spare oars, which the passengers were expected to use if they wished to cross in good time ; and a couple of open boats with sails, used when the wind suited, or when it was required to take a horse and carriage over. When the wind was favorable the passage could be made in half an hour, but sometimes three hours were con- smined in crossing.
About this time the success of steamboats on the Hudson attracted the attention of Mr. Durand, Elisha Boudinot, General Cummings and others of Newark to the possibility of steam ferry boats. In the autumn of 1809, they subscribed $50,000 to carry the plan into effect. Robert Fulton was requested to construct such a boat as, in his judgment, would answer the pur-
N. Y. Records, xviii., 181.
250
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
poses of a ferry. Application was then made for a lease of the Jersey City ferry. Immediately a competitor in the person of Daniel French arose. He had obtained a patent for an improve- ment in the use of steam in propelling boats. Elisha Monell and Levi Kendall claimed that they had an invention which was superior to all others.1 All of these rival interests strove to get control of this ferry. The Jerseymen incorporated February 7, 1818, in the name of the York and Jersey Steam Boat Ferry Company were successful.2 In March, 1811, they obtained a lease of the ferry, and of the right of landing on the New York side.
In December, 1810, the New York Evening Post announced that arrangements had been made with Fulton for the construc- tion of steamboats for this ferry. In May, 1811, two boats were being built by Charles Brown, and were 80 feet in length and 30 feet in width. "One peculiarity is, they never put about." On July 2, 1812, one of them, the " Jersey," was finished, and put in operation, but owing to some needed alteration was taken off for a few days. On Friday, July 17, 1812, it began its regular trips. A writer, on the following day, says : " I crossed the North River yesterday in the Steam Boat with my family in my carriage, without alighting therefrom, in fourteen minutes, with an immense crowd of passengers. I cannot express to you how much the public mind appeared to be gratified at finding so large and so safe a machine going so well. On both shores were thousands of people viewing this pleasing object."3
On this occasion a grand entertainment was given at Joseph Lyon's tavern in Jersey City to the Mayor and Common Council of New York and others. The following illustration will give a correct idea of this boat, if the reader will imagine two cigar- shaped floats fastened ten feet apart, with the paddle-wheel work- ing between them.
Fulton's description will explain it fully :
" She is built of two boats, each ten feet beam, eighty feet long
'N. Y. Records, xxi , 1.
2 lbid, xxviii., 159.
3Centinel of Freedom, July 21, 1812.
251
THE JERSEY CITY FERRY.
and five feet deep in the hold ; which boats are distant from each
onal traces, forming a deck thirty feet wide and eighty feet long other ten feet, confined by strong transverse beam knees and diag-
S
FIG. I. SIDE VIEW.
E
0
T
A
A
O
FIG.2. BIRDS.EYE VIEW
Q
0
0
B
B
T
1. 1:1
VIEWS OF THE "JERSEY" AND OF THE FERRY BRIDGE.
the dock. The whole of the machinery being placed between it from injury from ice and shocks on entering or approaching
The propelling water-wheel is placed between the boats to prevent
Q
0
252
IIISTORY OF IIUDSON COUNTY.
the two boats, leaves ten feet on the deck of each boat for car- riages, horses and cattle, &c., the other, having neat benches and covered with an awning, is for passengers, and there is also a passage and stairway to a neat cabin, which is fifty feet long and five feet clear from the floor to the beams, furnished with benches and provided with a stove in winter. Although the two boats and space between them give thirty feet beam, yet they present sharp bows to the water, and have only the resistance in the water of one boat of twenty feet beam. Both ends being alike, and each having a rudder, she never puts about.
" Of the dock, he says it . is one hundred and eighty feet long, seventy wide ; the bridge is fastened to the middle of the bulk- head. The boat, being only thirty feet wide and the dock sev- enty, leaves twenty feet vacant on each of her sides: in each of these twenty feet spans and in the water are floating stages, made of pine logs, which lie favorable to the boat for thirty feet, and these run diagonally to the extreme end of the wharves, so that the boat, when coming in, hits within the seventy feet, and the stages guide her direct to the bridge.'"
She was in service for many years, and ended her career as material for the construction of a stable in Greene street built for the elder Isaac Edge.
In 1813 the " York," built on the model of the " Jersey," was completed and placed on the ferry. It is said that these boats were "slow coaches"-that they would ordinarily take an hour and a half to make a trip-that when they met in the river pas- sengers could hold quite a conversation before they got beyond talking distance ; in fact they were
" Like fat green turtles fast asleep, On the still surface of the deep."
They started on their daily duties every morning at sunrise from each side of the river, and ran all day every half hour by " St. Paul's Church clock."1
But the experience of the ferry company was similar to that of
1 Centinel of Freedom, June 20, 1815.
253
THE JERSEY CITY FERRY.
prior lessees. Up to the 27th of May, 1816, they had made but one dividend of five per cent. For this reason they requested that the Common Council of New York would either purchase the ferry, reduce the rent or increase the rates of ferriage. The only relief obtained was an increase of personal toll to 123 cents.1 In those days the fare was collected on the boat during the pas- sage over. On the 1st of May, 1823, the company took a lease of the right of ferry from New York to so much of the Jersey shore as lies between a point " immediately south of Hoboken and a point due west from the Battery Castle." But their experience was not a success. They sank all of their capital, one of their boats blew up in the slip, and the year 1824 found them unable to con- tinue. In September, 1825, they assigned their lease to Francis B. Ogden, Cadwallader D. Colden and Samuel Swartwout. The Common Council of New York consented to the assignment, and gave the assignees a new lease for fifteen years and six months from the first of November, 1825. The lessees were to provide two good steamboats, but in the place of one of these were after- ward permitted to use a team boat. They were also to provide the ferry with row boats. They bought and placed on the ferry the " Washington." In October, 1826, Ogden and Swartwont transferred their interest in the lease to Mr. Colden. He failed to make the ferry remunerative, and surrendered it to the owners, " The Associates of the Jersey Company." On the first of Jan- uary, 1831, the " Associates " leased it to the New Jersey Rail- road and Transportation Company for 123 years. By renewals the latter company continued to hold until 1853, when the lessees bought up the stock of the " Associates," and thus became the owners of the ferry. It continues to be nominally operated under the old lease of the " Associates," and the latter company, which has become a nominal body, nominally receive an annual rent of $18,000 from nominal lessees.
The line to the foot of Desbrosses street was started in 1862. These ferries were transferred to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in 1871.
N. Y. Records, xxxi., 482.
254
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
In 1849 the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Hudson County fixed and attempted to force upon the ferry the following :
" RATES OF FERRIAGE TO BE TAKEN BY THE JERSEY CITY FERRY, AS FIXED BY THE BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS OF HUD- SON COUNTY.
Every person on foot, above ten years old, - 3c
Under ten years and above five years old. 2
Man and horse or horse only, -
9
Ordinary fourwheeled trucks, loaded, two horses and one person, - 37을
Ordinary fourwheeled trucks, light, two horses and one person, - 25
Ordinary wagons, or market wagons, including loads of green clover or grass, two horses and one person, - For every additional person, -
25
3
Ordinary wagons or market wagons, including loads of green clover or grass, one horse and one person, - For every additional person, -
123
- 3
A coach, coachee, chariot, barouche, phaeton, pleasure wagon or sleigh with more than one seat, two horses, one person, - 30
For every additional person, -
3
A light pleasure carriage, baronche or pleasure wagon, two horses, one person, 25
For every additional person, -
3
A light pleasure carriage, barouche or pleasure wagon, one horse, one person, - 18&
For every additional person, -
3
A cart with driver, one horse, loaded or empty, 123
A wagon load of hay or straw, with two horses and one person, - - 50
Wagon or cart load of hay or straw, with one horse and one person, 373
Any kind of carriage or sleigh, without horse, half price. A wheelbarrow and one person, loaded or empty, 6
A hand cart and one person, loaded or empty, S
255
THE JERSEY CITY FERRY.
Cattle, single or in droves-each, - - 15c
.
Calves and hogs, dead or alive, 3
Sheep, lambs and shoats, dead or alive, Sucking pigs, do.
Raw hides, -
Skins, - 0↓
Dry hides, -
1
Bundles of sole and upper leather, per side, 9 1
Bundles of hay, - - 9
Paper, per ream, in bundles, -
02
Wheat. corn and other grain, per bushel, -
1
Potatoes, per bushel, -
13 61
Barrels containing apples and vegetables-eaclı,
5
Baskets containing fruits or vegetables, 3
Oysters. per bushel, 3
Horse feed, do, 1
Meal, flour or coffee, in bags-each,
3
Large boxes containing live fowls for market -- each, 123
Small boxes and large baskets, containing live fowls, in proportion.
Salt in bags, per bushel, 2
Sugar, per ewt., 5
Pipe, hogshead of spirits or wine, each, 50
When empty, S
Tierces of spirits or wine, 373
When empty -- each,
64
Barrels of spirits or wine -- each,
18
When empty-each, 3
37분
When empty, 61
Tierces of molasses or sugar -- each. -
25
When empty, do, 5
Barrels of molasses, sugar, beer, beef, pork and oil, 10 Barrels of flour and lime, - 5
When empty, two cents each, except flour barrels. 1
3
Oats, green peas and beans, per bushel,
Boxes of oranges and lemons -- each,
Hogsheads of molasses or sugar,
256
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Baskets of wine, - -
Crate, hogshead, tierce, ce., containing earthenware or glass-eachı, - -
- 123
And when empty, tierce or crate-each, - 4
Large size firkins, do, -
5
Second do do, - -
3
Pails of butter, do, -
1
Cheese, ham, codfish, &c., per cwt., -
-
-
5
Chests of tea-each,
4
Half chests of tea, do,
2
Tobacco in kegs, do, - -
1
Churns containing milk, - - 64
Iron, steel, lead-paints and other metals, per cwt., 5
Boxes of window-glass-each, -
Boxes of soap and candles-each, 3
Kegs of nails, do, - -
5
Specie in large kegs or boxes-each, -
25
For less size, and for every $1,000, - 123
For fancy chairs-each, - 2
For common do do, 1
Sofas and pianos -- each, 25
Bureaus, - - 123 Bedsteads, beds, tables, writing desks and small bureaus-each, 64 Tool chests, ploughs and corn machines -- each, - 61 Stoves and grates, large size, - 121 Small size in proportion.
Joists and boards-each, - 1
Lumber and timber, per thousand feet, $1 00
" And all animals and things not herein enumerated shall be charged proportionably to the foregoing rates. A true copy from the minutes of the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Hudson County, in the State of New Jersey. August 7, 1849.
"H. VAN WAGENEN, Clerk " Of the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Hudson County.
The above Rates are to take effect on and after the 1st day of Sept., 1849."
-
THE JERSEY CITY FERRY. 257
They were never enforced. The landing place on the New York side is at the foot of Cortlandt street. On the New Jersey side it was at first at the foot of Grand street, about one hundred feet west of Hudson street. It was afterward placed between Grand and York streets, with the slip opening diagonally up the river.1 Thence it was removed to the foot of York street. On the first of April, 1839, it was changed to the corner of Mont- gomery and Indson streets. In 1856 the block east of Hudson street was filled in, and the landing place changed to its present location. On May 5, 1851, the Common Council of New York gave their permission for the Desbrosses street ferry.
The boats on this ferry, since the introduction of steam, have been
Jersey. 1812. -
York,2 1813.
New Jersey,3 -
Richard Varick,
November, 1826.
George Washington,5
April, 1826.
1 Between the landing and the hotel was a semi-circular plot, around which the stages would run to unload their passengers. In the centre of this plot was a willow tree, which was sometimes used as a whipping post. Here, as late as 1814, a white-headed old man received thirty-two lashes.
2 Colden's Life of Fulton, 274.
" The boiler of this boat exploded while lying in the slip, shortly after her completion, killing a Miss Nelson, who was making her home with the Van Vorst family, while she attended school in New York. Billy West, her pilot, also received injuries from which he afterward died ; and a colored man, named Enoch Dorson, was badly scalded, but recovered. The fourth boat, being a failure, was always known as " Tom Vermilye's folly." She was small, with a diminutive engine and boiler, and it is said that in crossing the river she would have to stop to get up steam. She was the cause of much amusement to the river men ; and her flues being very small, the story goes that, in order to clean them, they would put a live cat in at the bottom and then build a fire, when the cat would travel through in a lively manner and most effectually clean the fines.
4 This boat was built for an eight-horse boat, but was changed into a steam- er with two engines. It was first designed to name her " General Jackson."
5 This boat was built for the Catharine street ferry, East river, but purchased for the Jersey City ferry in April, 1826, during the lease of Swartwont & Co. It became the first night boat in June. 1835.
17
258
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Sussex, (launched) September 6, 1833. Essex, - March 31, 1835.
Bergen,1
New Jersey,2
May 25, 1836.
Mouse of the Mountain,3
Aresseoh, - 1841.
Hudson,
November 12, 1849.
Colden,
October -, 1851. 1852.
Philadelphia,4
D. S. Gregory, -
June 16, 1853.
John S. Darcy,
1857.
John P. Jackson,5 -
1860.
Jersey City.
1862.
New York,
- 1863.
Newark, 1864.
New Brunswick, - 1866.
Hudson City,
1867.
The ferry masters or agents have been
Michael Cornelisse, from 1764 to 1769.
Verdine Elsworth, from
- 1769 to 1776. - 1805.
Major David Hunt, until
Joseph Lyon,
C. Rhina, in - 1S22.
Benjamin Greaves,
Jonathan B. Jenkins.
William Woolsey,
SUPERINTENDENTS.
John Clews,
1833 to 1835.
Darwin F. Rockwell, - - 1835 to 1845.
Charles A. Woolsey,
1845 to -.
1 ] have not ascertained when this boat was put upon the ferry. In 1838 it was repaired at a cost of $10,000, and put on as a night boat. It was sold and taken to the Albany and Greenbush ferry March 15, 1847.
2 The New Jersey, Washington, Sussex, and Essex were sold to the New Jer- sey Railroad Company January 1, 1839, for $70,000, and the ferry improvements for $18,224.99.
3 This was a toy steamer, and ran occasionally for passengers only.
+ Sold to the United States in 1861, and turned into a transport
5 Sold to the United States in 1861, and turned into a gunboat.
259
THE BERGEN POINT FERRY.
THE BERGEN POINT FERRY.
On the 15th of September, 1750, Jacob Corsen petitioned the Government of New York for letters patent to ereet his ferry, between Staten Island and Bergen Point, into a public ferry, and also for a grant of the soil between high and low water mark within a mile and a half on each side of his land. In an- swer to his petition he received the King's grant in accordance with his petition, except that he received the right to the shore in front of his own land only.1 From this petition it is manifest that Corsen had been operating his ferry prior to 1750. Nearly fourteen years afterward it received, in connection with the Paulus Hoeck ferry, the following notice :
" A Ferry is established and kept across the Kill van Kull, and that Boats constantly attend for that Purpose, at a Place belonging to John Beck, and commonly called Mooddses, sitnate near the Dutch Church on Staten Island, from whence Passen- gers are transported directly across to Bergen Point, from which place there is a fine Road leading directly to the said Powless's Hook ; so that a short, safe, easy and convenient Way is fixed by Means of these two Ferries, for all Travellers passing to the City of New York, from any of the Southern Governments."2
From this notice it would seem that this ferry was then for the first time used as a part of the new stage route to Philadelphia and the South. On the 19th of July, 1764, Anthony White sent his petition to Lieutenant-Governor Colden of New York for a ferry or ferries across the " Kill van Corle," from the north side of Staten Island to Bergen Point.3 In this petition he sets forth that in the twentieth year of the reign of George II. (1747) he had obtained letters patent under the seal of New Jer- sey granting him the sole right of keeping a ferry across the " Kill van Corle " from Bergen Point to Staten Island. He then petitioned Governor Clinton of New York for,a like exch- sive right, which he failed to get. His present petition looked
1N. Y. Col. MSS., xxi., 393.
N. Y. Mercury, July 2, 1764.
3N. Y. Col. MSS., xcii, 121 ; Winfield's Land Titles, 136, 141, 144.
260
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
toward a monopoly. Whether he was then the owner of Cor- sen's ferry or whether he was raising an opposition does not appear. He was then the owner of the land where the La Tou- rette House now stands, and near which the ferry landing then was. Michael Van Tuyl was the proprietor of the ferry in 1765.
As we have seen, the stages on their way to and from Phila- delphia passed over this ferry. A serious accident occurred here in 1767. The scow was taking over one of the stages, in which some of the passengers retained their seats. On approaching the shore the stage by some mishap was overturned into the river. By this accident Mrs. Morris and her maid were drowned. She was an actress,1 and at the time her husband was performing the part of King Henry in Richard III. in the Old Play House in John street, New York.
After the travel to the South was turned to the route which was made over the meadows on or near the present line of the Newark Plank Road, this ferry gradually declined. It was in operation yet in 1786, and in November of that year was as- sessed by the Legislature of this State the sum of £5. This the owner was unable or not inclined to pay. To persuade him thereto, on the 7th of June, 1787, a supplement was passed which declared that if the proprietor should persevere to keep up the ferry after the first of the following August without taking out a lieense, for which such assessment was made, he should forfeit and pay £10.
When it suspended operations is not known. Several attempts to resuscitate it have been made, but without sneeess. A horse boat was plying on it between 1840 and 1850, but only for a short time. In 186- a slip was built at the foot of Avenue C on the Kills, and a boat put upon the ferry. It continued in operation for a few months, and was then destroyed by fire. In March, 1868, " The Bergen Point and Staten Island Ferry Com- pany " was incorporated, but never gave any signs of life. On the 15th of June, 1869, Walter H. Frazee attempted to revive it. He placed thereon a small steam yacht called " Jennie."
IN Y. Mercury, December 14, 1767.
261
THE HOBOKEN FERRY.
After twelve days' experience he was convinced of the unprofita- bleness of the enterprise and abandoned it. The location is so out of the line of travel that its revival is doubtful.
THE HOBOKEN FERRY.
Early in the year 1774 this ferry was established to connect the corporation dock at the Bear Market in New York with Ho- boken. It was leased to H. Tallman for two years at £50 a year.1 It does not seem to have been put into active operation, however, until May of the following year, as appears from the following notice :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.