"Before this bridge [the first City Island Bridge] was constructed, the travel from the main land to City Island was by means of a very primitive ferry, in the form of an old flat scow, similar to the conventional mud scow of to-day. This scow had a flat deck, with a low railing on each side to prevent horses and other animals, from backing off into the water. To each end of this scow was fastened a large cable or rope long enough to reach across the water when the scow was pulled across.
"In order that the rope should not float and impede navigation on the water that divided the Island from the main land, heavy iron weights were fastened on the rope that that it would sink to the bottom of the river. This primitive ferry was operated by the Way Brothers, who, when the scow had a load, would give a signal and then, with the assistance of two or three men, would walk along the banks and draw the boat across, in the same manner as a horse draws a boat along a tow path.
"The ferry charged a toll; twenty-five cents for a team, fifteen cents for a single horse and five cents for a man, hog, sheep or goat. This old ferry had been in use more than fifty years up to the time when the City Island bridge was built."
Id. (quoting CITY ISLAND'S HISTORIC BRIDGE -- A SKETCH OF ITS ORIGIN -- To be Replaced by a Modern Iron Structure, Mount Vernon Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jul. 23, 1898, Vol. XXVI, No. 1926, p. 1, cols. 4-5.).
Scow of the Sort Once Drawn by Hand by Men Using
Rope System To Travel from the Mainland to City
Island. Source: Otis, James, Peter of New Amersterdam:
A Story of Old New York (Project Gutenberg, 2013)
(Available for "use of anyone anywhere at no cost
and with almost no restrictions whatsoever"). NOTE:
Click Image to Enlarge.
The ferry service once operated by the Way Brothers was not, however, the earliest ferry service that connected City Island to the mainland. Additionally, there was early ferry service that connected the island to Long Island.
According to a manuscript entitled "Number one, Book of Laws, ordered by the Community of Minneford's Island, made the tenth day of May, one thousand, seven hundred and sixty-three" held by the New-York Historical Society, on May 10, 1763 residents of City Island (then known as Minneford's Island" authorized a ferry at the northern end of the island to connect it with Rodman's Neck on the mainland. The ferry was to operate around the clock ("Day Light to Day Light") and it was directed that the ferryman "shall not fail to give good attendance Durering and for the ensuing year from the date hereof, and likewise to keep a sufficient craft to take in a horse and chair, or two horses." The City Islanders further authorized a toll as follows: "the ferry man shall receive for each chair and horse not to exceed the sum of one shilling and sixpence, and for each person the said ferry man not to exceed the sum of four coppers for each time crossing said ferry." That year, the ferry license was awarded to the "best and fairest bidder," a woman known as "Mrs. Deborah Hicks."
Three years later City Islanders authorized a ferry service to connect the south end of Minneford's Island with the opposite shore of Long Island. The ferry franchise was established on May 13, 1766 and was leased to John Barnes for a term of five years.
Soon after the authorization of ferry service to Long Island, the residents of the island designated a group of residents to act as a committee and serve as "Proprietors of the Island" -- local representative government in its infancy. The Proprietors of Minneford's Island soon were faced with disputes over apparent misuse and abuse of the ferry system by residents attempting to transport too many farm animals at one time. Indeed, at a "meeting of the committee of the Proprietors of Minford's Island" held at the home of Isaac Barnes on May 11, 1765, the Committee ordered:
"that no owner or proprietor of the said Island, not residing thereon, shall put or caus to be put on more than twoo creatures of any kind; likewise, any owner or inhabitant living and residing upon the said Island may bring on twoo cows, if a twoo wheld carriage, one horse, and if a waggon two horses p'r. each right; any person, proprietor, owner or inhabitant disobey these orders and putting on more than the No. above written, must expect to have them put in common pound and dealt with according to law, &c."
Robert Bolton detailed these developments regarding early City Island ferry service in the second edition of his seminal two-volume history of the County of Westchester published in 1881. A pertinent excerpt of Bolton's description appears immediately below, followed by a citation and link to its source.
"In the possession of the New York Historical Society, is an ancient MSS entitled, 'Number one, Book of Laws, ordered by the Community of Minniford's Island, made the tenth day of May, one thousand, seven hundred and sixty-three.' From which we take the following:
'May 10th, 1763, this day, we, the Community of Mineford's Island, have thought proper to apoint a stated ferry acroost from Mr. Samuel Rodman's Neck to said Island, in manner and form as followeth: The ferryman to keep a good sufficient craft to ferry a man or men acroost from Mr. Rodmans Neck to said Island, and from said Island to the neck, at all times and from Day Light to Day Light, and shall not fail to give good attendance Durering and for the ensuing year from the date hereof, and likewise to keep a sufficient craft to take in a horse and chair, or two horses in manner and form as abovesaid, and the ferry man shall receve for each chair and horse not to exceed the sum of one shilling and sixpence, and for each person the said ferry man not to exceed the sum of four coppers for each time crossing said ferry, &c.'
The same year the ferry at the north end of said island was disposed of to the best and fairest bidder, viz: Mrs. Deborah Hicks. On the 13th of May, 1766, Jeremiah Fowler was ferryman; 11th of June 1776, the ferry was sold to John Bridgewater.
The ferry across from the south end of Minneford's Island, to the opposite shore of Long Island, was established 13th of May, 1766, and let to John Barnes for the term of five years.
'On the 14th day of June, 1763, Isaac Barnes, Benjamin Palmer, John Barnes, Enock Hunt, Joseph Mullinix and Joseph Palmer were chosen by the proprietors trustees of the island.' The year following, '8th of May, Capt. John Wooley, Israel Pinckney, Aaron Hunt, Benjamin Palmer, Isaac Barnes and Caleb Hunt were appointed the committee, and Benjamin Palmer, clerk and treasurer, to the proprietors of the Island for one year.' [Page 77 / Page 78]
'At a meeting of the committee of the Proprietors of Miniford's Island, assembled at the house of Isaac Barnes, the 11th day of May, 1765,
'Present:
'MOSES OWENS, } {SAMUEL RICE,
DUNCAN CAMPBELL} {JOSEPH PALMER.'
'The committee ordered that no owner or proprietor of the said Island, not residing thereon, shall put or caus to be put on more than twoo creatures of any kind; likewise, any owner or inhabitant living and residing upon the said Island may bring on twoo cows, if a twoo wheld carriage, one horse, and if a waggon two horses p'r. each right; any person, proprietor, owner or inhabitant disobey these orders and putting on more than the No. above written, must expect to have them put in common pound and dealt with according to law, &c.' a
[Footnote "a" reads as follows: "a In May, 1770, Isaac Barnes had two cows, 2 yearlings and 1 colt, making in all 5 head; Benjamin Palmer, 2; Joseph Muleux, 1; Dukin Campble, 5; Minor Hillard, 10; John Pinkney, 4; John Barnes, 2; Markos Baxter, 4; Deborah Hicks, 8; Widow Brucks, 4."]"
Source: Bolton, Robert, The History of the Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester, From Its First Settlement to the Present Time Carefully Revised by its Author, Vol. II, pp. 77-78 (NY, NY: Chas. F. Roper, 1881) (edited by C. W. Bolton).
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