Morning journal and courier., 1886-07-09
FORDS AND FERRIES.
CONTINUED


CONTINUED
Having given a brief outline of the nu-
| merous incidents which led to the discovery
| and final settlement of Rodenbergh or GUM
| nipiac,* the attractions being it's beautiful
| harbor and the advantageous facilities it af-
| fcfded to the commerce of these early times
and having enlarged on the tidal movement
| of the port, which power was first utilized
! by early navigators and made mention of by
them, we turn our attention to the water ap-
! proaches from the surrounding plantations
| to the town, which were known as fords or
ferries, end then to the bridges, whose his
| tory with their successors will make alone
| an article to be compiled by an ADLER pen.
| The three several rivers which empty their
| waters into our harbor were in early times
| crossed by fords and ferries which connected
| the fowl plot with the neighboring country.
These fords and ferries were located near
| the sites of the several bridges which later
| the colonists substituted for them and were
the only public approaches to the town plat
from the east and west.
OF these river crossings, that over the Mill
| river to the mack was provided with bridge
before 1910. From the east abutment of
| the bridge were two paths or trails; one lead
ing down the neck, the tongue of land lying
between Mill and Quinnipiac rivers to
the old ferry at Red rock, now
near the site of the new QUINN
piac bridge, and the other leading eastward
along the foot of East Rock to North Haven
along the East river. One later crossing was
about Mr.. Lewis bridge to the east meadows
from which the colonists procured gfasbes
for the use of their cattle and clay for build
ing purposes, which we're conveyed generally
down tie river to the town by means of
scows or boats built for this transportation
This Neck bridge which succeeded the ford
OF ferry became historic the hiding place
OF the Cromwellian Generals COTE and Whal-
ley, when pursued by officers nent over from
England to arrest them for the murder of
King Charles LIST, and of whom colonial his
tory often speaks.
The ferry at Red Rock was the first grant
ed and was known as the Old ferry. The
New or Lower ferry from Ferry Point, now
foot of Bridge street, granted in 1915 to
Francis Brown, who sesr1s to have had from
this time both services. Our colonial rec
ords tell us that "upon due confederation
of the trouble and hindrrree which sundries,
both of town and other plantations, find and
undergo in getting over the East river, over
which as yet there is no bridge, it is th6ught
meet and ordered that ferry be forthwith
settled and, as Il may be, continued for the
ease of such as have occasion to
pass that river to or from the towne,
and that a shed be made at the towne
charge by the water side and three acres
of planting land in the oyster shell fields
with as much convenience as may bee, be laid
out for ferrymen, rent free, 80 long as this
court shall judge meet, with an abatement of
rent for.'some further allowance Gas the majes-
trates and deputies shall see cause) to Mr..
Browning, who from the towne according to
the former order rents that part of the oyster
shell field. And it is ordered that ferry
man, providing and maintaining large and
serviceable cunnow or boate fit for that ser
vice as the court shall appoint and giving
due and constant attendance about it every
day from sun rising (Saboth dayes and
times of solemne and publique worshippe
excepted) may demand of everyone he car
rleth or receiveth over said river at the fer
ry place, pence time, if there be not
above three passengers. If above three and
not above SIX he may take three half pence
rtSrson. If not above six TO eight or nine,
the fare to be nine pence, and for any great
er number penny person. And for the
further encouragement of the ferryman in
his service, it is ordered that any belonging
to this plantation that shall transport any
person persons in any other boate can
now in the ferry way This owne exceptedO he
shall pay to the ferryman penny person
for everyone SO transported; but the farmers
on the east side are left free to either use
their owne cannowes or boates or to
agree with the ferryman. And Francis
Brown upon these considerations expressed &C
cepted the service on tryal and became ferry
man for the year from the 10Th of June, 1915.
And after that either to continue or desist as
the court and he shall see cause, and his man
being lame and so not able to carry on the
service at all times, he is left to his liberty
to come to the general training as the occa-
sion of the ferry will permit"
From Francis Brown, the old ferry about
1850 came to George Pardee, whom Brown
had employed as ferryman and who was sue
ceeded by George Pardee, jr., to whom the
court granted the ferry farm in 1870 and
part of which lands are now held by his de-
scendants. He built ferry house on the
east side in 1870, and when Farren avenue
was worked few years ago, the foundation
was exhumed, and specimens of the mortar
made from sand and lime burned from shells
found on the bank were collected by the
thor of this sketch and deposited in the mu-
scum of the New Haven Colony Historical
society.
Of the ferry we find the following, that the
people of East Haven were exposed to many
inconvenience and dangers by taking the
long and tedious route via the old ferry to
attend church in New Haven and they OBJ
tanned permission from the court to buy of
Un6 INDIANS one quarter OF al acre dI LIE Ter
ry place, where they built housing for their
horses, having obtained deed for this land
dated March 4, 1886, which was signed by
Narranshanett, George Sycamore, Maug and
Kehow, for which tract they paid six shil
lings, and this tract was called Stable Point.
In 1889, by special act of the General
Assembly granted the right of ferry at Fer
ry Point, to the parish of East Haven, and
in 1889 the boundary line between New Ha-
ven and East Haven was settled through the
middle of the Quinnipiac river, and along
the middle of the harbor channel to the sea,
and upon the completion of the Fair Haven
bridge in 1891, the Pardee ferry was dis
continued and new road laid out to favor
the bridge, beginning at the highway that
leads to the old ferry, called Pardee Ferry,
and running northeasterly on the west side
of Samuel Tuttle Hill, along the Dragon
Bank and leading into the country road that
leads by Samuel Davenport's house, a little
westwardly of the brook that crosses said
country road south of said Davenport's
house. The survey was made August 2Sth,
1891, approved and accepted in town meet
ing September % of the same year.
The lower ferry was disused soon after
Tomlinsons bridge was completed, which
grant was made by the General Assembly in
1896, for bridge at the new ferry and on
February 18th, 1897, at a proprietors' meet
ing, the bridge company was granted other
valuable privileges for perpetual use of the
company wharves and stores long as the
said bridge shall be built and be kept in good
repair. G. Fl. T.
Note 1t is probable that the first ferty service
was run from Red Rock to Ferry Point, the boat
stopping at stable or other points as required on
the route.
Note-The General court of October 7. 1916, ap-
pointed Richard Mansfield and John Thomas to
view Eastriyer for a bridge, which was probably
the origin of Lewis bridge.
Note. This read ran from Mullin hill through
Laurel lane and down to the back road by the late
Truman Russell's to George Landcraft's and Benja-
min Pardees corners to Red Rock.
*We have been informed that Quinnipiac is the
Indian word for the five riverS-the East river
Qunnpiac, the Mill river, the East creek the West
creek and the West river.
TO BE CONTINUED.