Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/556

 452 THE HISTORY OF BAERINGTON. canoes and boats of individual owners. As this method of travel could not be relied upon, except at the convenience or spirit of accommodation of the owners of these boats, it early became a necessity to establish ferries across the Swansea and Barrington Rivers. The exact date of the establishment of a regular ferriage is not known, but it was probably soon after Philip's War, when the meeting-house was erected on Tyler's Point, that the first ferry was estab- lished, where the Barrington and Warren Bridge now stands, connecting New Meadow Neck with Brooks Pasture and Kickemuit. This ferry was first established and maintained by the town of Swansea, and William Ingraham was the first ferryman employed by the town. The Swansea town rec- ords as to this ferry are as follows : "At a Town Meeting Legally warned and being met Octob. ye 19, 1681. That a Complaint be made to a Magistrate to Panell a Jewry to lay out such High ways as are at Present needfull, namely through Brookses Pasture to the ferry to New Meadow Neck. That as to the ferridge over both Rivers it be left accord- ing to former order to the Townsmen." "At a Town Meeting Legally warned and ye Town met together March 13, 168 1-2. It was voted that six acres of land be left perpetually for the accommodating a Person to keep the ferry. It to be improved for the use and Benefit of ye town as they shall see fit and that this land be laid out by the Committy formerly chosen by ye town to lay out Brookses pasture and that it be laid out as conveniently as may be." "At a Town Meeting Legally warned Jan. 29, 1682-3. Also then was granted William Ingraham by the ferry yard Rome and Liberty to Wharf." "At a Town Meeting Legally warned ist July, 1697, also then agitated Concerning the ferry and the ferry lot not yet laid out in Brookses pasture." "At a Town Meeting Legally warned and met April ye 9th, 1703. Also then voted and agreed to yet ye Selectmen