Excerpt from Old Ferries, Camden, New Jersey: An Address Delivered Before the Camden County Historical Society

Therefore we permit and appoint that a common passage or ferry for man and beast be provided, fixed and settled in some convenient and proper place between ye mouths or entrance of Cooper's creek and Newton creek, and that the government, managing and keeping of ye same be committed to ye said William Roydon and his assigns, who are hereby empowered and appointed to establish, fix and settle ye same within ye limits aforesaid, wherein all other persons are desired and requested to keep no other common or public passage or ferry.

William Roydon, the first ferryman, was enjoined to provide good and sufficient boats which were to be in readiness at all times to ac commodate people's actions. The rates were fixed at six pence per head for each person, twelve pence for man and horse, or other beast, and six pence per head for swine, cattle and sheep.

There is a great deal of confusion in tracing the various ferries between Camden and Philadelphia. In Pennsylvania, the Proprietary Governor, at first, claimed the right of granting ferry privileges, but this was steadily resisted by the City Council of Philadelphia, and the latter was finally conceded the authority. In West Jersey, the Gloucester County Court early exercised the prerogative, as has been noted in the authority given William Roydon. Since the ferries re quired landings on both sides of the river, and each State exercised the right within its own limits, it very often happened that the ferry was known by one name in Pennsylvania and by another in New Jersey. They most often took the names of the proprietors of the hotels adjacent to their landings, for it should be remembered that ferry rights were considered a profitable adjunct to the hotels, which on the Camden side, were all located on the river bank. Another factor causing confusion in distinguishing between the ferries was the similarity of names of the several ferry masters.

The first ferry slips were very primitive affairs, without waiting rooms for the accommodation of the public, or coverings of any kind over the slips. In later years, rough board sheds were erected and provided with a stove in the middle of the room, around which the half frozen ferrymen with their strong cigars, or rank pipes, would huddle. It was, therefore, easy to understand why the old hotels became so popular and left such an indelible impression upon the early travelers who were compelled to wait for the arrival or departure of one of the ferry boats.

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