The lease to Mr. Converse, in 1631, was renewed Nov. 9, 1636, in form as follows: "The Governor and treasurer, by order of the general court, did demise to Edward Converse the ferry between Boston and Charlestown, to have the sole transporting of passengers and cattle from one side to the other, for three years from the first day of the next month, for the yearly rent of forty pounds to be paid quarterly to the treasurer: Provided, that he see it be well attended and furnished with sufficient boats; and that so soon as may be in the next spring he set up a convenient house on Boston side, and keep a boat there as need shall require. And he is allowed to take his wonted fees, viz., 2_d._ for a single person, and pence apiece, if there be more than one, as well on lecture days as at other times; and for every horse and cow with the man which goeth with them 6_d._, and for a goat 1_d._, and a swine 2_d._ And if any shall desire to pass before it be light in the morning, or after it is dark in the evening, he may take recompence answerable to the season and his pains and hazard, so as it be not excessive." The ferry was a great accommodation, of course, and could not be dispensed with. Johnson mentions it quite early in his "Wonder-Working Providence." In speaking of Charlestown, the "neighbor of Boston, being in the same fashion, with her bare neck," he says "there is kept a ferry-boat to convey passengers over Charles River, which, between the two towns, is a quarter of a mile over, being a very deep channel." But at times, no doubt, the ferry proved troublesome and annoying. So that in the month of October, 1632, Mr. Winthrop records that "about a fortnight before this, those of Charlestown, who had formerly been joined to Boston congregation, now, in regard of the difficulty of passage in the winter, and having opportunity of a pastor, one Mr. [Edward] James, who came over at this time, were dismissed from the congregation of Boston." This, it was said, was after a rather boisterous summer on the bay and harbor. WINNISIMMET FERRY. At a General Court, holden at Boston, the 18th of May, 1631, there were present Mr. Winthrop, governor; Mr. Dudley, deputy-governor; Mr. Ludlowe, Capt. Endicott, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Pinchon, Mr. Bradford, assistants (at which the governor and lieutenant-governor were chosen),--"Thomas Willins [Drake gives the name as Williams] hath undertook to sett up a ferry between Winnisimmet and Charlestown, for which he is to have after three pence a person and from Winnisimmet to Boston four pence a person." Mr. Savage, in a note to Winthrop's journal, speaking of Samuel Maverick at Noddle's Island, says, "Winisemet Ferry, both to Charlestown and Boston, was also granted to him forever." He certainly did conduct a ferry on one or both these routes for a time.