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Jeremiah Wadsworth’s Wagons at Hooe’s Ferry
I made the decision to show the Wadsworth wagons at the ferry crossing, not realizing the questions this would ultimately involve. It turns out there is very little information available online or in print about ferry operations across the Potomac or the boats utilized for horses and wagons. I have therefore relied on period illustrations of ferries operating across the Delaware River, illustrations of ferries of crossings of southern rivers and Closen and du Bourg’s journals. Closen comments: “While waiting for the ferry boats to arrive from the other side, we breakfasted as well as could be expected at the inn, which is very near the Potomac. When the boats arrived, we embarked and after two hours of patience, the river being five miles wide, we were carried to the other side, to the house of a certain Hose, after whom the ferry is named.” Du Bourg describes this portion of the journey: “After halting there some time we crossed the Potomac, which at this place is at least four miles wide. The boat was not large enough for all our horses; we first embarked our servants, and then crossed ourselves to the other side of the river.”
Ferries large enough to accommodate wagons and the teams of horses pulling them would have paid close attention to the tides; crossing from Maryland to Virginia with the tide coming in and from Virginia to Maryland when it was going out. Sometimes it was necessary to summon a ferry from across the river. The British navy and privateers were also always a threat. The ship’s Master’s log for July 21, 1776 of the HMS Roebuck notes taking three ferry boats from “Leadars Ferry.” Less than a month after Dillon and comte de Saint-Maisme crossed in March, Loyalist privateers raided both the Maryland and Virginia landings. Weather was also a factor with other travelers noting delays. Frightened horses could capsize a ferry and reports of drownings were not uncommon. All three parties in these paintings apparently departed from Cedar Point, which was the stated Maryland terminus for Hooe’s Ferry. The Laidler family operated a ferry from their nearby upstream property. Mrs. Young’s Inn was also close, and it seems reasonable that Closen and du Bourg ate there. DeWitt notes the location of Mrs. Young’s and she is mentioned by Thomas Jefferson and others in their travel accounts. On April 5, 1781, both Daniel Jenifer and Thomas Stone noted that Mrs. Young’s Ferry was one of the properties raided by loyalist privateers. Ships from the same privateer flotilla raided the Hooe family property on the Virginia side. Oil on canvas 24x48 inches
Ferries large enough to accommodate wagons and the teams of horses pulling them would have paid close attention to the tides; crossing from Maryland to Virginia with the tide coming in and from Virginia to Maryland when it was going out. Sometimes it was necessary to summon a ferry from across the river. The British navy and privateers were also always a threat. The ship’s Master’s log for July 21, 1776 of the HMS Roebuck notes taking three ferry boats from “Leadars Ferry.” Less than a month after Dillon and comte de Saint-Maisme crossed in March, Loyalist privateers raided both the Maryland and Virginia landings. Weather was also a factor with other travelers noting delays. Frightened horses could capsize a ferry and reports of drownings were not uncommon. All three parties in these paintings apparently departed from Cedar Point, which was the stated Maryland terminus for Hooe’s Ferry. The Laidler family operated a ferry from their nearby upstream property. Mrs. Young’s Inn was also close, and it seems reasonable that Closen and du Bourg ate there. DeWitt notes the location of Mrs. Young’s and she is mentioned by Thomas Jefferson and others in their travel accounts. On April 5, 1781, both Daniel Jenifer and Thomas Stone noted that Mrs. Young’s Ferry was one of the properties raided by loyalist privateers. Ships from the same privateer flotilla raided the Hooe family property on the Virginia side. Oil on canvas 24x48 inches