The Winnisimmet Ferry was a ferry between Chelsea, Massachusetts, United States, and Boston's North End. Founded in 1631, when Chelsea was called Winnisimmet, it was the oldest ferry in the country.[1] It ceased operations in 1917.[2] [3] The original ferry was started by Thomas Williams (alias Harris) on 18 May 1631.[4] After Harris' untimely death in 1634, William Stitson (who married Thomas' widow Elizabeth) took over the ferry.[5]
The Montgomery & Howard shipyard in Chelsea, Massachusetts, built passenger steamboats, pilot boats, and ferryboats. They built for the Winnisimmet Ferry Company, Old Colony Steamship Company and the Fall River Line.[6]
A temporary ferry service under the same name began on May 15, 1990, during early Big Dig construction, running between Chelsea and Rowes Wharf in Boston.[7]