Ferrylords

The fen's name for the three largest ferry-holding families—the Gedneys, Redhams and Wiggenhalls—who hold the crossings by ancient grant, a right to say who crosses coupled with a duty to carry the parish, priests, midwives, coffins and anyone answering a staithe bell.

The three ferry families of the fen, who carry for the holms and for Sarkholme and are bound to carry a coffin at any hour, without charge.

Named with it

• Ferrylord Stephen Wiggenhall · Notes from the Mere Sessions
• Stephen Wiggenhall · ferrylord

Ties

• quarrel with the Chapter at Harrowgate over the watching of the drowned
• speak last at the Mereton Reed Sessions
• a Redmarsh-backed proposal may be declined by a ferrylord (House Redmarsh)
• carry for Sarkholme
• associated with the reed sessions

At the table

Their power is purely negative but decisive: a ferrylord who declines to carry a party has effectively decided a fen dispute, and the assize has three times refused to compel them. They know the mere best and are the people to ask about lights, unlit staithes and bounty men. They watch the drowned a night at the staithe before burial, against the chapter's wishes. They carry the dead to Saint Ceolwulf's island in their own boats. At Crowdyke they carried men across all three nights unpaid, and one of them did not come back. Since then they watch every body that crosses for one night, a rule they agreed among themselves. A ferrylord disputes the Red Carr claim, holding that 'unheld' does not mean 'unused'.