I'm starting to recall thanks to Mr Ross (struggling to remember your first name ... at least you didnt pick a silly username like mine) ...
I think Lincoln wasnt licenced to act as a ferryman. But he didnt actually ferry anybody across the river. He only took them half way to the ship in the middle of the river ?
... or something like that
“The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that” Robert Burns