The Statistical Account (SA) of 1793 advises “there is an act of the 7th Parliament of King James III held at Edinburgh, May 9th 1474 regulating other passages and at the Port-in-Craige, ane penny for the man and the horse ane penny.” It is recorded that 1501 King James IV crossed on his way to Arbroath at a cost of 28 shillings including horses and it was said that unscrupulous boatmen charged an extortionate price. In September 1645, Dundee Council, due to the approach of plague spreading through several burghs of Fife,  discharged any passage at all by water and ordained that no boats cross the river.  – The 1793 S.A. also notes that the Rev. Robert Dalgleish, minister and Laird of Scotscraig, advises “it was often found so inconvenient and dangerous to boat horses from a ragged craig and the Legislature interposed their authority, ordaining the ferries to make brigges to their boats (by which is meant a kind of timber platform, to be laid from the most proper part of the craig, to the gunwale of the boat) for shipping horses with more ease and safety. These brigges were always used at this passage, till some time ago, that piers were built for the convenience of passengers and the security of horses.”

The Commonty Agreement of 1799 included that cattle and bestial of all kinds passing and re-passing over the Tay at Ferry-Port-on-Craig, shall have the same liberty and privileges in time coming of resting and pasturing on the same piece of ground to the west of the village, as was the custom in all former periods. The completion of the St Michaels to Newport Turnpike Road in 1787 saw increased use made of the Newport river crossing, however the drovers still often crossed here, ” having good conveniency for their cattle on both sides of the river.“

The road was made in 1830, under the Turnpike Road Legislation by the Laird Robert Dalgleish younger of Scotscraig Estate. The estate at that time also included the village of Maryton (East Newport) in the adjacent parish of Forgan, which was named after his wife Mary Bayne of Rires & Dura. The William, Robert & James Street names reflected several generations of the Dalgleish family ownership of Scotscraig. Following the construction of the Turnpike Road from St. Michaels to Newport in 1787 competition on the ferry routes was increased. The introduction of steam on the Newport- Dundee ferry route in 1821 caused the Rev. W. Nicholson, to record in the 1836 Statistical Account, “The nearest market-town of any consequence within the county is Cupar, the county town, (eleven miles distant) where several well frequented fairs are held during the year. The principal intercourse, however, is with Dundee, to which there is easy access, either by steam-boat on the Newport passage, or by an excellent sailing vessel which leaves Ferry-Port-on-Craig for Dundee, and returns every lawful day, carrying goods and passengers.”

Whilst recognising general parish improvements since the S.A. of 1793  census in common with other places, the ferry was an exception. “ There is nothing in which we seem to be left so far behind, amid the improvements of the age, as the state of the ferry passage, which has still to be effected in every state of the weather by small sailing boats. Scarcely anywhere else in the kingdom is this now the case on a passage of nearly two miles. A steam boat is therefore much desiderated; and it is hoped that, among the improvements so vigorously carrying on under the new proprietorship of Scotscraig, this will not be long wanting.” It is reported that the steamboat Lion was introduced at Ferry-Port-on-Craig in 1836 (Ian Brodie 2003) and superseded by the Mercury 1845.