Perhaps, in these discussions regarding place names, and the Native Americans of the Etowah Co. area, we are leading ourselves astray by trying to be too specific with regard to the meaning of some terms, and not specific enough in others. These days, when we use the term "town", we are usually referring to a specific area which has well defined boundaries. But, as one person has noted, some have drawn the conclusion that "Turkey Town" was really a wide ranging area. That is the same conclusion that I drew, long since. There seems to be no disagreement that there was a significant Native American population in the areas of Etowah, Cherokee, and surrounding counties. There is no doubt that "events" occurred in that area that are referenced to "Turkey Town". But, in every case where I have ever seen "Turkey Town" mentioned, it is always relative to some other place. It has been shown on old maps, but the location varies. I think we are overworking the word "Town." Regrettably, perhaps, we need to just be thankful that we know the general area where the Native American population lived and that significant historical events did occur there. The word "ferry" seemingly is also a little bit overworked. Clearly, there was a number of established ferrys along the Coosa between Gadsden the upper reaches of the Coosa. The original settlement where Gadsden is located, if memory serves, was "Rafferties Landing". I am unsure of that spelling. That landing was "near" where the old bridge is located, connecting East Broad and downtown Gadsden. When I asked my grandfather where that landing was located, he said he was not certain, but thought that it was a little upstream from where the old Bridge is located. In any event, until the railroad bridge was built, there was no bridge there, and according to my mother, folks had to be "ferried" across the river to get from East Gadsden to downtown Gadsden. Even after the railroad bridge was built, which was built to facilitate walking traffic and carriages, my Mother said some were afraid to walk across, so still had to be "ferried" across. I got a kick out of my Mother saying "we could not be afraid" -- because her maternal grandfather, William P. Sears, was the Section Master of the railroad. I never have researched for a ferry operation "at" Gadsden. If anyone has, it would be nice to hear their findings. As late as the 1950s, there was not always someone manning the Hokes Bluff ferry. There was a house close by, and if a "paying" customer showed up, they came out. When a paying customer did arrive, I, a kid, on several occasions, hitched a ride. What I am suggesting here is, that while there definitely were some established ferry operations, there likely were a number that were "informal", but, for which, some have given names. One more point that seems to me to be a bit overworked. That being that all of the Native Americans had to "hide out" after the Indian Removal. Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but I think that Native American women, married to White men, and their children, were not required to move, and clearly some did not. Very likely, some did "hide", and seems likely that some who were not required to leave chose to hide out of fear of being persecuted. Identifying and locating one's ancestors is sufficiently difficult as it is. If one incorporates into their thinking conditions that may not have existed, that they were hiding, that is going to make the process unsurmountable. If they were hiding, and were successful, it is highly unlikely you are going to find them now over a hundred years later. A more constructive "assumption" would be that they were not hiding, then turn every stone looking for them. I'll wind this epic down by mentioning a category of records that I rarely see mentioned --- I think they are called "Terrirotial Papers of Alabama", and are available at NARA on microfilm. I have never used them myself, but I have seen extracts from them that mention Native Americans. Those of you who are pursing Native American ancestors might do well to look there. Harry Nelms