The bridge having been destroyed, Thomas Chappell was granted in 1800 a ferry franchise "at or near where" he had a bridge. The rates of ferriage allowed to be charged were considerably higher than those permitted for use of the bridge: two cents for every sheep, goat, or hog; four cents for every head of neat cattle; four cents for every horse and the same for every foot passenger; twenty-five cents for a two-wheeled carriage; fifty cents for a four-wheeled carriage; and twelve cents for a hogshead of tobacco. Thereafter the ferry franchise was granted to members of the Chappell family until 1838 when John Chappell was granted a franchise to build a bridge at The ferry site for the unexpired term of the ferry franchise and for an additional fourteen years. A ferry franchise at Saluda Old Town was granted to Charles Carson in 1770. Later Robert Tate operated this ferry, and then William Dunlap and William Moore. apparently the ferry was discontinued for some years since no legislative acts pertaining to it appear in the Statutes at Large from 1808 until 1850. In the latter year David Payne and David C. Boazman were granted a franchise to operate a ferry about four miles below Chappell's bridge and about six miles above Higgins' ferry. One of the most important ferries on the Saluda River was that located near the present highway bridge on the Newberry-Saluda road. It was first established in 1795 when a ferry was authorized to be established at Abney's ford by Nathaniel Abney on the south side and Francis Higgins on the north side of the river. It continued to be operated by one or both of these families until the Civil War, but no legislation can be found regarding the franchise after 1831 except the Act of 1850. About five miles down the Saluda there was a ferry known at various times as Boatner's, Waldo's, Lorick's, Huiet's, and Bouknight's. In 1806 Elias Boatner was authorized to establish a ferry at a place called Boatner's Landing. When Thomas Anderson surveyed Edgefield District in 1817, he showed "Lorick's, late Waldo's." The next legislative franchise appearing int he Statutes at Large is that granted din 1835 to Christiana Haiet (Huiet) which refers to "the ferry over Saluda river, commonly known as Lorick's ferry." In 1844 the franchise was vested in Christiana Huiet an Joseph S. Huiet, the act reciting that it was for the ferry across the Big Saluda River "on the road leading form Newberry Court House to Hamburg and Aiken, formerly know as Boatner's, Waldon's (sic), and Lorick's Ferry;" In 1852 William Bouknight was given the franchise for ten years. Just a short distance downstream near Parkin's Ford at the mouth of Bush River, Philemon Waters was allowed to establish a public ferry in 1786. It was rechartered in 1800, 1807, and 1813. The ferry was apparently abandoned before Anderson made his survey of Edgefield District in 1817. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com