Commencing at the district line on the Saluda River and going down river to its confluence with the Broad at Columbia, there were a number of ferries and one bridge. One of the earliest ferries established was that at Indian Island ford, at the junction of Newberry, Laurens, Abbeville, and Edgefield districts. Robert Cunningham, later to be a brigadier in the British army by virtue of his loyalty to the crown, was given this ferry franchise in 1770. After war commenced, the franchise was given to Colonel James Mayson and James Creswell. Later Archey Mayson and William Caldwell obtained the ferry rights, being succeeded in 1837 by William E. Caldwell, James C. Caldwell, and James S. Pope. The following year the Caldwells were given the franchise, but in 1845 it was awarded to James S. Pope and John W. Payne. Payne obtained the franchise by himself in 1853, and retained it until the end of the antebellum period. The next ferry below Indian Island ford was that operated by Benjamin Cook under a franchise given him in 1777. The act awarding this recited that "making public a ferry over Saluda River, at the lands of Benjamin Cook, will be very convenient to the inhabitants living on the north-west side of the said river, as well as other persons ravelling from the back parts to this state to Charlestown, and other parts of the said state...." It went on to provide that certain persons were exempted from paying any ferriage, including in this category "the President and Commander-in-chief of this State for the time being the Vice President for the time being, all ministers of the gospel, all persons on Sundays going to or returning from any place of divine worship," and various others on military service or going to and from the elections of members of the assembly. Free Indians were also exempted. In 1785 Cook's ferry was vested in William Anderson, who continued to operate it until 1807, when Westly Brooks of Edgefield secured the ferry rights. Apparently this ferry was abandoned before 1814 since no further franchise was granted by the legislature for the ferry at this location. Near the present location of Chappells, Thomas Chappell was granted a franchise to build a bridge in 1792 across the Saluda at his plantation. The act authorized him to charge a penny for every foot passenger; a penny for every led horse; one shilling and two pence for every chair or chariot with one horse; three pence for a man and horse; two pence for every wagon and team; eight pence for every rolling hogshead of tobacco, including the horses and rivers; and one half penny for every head of black cattle, hogs, sheep or goats. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com