Boonesborough Ferry 1779

THE BEGINNINGS OF RIVER COMMERCEKentucky River Navigation

The first ferry was authorized by an act of the Virginia Assembly in October, 1779, to operate from Boonesborough. This town was the terminus of Boone's Trace, and the point at which the extension to Lexington crossed the river.

Richard Callaway (Joseph Callaway) requested permission to keep a "public ferry" from the "Town Land to the land of this state" since "from the first seating of This town both the inhabitants and travelers" had found it very inconvenient to cross the river "only in dry seasons in the summer time" and "both this town and country" had become "very popular" and "much resorted by travelers."

The act granting the request reads in part:
"Whereas it is represented to this present general assembly that public ferries at the places hereafter mentioned will be of great advantage to travellers and others; Be it therefore enacted, that public ferries be constantly kept at the following places and the rates for passing same shall be as follows, . . . at the town of Boonesborough in the County of Kentucky, across Kentucky River to the land on the opposite shore, the price for a man three shillings (fifty cents) and for a horse the same; the keeping of which last mentioned ferry and the emoluments arising therefrom are given and granted to Richard Callaway, his heirs or assigns so long as he or they shall well and faithfully keep same according to the directions of this act; and for the transportation of wheel carriages, tobacco, cattle, and other beasts at the places aforesaid, the ferry-keeper may demand and take the following rates, that is to say, for every coach, chariot, or wagon, and the driver thereof, the same as for six horses; for every cart, or four wheel chaise and the driver thereof, the same as for four horses; for every two wheel chaise, or chair, the same as for two horses; for every hogshead of tobacco, as for one horse; for every head of neat cattle as for one horse; for every sheep, goat, or lamb, one fifth part of the ferriage for one horse and for every hog one fourth part of the ferriage for one horse, and no more."

A ferry keeper who demanded or received more than the legal rates must forfeit to the party aggrieved the "ferriage," and pay a fine of ten shillings.

The above article from The Kentucky River Navigation, Mary Verhoeff, pg. 50, J. P. Morton & Co., 1917.
Photo of Boonesborough Ferry, ca. 1930, Eastern Kentucky University Archives.

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