27 



by mules, or liorses, walking around on deck, which was 

 called a ''team-boat." 



We know that there were few Colonial postoffices as 

 early as 1700. In 1790 there existed in the United States 

 only 75 postoffices and 1,875 miles of post routes. We can 

 tell therefore very little of how our forefathers communi- 

 cated Avith each other by letter, or how these letters were 

 carried, in this section, very probably by private opportu- 

 nities, for we are certain that at first there were no, or very 

 few public posts. Sometime in the early part of last cen- 

 tury there was some kind of postoffice in Charleston, for I 

 have heard of letters being brought by stage. Those be- 

 longing to persons in vicinity of 32 Mile House were left 

 there, and those for the River ( Santee) people were dropped 

 at Ferry, all to be called for. This was carried on until 

 stages were discontinued, and a once-a-week sulky line was 

 established, going through to North Santee. In 1852 there 

 were only 484 postoffices in South Carolina. The earliest 

 })ostoffice I can remember, 1859-00, was kept near Ferry by 

 Mr. Baxley, and the next, during the War, a mile or so 

 lower down at Parsonage. Rev. Mr. Hyatt attending to it. 

 This he did later, when afterAvards he moved to McClel- 

 lanville. The mail service just after the Civil War was very 

 ])oor, once a week. I remember at one time a negro, for a 

 short while, walked the route going and returning. 



Tn the early days of the postoffice the postage charged 

 was four pence, six and a half cents, per letter, and it had 

 to be prepaid in coin, and if there was no postoffice near 

 sender the receiver of it had to pay before it was delivered. 



Think you there would be much correspondence carried 

 on or duns sent if those conditions prevailed now? Neither 

 was there then. The postage during our War was ten cents. 

 T had a letter to my father, some time in the '40s, on which 

 was written in place of stamp, not then used, "Charge to 

 Robinson and Blackloch," — his factors. 



Neither were there any envelopes in those days, the letter 

 was so written that it could be folded, and the ends stuck 

 in. and fastened by a little wafer moistened in the mouth. 



The early freight to and from Charleston was carried 

 in long, ungainly boats with one large sail, and worse look- 



