County: Richmond County

The Belmont Canning Factory, located in Richmond County, Virginia, played a significant role in the local economy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known for producing canned goods such as vegetables, fruits, and seafood, the factory was a vital part of the community, providing employment and economic stability for many local families.

The factory’s history is a testament to the agricultural and industrial growth of the Northern Neck, as it relied heavily on the region’s rich natural resources. Belmont also highlighted the increasing importance of preservation and processing in the agricultural industry at the time.

Today, the Belmont Canning Factory stands as a historical marker of the region’s industrial past, offering insight into the lives of those who contributed to Virginia’s agricultural economy.

The Brown House in Richmond County is an important landmark, serving as a historical site linked to African American history and the community’s development in the region.

Totuskey Creek: Defining the Rappahannock Indigenous Cultural Landscape Paper

The deed between the Rappahannock Indian chief and counselors and Moore Fauntleroy for land on the east side of Totuskey Creek is one of a few surviving documents describing a land transfer between the English and a Native leader pg:39

Clearly, English encroachment was well underway by the end of the 1650s and into the 1660s. Patents issued in March 1663 and September 1664 for large tracts at the head of Cat Point Creek made reference to the Rappahannock Indians’ town, evidence that members of the tribe were still there (Patent Book 5:138, 239). By 1669, however, when a census was made of the colony’s Indians, most of the Rappahannock appear to have moved to New Kent County (Hening 1901:II:275). Some of the Rappahannock (possibly those referred to as the Little Rappahannock or Totusky) remained behind and were still living near Totuskey Creek when Henry Clarke, Old Rappahannock County’s sub-sheriff, warned a settler named John Alloway to get “off the land at the Indian Towne on Totuskey Creek & further not to cleare or fall any more timber nor commit any further trespass” (Old Rappahannock County Deeds &c 1668-1672:117). Pg 29/43 of document

If the policy of allocating 50 acres per bowman was applied to the Moraughtacund in 1662, it can be inferred that they had 40 warriors at the time they received their land. In October 1667, a colonist named John Hull reportedly purchased both the Moraughtacund and Totuskey Indian towns (Old Rappahannock Deeds 1663-1668:139). In 1669, the Moraughtacund were omitted from the census of the colony’s Indians, raising the possibility that they had merged with or were living with another group (Hening 1901:II:275). In 1685, when John Ascough patented 1,400 acres on the southeast side of Mattaponi Run at the head of the Mattaponi River, his acreage reportedly was “part whereon the Mattaponi & Morattico Indians formerly lived” (Patent Book 7:439). Pg 31/45 doc

As the English began to move westward along the Rappahannock, the Rappahannock groups were displaced, not unlike what had happened in the James and York rivers. By October 1667, the Rappahannock had abandoned their town on Totuskey Creek (Old Rappahannock County Deeds 3:356). The last straw came in the form of a series of consecutive natural disasters that year. In April, a severe 75 and devastating hailstorm struck the Chesapeake destroying newly planted crops, breaking windows, and tearing holes through the roofs of people’s homes. Later that summer a deluge of rain lasting 40 days drowned and flooded any remaining crops. To make matters worse, in August, a hurricane completely flattened fields of corn (British Public Records Office; Morton 1960:193). This series of natural disasters may have pre-empted a move by the Rappahannock to relocate to higher ground on the south side of the river. In 1684, the Rappahannock relocated yet again to the banks of the river. It was also in that year that the Rappahannock moved to Portobago Indian town on the south side of the Rappahannock just south of Port Royal. They settled on land surrounded by parcels that had already claimed by English patentees for almost two decades. In 1662, Thomas Lucas was issued a patent for 934 acres of land described as being “two miles above Port Tobacco Town” (Patents 5/302). This land contained 640 acres that had been previously granted to Lucas and Vallentine Allen in 1657. The Lucas and Allen patent describes the land as being “about two miles below Nanzemum Town” (Patents 4/237). These descriptions place this tract just east of the Camden site (44CE0003).pg 75&76/ doc 90

Totuskey Creek served as the boundary between Moore Fauntleroy’s holdings and the land reserved for use by the Rappahannock. This river was also home to the Totuskey (Totas Chees/Totosha) Indians and the Moraughtacund during the early to mid-17th century. The creek today is accessible via a public boat ramp off of Route 3, History Land Highway, maintained by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Located directly north of the boat ramp on Route 3 is a historical marker highlighting the Rappahannock Indians. Marker JT-10 was dedicated in 2006, and states: Prior to the 17th century, the Rappahannock Indians maintained seasonal residences on the banks of Totuskey Creek. They fished for spawning shad and herring each spring, trapping fish in weirs in the creek’s narrows and preparing them for the tribe to consume or trade. When the Rappahannock were forced to begin selling their lands to the English in 1651, part of the tribe moved here to ‘Totosha’ town. In 1667, the Rappahannock sold this town and moved to their hunting grounds on the south side of the Rappahannock River, where they continue to live today (Figure 21).

Fones Cliffs, a significant area for the Rappahannock Tribe, is set to be returned to their stewardship after nearly a thousand acres of land were acquired. This land, once home to the tribe’s village of Wecuppom, has deep cultural and historical value. The restoration of this land is not only a monumental step for the tribe but also an effort to protect crucial wildlife habitats.

The acquisition was the result of years of collaboration and dedication between tribal leaders, conservationists, and state agencies, ensuring that the land’s preservation would be sustainable for future generations. The return of Fones Cliffs will help maintain the tribe’s cultural heritage while promoting environmental stewardship.With plans in place for future conservation efforts, this historic land restoration project marks a turning point in the tribe’s journey toward reclaiming and protecting its ancestral grounds. To learn more about the tribe’s vision and ongoing preservation initiatives, read the full story.

Menokin, also known as the Francis Lightfoot Lee House, is a historically significant site located near Warsaw, Virginia. Built in the mid-18th century, it was the plantation home of Francis Lightfoot Lee, a Founding Father and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The house was constructed by John Tayloe II, Lee’s father-in-law, who owned the nearby Mount Airy plantation. Menokin stands as a symbol of the era’s elite culture and the pivotal role of its residents in early American history. The house itself is an architectural marvel of the period, showcasing the wealth and status of the Lee family. Though much of the original structure has been lost over time, the ruins are now part of a preserved historical site.

Today, Menokin is maintained as a heritage site where visitors can learn about the lives of its inhabitants and their contributions to American independence.To explore Menokin’s history and ongoing preservation efforts, visit Menokin.