In 1608, the first written record of the Rappahannock Tribe was written by Captain John Smith. He started to take interest in the area. The English started illegally settling in the 1640s. In 1651 the first piece of land was sold to the English, however, they never paid. The 1660s started the forceful removal of the Tribe from their home. In 1921 the Tribe rechartered their land. In 2006, Congress established the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, which includes Fones Cliff and the river below. 2007 came with development proposals that threaten Fones Cliff along with other natural spots. The threat to the land increases as the proposal gets more detailed including hundreds of family condos, a massive resort, and even an 18-hole mini golf course. 2017 brought a generous donation of a single acre of land near Fones Cliff which is used as the starting area for the Return to the River Program. This program is what the Tribe funds to get their land back. In 2018, the Rappahannock Tribe was federally recognized by an act of Congress, and Virginia True (the land developers) illegally cleared 13 acres to bare ground. This caused serious harm to the 13 acres. In 2019, the Rappahannock Tribe celebrates the protection of the Wecuppom village, and this comes with receiving 252 acres of their land back. Virginia True declares bankruptcy, and an owner of 1,100 acres of land around Fones Cliff approaches the Tribe offering to sell. A partner of the Return to the River Program appraises the land and secures the funds. Finally in 2021, 465 of the acres offered in 2019 are returned to the Tribe. The state of Virginia declares parts of the Rappahannock River, including Fones Cliff, a scenic river. As the Tribe has gotten back their land, they have added it to the conservancy to make sure the area is protected. For the future, the Tribe plans on continuing to fight for the rest of the 968 acres of land that Virginia True was in possession of.
Changes over Time
The area has been used for a couple different things, with ideas to make it into something else. It started as a Tribes home and safe place, which led to the Tribe being forced off of their own land. With the forceful removal, settlements were built and used for the English. As time went on a proposal was issued to make the land into a resort subdivision with an 18-hole mini golf course, with condos and single-family homes, lodges, restaurants, stables and more. Thankfully the Tribe worked hard with Congress and other allies to save and protect their land. Eventually, they have gotten back much of their land and fight to protect the carefully made ecosystem of their ancestral home.