Welcome to Quiyoughcohannock

Claremont is an incorporated town in Surry County, Virginia, overlooking the James River, maintaining the quiet scale of a long-established river settlement. A granite marker in town commemorates the arrival of early British settlers, reflecting Claremont's deep colonial roots. - AsNotedIn

The next day, being the fifth of May, the weroance (chief - Pepsicuminah) of Rapahanna (Quiyoughcohannock) sent a messenger to have us come to him. We entertained the said messenger and gave him trifles, which pleased him. We manned our shallop with muskets and targeteers sufficiently; this said messenger guided us where our determination was to go.

When we landed, the weroance of Rapahanna came down to the waterside with all his train, as goodly men as any I have seen of savages or Christians. The weroance, coming before them playing on a flute made of a reed, with a crown of deer's hair colored red in fashion of a rose fastened about his knot of hair, and a great plate of copper on the other side of his head, with two long feathers in fashion of a pair of horns placed in the midst of his crown, his body was painted all with crimson, with a chain of beads about his neck, his face painted blue, besprinkled with silver ore as we thought, his ears all behung with bracelets of pearl, and in either ear, a bird's claw through it beset with fine copper or gold; he entertained us in so modest a proud fashion as though he had been a prince of civil government, holding his countenance without laughter or any such ill behavior. He caused his mat to be spread on the ground, where he sat down with great majesty, taking a pipe of tobacco, the rest of his company standing about him.

After he had rested awhile, he rose and made signs to us to come to his town; he went foremost, and all the rest of his people and ourselves followed him up a steep hill where his palace was settled. We passed through the woods in fine paths, having most pleasant springs which issued from the mountains. We also went through the goodliest corn fields that ever was seen in any country. When we came to Rapahanno's town, he entertained us in good humanity.