Estate Annas Hope

Annas Hope is estate 8 in St. Croix’s Company’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s. The windmill was blocked to store water after decommissioning. The inscription on the main entrance keystone says R I&P 1769. The windmill tower is in good condition.

Sugar cultivation came early to estate 8 of Company’s Quarter, long associated with all or a portion of the neighboring estate 36 Queen’s Quarter to the west. On the 1750 map, sugar cultivation spans both estates, with structures depicted in estate 36 Queen’s Quarter. An animal mill first appears on the first Beck printing in 1754. Only the c.1770 annotated Beck map added sails to the animal mill to depict a windmill.

The 1778 and 1799 Oxholm maps both depict a windmill to the south of the road at Nancys hope. The 1856 Parsons map places the windmill at the same relative location at Anna’s Hope. The 1919 topographic sheet indicates the ruins of a windmill, although the later topographic maps indicate no ruins identifiable as a windmill.

The inscription on the main entrance keystone: R I & P 1769 suggests the mill was built in 1769 under the direction of Joseph & Peter Robinson.

The 1750 map attributed ownership to Joseph Robbensen. Ownership attributed to Joseph and Peter Robinson on the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies, except the 1770 annotated map that attributed ownership to Kortreight. By 1778 and through 1791, ownership transitioned to De Nully.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.27) notes the alternative name Nancy’s Hope, location of Anna’s Hope, and its early ownership by Joseph & Peter Robinson.

Photos of Annas Hope, 2020s

Windmill tower under a mostly sunny sky and partly obscured by bush.
Annas Hope windmill exterior from the east.
Keystone with inscription of the letter R over the letters I & P over the date 1769. In this case, the letter I likely represents the letter J for James.
Annas Hope windmill exterior from the west with a close up of the inscription stone. The initials appear to represent James and Peter Robinson, who owned the estate in 1769. The date likely represents the construction date for the windmill.
Windmill tower with the main entrance blocked to store water. The tower has regular stone block construction and the pattern of stones blocking the main entrance differs from the rest of the tower.
Annas Hope windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance.
Windmill tower with main entrance blocked to store water and a pipe at the lower right corner of the blocking for draining the water. The bagasse opening can be seen to the right.
Annas Hope windmill exterior from the west with a close up of the main entrance.
Sidelong view of the windmill tower with the main entrance partly seen and the pipe sticking out of the wall to drain the water.
Annas Hope windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance. The drain pipe for the water can be seen protruding from the mill wall at the bottom of the opening.
Windmill tower with regular stone block construction. The machine spot is blocked with stone and a different mortar from the rest of the windmill tower.
Annas Hope windmill exterior from the north featuring the machine slot.

Historic Maps of Annas Hope

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no ruins identifiable as a windmill at Annas Hope.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
The 1919 USCGS topographic sheet shows Mill in the center of Anna’s Hope.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Annas Hope.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill to the south of the road with other structures to the north in the center of Anna’s Hope. The elevation 260 feet has mild ambiguity about what it references.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on the south side of a hill to the south of the road with other structures to the northwest in the center of Nancys hope.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estate 8 to DeNully.
Snippet of Oxholm's 1778 map of Christiansted featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
The 1778 Oxholm map shows a windmill at the bottom of a hill south of the road with other structures including an animal mill to the west and other structures to the north across the road, all in the southwest quadrant of Nancys hope. Ownership attributed to Mad. De Nully.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to Robinson in the area of Annas Hope.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies retain the animal mill from the printed map, with the exception of the c.1770 annotated map added sails to the animal mill in estate 8 to depict a windmill. Ownership attributed to Joseph and Peter Robinson on all these maps, with various spellings, except the 1770 annotated map that attributed ownership to Kortreight.
Snippet of the c1757 Beck mapfeaturing Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon to the north of the road in the west side of estate 8.
Snippet of the 1754 Beck map featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon to the north of the road in the west side of estate 8.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation but no structures in estate 8. Ownership attributed to Joseph Robbensen.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 8, currently named Anna's Hope.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near Annas Hope.