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.