Estate Little Princess

Little Princess is estate 5 in St. Croix’s Company’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, two windmills may have been built, with one windmill likely built in the 1760s. If a second windmill was built, that would have occurred in the 19th century. Given the location of one of the windmill icons by a stream, it could be a water tower. One windmill was blocked to store water after decommissioning. The estate was likely named for it being smaller than its neighbor, Great Princess. One windmill tower is in good condition and field reconnaissance failed to locate the other windmill.

Sugar cultivation came early to estate 5, with structures including an animal mill depicted on the 1750 map. Both Beck printings depicted an animal mill in estate 5. The annotated Beck maps added sails to the animal mill to depict a windmill.

The 1778 and 1799 Oxholm maps depict a windmill, with other structures to the south. The 1856 Parsons map depicts two windmills at Little Princess, one of which may have been a well tower. The 1919 topographic sheet shows two icons that could represent a windmill and later topographic maps both depicted ruins identifiable as a windmill.

The 1750 map attributed ownership to Moths heirs. The annotated Beck maps from 1766 through the early 1770s attributed ownership to Peter Heyliger Junior. By 1778 and through 1791, ownership stayed with Peter Heyliger Junior.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.118) notes comprising house, mill, and settlement with landing at western extremity of Christiansted Harbor. Noted Plantage of Peter Heyliger, jr.

Photos of Little Princess, 2020s

Windmill tower with the machine slot in the center of the image. Opening blocked to store water after the mill was decommissioned.
Little Princess windmill exterior from the north featuring the machine slot. The top rim indicates the mill has not collapsed and remains at its original height.
Looking along the edge of the windmill tower, which has a pronounced rim about one foot above grade.
Little Princess windmill exterior north side highlighting the foundation and the rim around the base of the mill.
Looking straight up the side of the windmill tower. Blue sky above. Stones are dark grey from weathering.
Little Princess windmill exterior from the east looking upward. The top rim sticks out from the rest of the tower, serving to deflect rainwater from the very top of the mill.
Rectangular inscription stone with markings difficult to read.
Little Princess windmill exterior from the west featuring the inscription stone. The initials P H are likely for Peter Heyliger.
Windmill tower with bagasse opening at center of image. The topmost part of the arch is missing some of the material that was used to block the opening to store water.
Little Princess windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the bagasse opening. The brick lining of the arch on this opening differs from the stone block for all the other openings.
Windmill tower under partly cloudy sky. Beige limestone can be seen on the top half of the mill clearly, with darker finish lower due to the plaster covering the mill.
Little Princess windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance. The entrance is blocked with stone due to the mill being used to store water after decommissioning. Some of the exterior plaster has worn away, especially on the upper portions of the mill.
Windmill tower on grassy area under cloudy sky. Some bushes on either side of the tower.
Little Princess windmill exterior from the north featuring the machine slot. This windmill was blocked to store water after it was decommissioned. The blocks on the exterior are all similarly sized with some irregularity.

Historic Maps of Little Princess

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill at Little Princess.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
The 1919 USCGS topographic sheet shows a Mill and another icon of a mill without sails in the center of Little Princess.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Little Princess.
Snippet of the inset of the 1856 Parsons map featuring Christiansted featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
The inset of Christiansted from the 1856 Parsons map shows two mills. The mill to the north is indicated at 59 feet elevation. The mill to the south is along a stream, which would be consistent with the well tower.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts two windmills to the north and south of the road with other structures to the west in the center of Little Princess.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on the east end of a ridge with other structures to the south in the center of little Princesse.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estate 5 to Heyliger Junior.
Snippet of Oxholm's 1778 map of Christiansted featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
The 1778 Oxholm map shows a windmill on a hill with other structures in all directions, all in the center of little Princesse. Ownership attributed to Peter Heyliger Junior’s heirs.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement but no sugar mill and attributes no ownership in the area of Little Princess.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies added sails to the animal mill to depict a windmill, with the exception of the 1770 annotated map that only added ownership names. Ownership attributed to Peter Heyliger Junior, with various spellings, on all these maps.
Snippet of the c1757 Beck map featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the west edge of estate 5.
Snippet of the 1754 Beck map featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the west edge of estate 5.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 5. Ownership attributed to Moths heirs.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Company's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Little Princess.
During the French period, ownership in the Little Princess area is attributed to Crameni.