Estate Body Slob

Body Slob is estate 19 in St. Croix’s King’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 stone is partially legible and suggests the surname Bodkin and a date in the 1760s. The windmill is in good condition.

The 1750 map indicates no sugar cultivation in estates 19 & 20. Focusing on estate 19, the first printing of the Beck map includes an animal mill in the northwest quadrant of the estate and the second printing includes 2 animal mills, adding one in the southeast quadrant of the estate.

The 1766 annotated Beck map converts the single animal mill to a windmill. The other annotated Beck maps, based on the second printing, converted the animal mill in the southeast quadrant to a windmill except the 1770 annotated map that only added landowner names. The unsigned manuscript copy of Beck includes sugar manufacturing icons in the same orientation as these other 3 maps. However, following the 1766 map, the Zöllner manuscript copy of Beck only includes a windmill centrally located in the estate.

The 1799 Oxholm map indicates a windmill at Slob on top of a hill. The 1856 map shows a settlement at Slob with elevation indicated as 182 feet. The 1921 topographic sheet notes the Slob mill at an elevation of 173 feet. The later 20th century topographic maps both indicate ruins identifiable as a windmill at Slob. The one on the hilltop is the windmill while the one to the east of the road is the water tower.

The 1750 map attributes ownership of estates 19 & 20 jointly to Robert Handsen and James French. By 1766, ownership transferred solely to Laurence Bodkin for estate 19 per most of the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies. If the 1770 map is correct, Bodkin died in the late 1760s, with his heirs attributed ownership on the 1770 annotated map. Bodkin was most likely still alive in 1766, being appointed as executor of James Doran’s will. By 1790, ownership transitioned to Beekman.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.37, 178) notes the mill sits on a 179-foot hill on the west side of the estate and the estate can be called Slob or Body Slob.

Historic Maps of Body Slob

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring King's Quarter estate # 19, currently named Body Slob.
The 1958 & 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill at Slob. The windmill is on top of the hill, while the water tower is next to the road from Fredensborg at a lower elevation.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring King's Quarter estate # 19, currently named Body Slob.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows the Slob Mill at elevation 173 feet at Slob.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring King's Quarter estate # 19, currently named Body Slob.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Slob.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring King's Quarter estate # 19, currently named Body Slob.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts structures but no windmill at elevation 182 feet at Slob.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring King's Quarter estate # 19, currently named Body Slob.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill at Slob.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring King's Quarter estate # 19, currently named Body Slob.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill at Slob.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring King's Quarter estate # 19, currently named Body Slob.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Beekman.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring King's Quarter estate # 19, currently named Body Slob.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement near Body Slob with no ownership attribution.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring King's Quarter estate # 19, currently named Body Slob.
All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck converted one of the animal mills in estate 19 from the printed map into a windmill, except the 1770 annotated map that only added landowner names. All the maps attribute ownership to Laurence Bodkin, with some spelling variation, except the 1770 annotated Beck map, which attributes ownership to Bodkin’s heirs.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring King's Quarter estate # 19, currently named Body Slob.
The first Beck printing indicates one animal mill while the second printing indicates two in estate 19.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring King's Quarter estate # 19, currently named Body Slob.
The 1750 map indicates no cultivation at estate 19. Ownership attributed to Robert James.