Estate Fredensborg

Fredensborg includes portions of estates 13-14-17-18 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 windmill is in good condition.

The 1750 map does not indicate cultivation in estates 13, 14, or 18. However, this map depicts sugar cultivation along with a settlement including an animal mill in estate 17. Neither of the Beck printings nor any of the annotated Beck maps or manuscript copies include a sugar manufacturing icon in estate 13. However, what became estate Fredensborg likely involves the property in the northeast quadrant of estate 17.

The first Beck printing included an animal mill in estate 17. This icon was changed on the second printing to a windmill in estate 17, an icon not changed on the annotated copies of Beck based on the 2nd printing. The 1766 annotated Beck map added sails to the animal mill in estate 17. The c.1770 annotated map added a windmill in estate 18, south of the Fredensborg mill current location. The c.1767 manuscript copy of Beck does not include any sugar manufacturing icons in any of the estates that became Fredensborg.

The 1799 Oxholm map incudes an animal mill in the center of the portion of estate 13 incorporated into Fredensborg. The 1856 Parsons map depicts a windmill at Fredensborg.

All the 20th century topographic maps include ruins identifiable as windmills. The 1921 topographic sheet provides an elevation of the mill at 144 feet.

The 1750 map attributes ownership to Johannes Soeboeker for estate 13. The 1758 map includes estate 17 among those that attribute ownership to Parcel reserved for and worked by His Majesty. The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies all attribute ownership to Martin Heyliger from 1766 through 1791.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.79) notes the name Fredensborg translates to Citadel of Peace.

Photos of Fredensborg, 2020s

Windmill tower obscured by vegetation and the machine slot mostly visible.
Fredensborg windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the machine slot.
Windmill tower obscured by vegetation and the arch of the main entrance partly visible.
Fredensborg windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance.
Windmill tower obscured by vegetation. What can be seen of the tower is exposed cut stone block.
Fredensborg windmill exterior from the north featuring the construction material. This image shows that the west face of the mill has the underlying cut stone block exposed where the plaster has weathered away.
Windmill tower obscured by vegetation. The plaster finish covers up the cut stone block beneath.
Fredensborg windmill exterior from the east featuring the plaster on the wall. This east face has not experienced the weathering on the west face, since the plaster remains intact.

Historic Maps of Fredensborg

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
The 1958 & 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill in the area of Fredensborg.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows the Fred’burg Mill at elevation 144 feet at Fredensburg.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Fredensborg.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill with a square immediately next to it at Fredensborg.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
Fredensborg evolved into the southern half of estate 13, southeastern quadrant of estate 14, northern half of estate 18, and northeastern quadrant of estate 17. Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill at Fredensborg. Other structures with a tree lined drive lie to the south on the hill.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
Fredensborg evolved into the southern half of estate 13, southeastern quadrant of estate 14, northern half of estate 18, and northeastern quadrant of estate 17. Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill at Fredensborg. Other structures with a tree lined drive lie to the south on the hill.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
Fredensborg evolved into the southern half of estate 13, southeastern quadrant of estate 14, northern half of estate 18, and northeastern quadrant of estate 17. The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Martin Meyer Heyliger.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill near Fredensborg, describing it as either Bethlehem or Heiligers Plantation. Given the locations, the sugar mill icon more closely approximates the location of estate 17 than estate 13. The settlement icon above the last letters em corresponds more to estate 19.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
“Fredensborg evolved into the southern half of estate 13, southeastern quadrant of estate 14, northern half of estate 18, and northeastern quadrant of estate 17. The entirety of estates 13 and 14 along with the northern half of estates 17 and18 are shown here for clarity. The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck include the windmill converted from an animal mill in estate 17 from the 2nd printed map. The 1766 annotated map hand draws the sails on the printed animal mill to match the print, although the position of the sails suggests the sails turned in the opposite rotational direction to the sails on the printed conversion. The c.1770 annotated map also added a windmill in estate 18, south of where the Fredensborg mill was built and north of where the King/Upper Bethlehem mill was built. The Zöllner manuscript copy added a windmill in the southern half of estate 13, corresponding with where the Fredensborg mill was built. All the maps attribute ownership to Martin Heyliger Junior, with some spelling variation.”
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
“Fredensborg evolved into the southern half of estate 13, southeastern quadrant of estate 14, northern half of estate 18, and northeastern quadrant of estate 17. The entirety of estates 13 and 14 along with the northern half of estates 17 and18 are shown here for clarity. Neither of the Beck printings indicated sugar manufacturing machinery in estate 13. The animal mill depicted in estate 17 on the first Beck printing was converted to a windmill on the second printing.”
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
“Fredensborg evolved into the southern half of estate 13, southeastern quadrant of estate 14, northern half of estate 18, and northeastern quadrant of estate 17. The entirety of estates 13 and 14 along with the northern half of estates 17 and18 are shown here for clarity. The 1750 map indicates no cultivation at estate 13. Ownership attributed to Johannes Solboeker. However, the 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation including animal mill and other structures at estate 17. Ownership attributed to Mayeslrede og Kede Grint, translated to Parcel reserved for and worked by His Majesty.”
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring King's Quarter estates # 13-14-17-18, currently named Fredensborg.
During the French period, a settlement named Baron is indicated near Fredensborg