Estate Hermitage

Hermitage is estate 5 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 maps through the Beck printings indicate no settlement in estate 5. By 1766, the annotated Beck maps combine estate 5 in King’s Quarter with estate 1 in Prince’s Quarter as owned as a unit. These Beck variants include a hand-written windmill in estate 5, except the 1770 annotated map that only added landowner names.

The 1799 Oxholm map included a windmill to the southwest of the road cutting across the estate. The 1856 Parsons map includes a windmill in a similar location with the road ending at the mill and structures plus a square to the north and east.

The 20th century topographic maps all include two ruins identifiable as a windmill. The 1921 topographic sheet specifies both locations as old mill towers. All the topographic maps locate a roadway passing by the mill and not ending at it. Very likely, the tower to the south is a water tower.

The 1766 annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies attribute ownership to John Willet while the 1767 maps attribute ownership to his heirs. The 1770 and c.1770 annotated Beck maps attribute ownership to Baron de Bretton. By 1790, ownership transitioned to Selby.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.94) notes that estate Hermitage still included estate 1 in Prince’s Quarter with estates 4 and 5 in King’s Quarter. McGuire also attributes ownership in 1851 to Ratcliff along with Manning Bay, Castle Coakley, and other properties.

Historic Maps of Hermitage

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
The 1958 & 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as two windmills at Hermitage.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows two old mill towers at Hermitage.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Hermitage.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill with a square immediately to the east plus another structure at Hermitage.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill at Hermitage.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill at Hermitage.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Selby.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement near Hermitage with an ownership attribution to Heiliger.
Snippets of the annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
The 1766 & 1767 annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck added a windmill to estate 5, Hermitage. All these maps attribute ownership to Johann Willets or his heirs, with some spelling variation.
Snippets of the annotated Beck maps made in 1770 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
The c.1770 annotated Beck map added a windmill to estate 5, Hermitage, while the 1770 annotated map did not, consistent with only adding landowner names to this map. Both these maps attribute ownership to Baron de Bretton, with some spelling variation.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
Neither of the Beck printings indicated sugar manufacturing machinery in estate 5.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring King's Quarter estate # 5, currently named Hermitage.
Estate 5 indicates no crop cultivation and no ownership attribution.