Estate Mount Pleasant Colquehoun

Mount Pleasant Colquehoun is estate 6 in St. Croix’s King’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1750s. The estate was likely named for longtime early owners, members of the Colhoun family. The windmill has been reduced to a foundation.

The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation but no animal mill. Intriguingly, the animal mill depicted to the west of the stream in estate 6 on the first Beck printing was buffed out and a windmill to the east of the stream added to the second printing. While the 1766 annotated Beck map adds sails to the animal mill, all the other annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies include the windmill on the east side of the stream.

The 1799 Oxholm map shows a windmill on the lower eastern flank of a hill at Mount pleasant, with the rod running from the east ending at the structures northeast of the windmill. The 1856 Parsons map also indicates a windmill with an elevation of 221 feet at Mt. Pleasant. On this map, structures included to south are balanced with structures to the north at the road’s end.

The 1921 topographic sheet indicates an old mill tower at an elevation of 220 feet at Colquehoun Mt. Pleasant. The later 1958 and 1982 topographic maps make no mention of ruins at Mt Pleasant.

The 1750 map attributes ownership to Thomas Eils. By 1766, ownership attribution shifted to Robert Colhune’s heirs, as consistently represented on all the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies. By 1790, ownership transitioned simply to Colhoun.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.57, 131) notes a mill on the southeast slope of Colquohoun Mt. Pleasant hill. The name Colquohoun corrupted from the Colhoun family, being added to distinguish Mt. Pleasant from identically named estates in other St. Croix quarters.

Photos of Mount Pleasant Colquehoun, 2020s

Windmill tower foundation largely obscured by vegetation.
Mount Pleasant Colquehoun windmill exterior from the south from a distance.

Historic Maps of Mount Pleasant Colquehoun

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring King's Quarter estate # 6, currently named Mount Pleasant Colquehoun.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring King's Quarter estate # 6, currently named Mount Pleasant Colquehoun.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows an old mill tower at elevation 220 feet just north of the Colquehoun Mt. Pleasant Chimney at Colquehoun Mt. Pleasant.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring King's Quarter estate # 6, currently named Mount Pleasant Colquehoun.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Mt. Pleasant.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring King's Quarter estate # 6, currently named Mount Pleasant Colquehoun.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at elevation 221 feet with structures to the north and south at Mt. Pleasant.
Snippets copy of Oxholm by Lang of 1820 featuring King's Quarter estate # 6, currently named Mount Pleasant Colquehoun.
The 1820 Oxholm revision show a windmill at Mount pleasant with three structures to the northeast.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring King's Quarter estate # 6, currently named Mount Pleasant Colquehoun.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill at Mount pleasant with three structures to the northeast.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring King's Quarter estate # 6, currently named Mount Pleasant Colquehoun.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Colhoun.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring King's Quarter estate # 6, currently named Mount Pleasant Colquehoun.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement with a sugar mill near Mount Pleasant Colquehoun 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 # 6, currently named Mount Pleasant Colquehoun.
All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck kept the windmill from the 2nd printing of the Beck map with the exception of the 1766 annotated map that transformed the animal mill to a windmill, without moving it from the west side of the stream to the east side. All the maps attribute ownership to Robert Colhune or his heirs, with some spelling variation.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring King's Quarter estate # 6, currently named Mount Pleasant Colquehoun.
The animal mill depicted to the west of the stream in estate 6 on the first Beck printing was buffed out and a windmill to the east of the stream added to the second printing.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring King's Quarter estate # 6, currently named Mount Pleasant Colquehoun.
The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation, but no animal mill, at estates 6 & 7. Ownership attributed to Thomas Eils.