Estate Punch

Punch is estate 4 in St. Croix’s Northside A Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the late 18th century. The windmill is in good condition. Given the regrowth of bush in recent decades, accessing this windmill currently presents significant difficulties.

The first suggestion of settlement of estate Punch is the ownership attributed to Roger Ferrall through the late 1760s with no indication of sugar machinery on any of the Beck map variants. By 1790, ownership transitioned to Ferrall’s heirs.

The 1799 Oxholm map includes a windmill at Punch, an icon also present on the 1856 Parsons map. The 20th-century topographic maps all indicate a windmill ruin on a hilltop at Punch.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.153) indicates the estate in grass and fruit trees in the 1920s, with both a mill and house on a 688-foot hill.

Historic Maps of Punch

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1982 featuring Northside A quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
The 1982 USGS topographic map shows ruins identifiable as a windmill at Punch.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958 featuring Northside A quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
The 1958 USGS topographic map shows ruins identifiable as a windmill at Punch.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
The 1920 USCGS topographic map shows the Punch Mill at an elevation of 684 feet.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Punch.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill and other structures to the east at Punch.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and its 1820 revision show a windmill at Punch.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Northside A quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill at Punch.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen, respectively, attribute ownership to Ferrals heirs.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of Frederiksted from 1778 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
An animal mill and two other structures are depicted here with ownership attributed to Roger Ferrall’s heirs. Note north is to the right on this image. The location of this estate indicates Oxholm mistakenly placed the Quarter line too far north on this map.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement in the area of Punch.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
For the annotated and manuscript copies of the Beck map, none show an animal mill in estate 4. All attribute ownership to Roger Ferral.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
Neither of the Beck printings depict any sugar machinery.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
The 1750 map indicates no cultivation and attributes no ownership.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 4, currently named Punch.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near Punch.
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