Estate Rose Hill

Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale is estate 17 in St. Croix’s Northside A Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 19th century. This windmill was only represented on the 1856 Parsons map. The windmill was likely reduced to a foundation shortly after decommissioning based on the representation on 20th-century topographic maps.

Historic maps show no occupation through the 1750s in the as yet unnumbered estate 17. The 1766 copies of Beck indicate an animal mill in the as yet unnumbered estate 17, with the annotated and manuscript copies showing it in the southern portion of estate 17. None of the other Beck variants depict sugar machinery.

The 1799 Oxholm map depicts an animal at both Pleasant Vale and Rose hill. The 1856 Parsons map depicts a windmill at Rose Hill with a village but no sugar manufacturing icon to the west at Pleasant Vale. While the 1920 topographic sheet indicates an old mill round, no ruins were indicated on the 1958 or 1982 maps in the area of Pleasant Vale and Rose Hill.

Ownership attributed to Thomas & Seth Smith on all the Beck variants. This ownership transitioned in a small way to Seth Smith in the north and John Smith in the south by 1790.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.147 &p.160) notes an old mill-round, between Rose Hill, q.v., and Crequis Road. In the 1920s, the estates noted to be in pasture, guavas, and some cane. Noting that Pleasant Vale was also known as Pleasant Valley or Pleasantvale.

Historic Maps of Rose Hill

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1982 featuring Northside A quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
The 1982 USGS topographic map shows no ruins at Rose Hill and Pleasant Vale.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958 featuring Northside A quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
The 1958 USGS topographic map shows no ruins at Rose Hill and Pleasant Vale.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
The 1920 USCGS topographic map shows an old mill round at Rose Hill and no structures at Pleasant Valley. The old mill round may be an animal mill and not a windmill.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Pleasant Vale.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill with other structures to the west at Rose Hill. A settlement at Pleasant Vale has no sugar manufacturing icons.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and its 1820 revision show animal mills at both Pleasant Vale and Rose Hill in estate 17.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Northside A quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows animal mills at both Pleasant Vale and Rose Hill in estate 17.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen, respectively, attribute ownership to Seth and John Smith.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts no settlement in the area of Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
The 1766 annotated copy and both manuscript copies of the Beck map include an animal mill in estate 17 while none of the other maps include any sugar manufacturing icons. All maps attribute ownership to Thomas & Seth Smith, with various spellings.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
Neither of the Beck printings depict any sugar machinery.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
The 1750 map indicates no cultivation and attributes no ownership.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 17, currently named Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near Rose Hill & Pleasant Vale.