Estate William

William is estate 1-3 in St. Croix’s Northside A Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the late 18th century. Placement of the windmill near the shore suggests prioritization of shipping finished products over catching winds on the highest hilltops. The windmill was blocked to store water after decommissioning. The windmill is in good condition.

The area of estate William was very likely settled during the French period but showed with no cultivation on the 1750 map. Estate William became part of a 6-estate plantation by 1766, including both estates 1-3 in Northside A quarter along with estates 34-36 in West End quarter.

Sugar machinery first appears on the 1778 Oxholm map depicting an animal mill, replaced by a windmill on the 1799 map. The 1856 Parsons map also indicates a windmill, as do the 20th-century topographic maps, all of which reflect where the windmill ruins appear today in the field. McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.199) indicates cane still being grown in the 1920s and the steam chimney prominent object the estate at that time.

The 1750 map attributed ownership to Governor Solberg. By 1766, ownership of William plus the 5 other estates, transitioned to Augustine Boyd, whose relation to the John Boyd attributed ownership in 1767 remains unclear. The 1770 maps attribute ownership to Isaac Markoe, which transitioned to John Gordon by 1778 and then to Markoes heirs by 1790.

Photos of William, 2020s

Windmill obscured by bush.
William windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance.
Closeup of windmill wall with a pipe coming through the wall toward the bottom of the photo.
William windmill exterior from the northwest with a close up of the main entrance highlighting the drain pipe for water stored within the mill.
Wall of windmill with bushes to left.
William windmill exterior from the north featuring the construction material of the wall.

Historic Maps of William

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1982 featuring Northside A quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
The 1982 USGS topographic map shows ruins identifiable as a windmill at William.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958 featuring Northside A quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
The 1958 USGS topographic map shows ruins identifiable as a windmill at William.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
The 1920 USCGS topographic map shows an old mill, well, and Williams Mill at estate William. The 17 foot elevation indicated for Williams Mill suggest the circle within the triangle represents the windmill tower.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Williams.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill and other structures to the north at Williams.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Northside A quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill with a battery to the south at the William.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen, respectively, attribute ownership to Markoes heirs.
Snippet of the 1778 Oxholm map of Frederiksted featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
A windmill, an animal mill, and another structure with a village to the south are depicted here with ownership attributed to Isaac Markoe’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 estates # 1-3, currently named William.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a plantation owned by John Boyd.
Snippets of the annotated Beck maps made in 1770 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
The 1770 and c.1770 annotated Beck maps have no sugar machinery in estates 1-3 Northside A quarter, although ownership attributed to Isaac Markoe stretches into estates 34-36 West End quarter, where an animal mill (and windmill on the c.1770 map) are depicted in what is today estate Prosperity.
Snippets of the annotated Beck map plus the 2 manuscript copies made in 1766 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
The 1766 annotated and two manuscript copies of the Beck map have no sugar machinery in estates 1-3 Northside A quarter, although ownership attributed to Augustine Boyd stretches into estates 34-36 West End quarter, where an animal mill and windmill are depicted in what is today estate Prosperity.
Snippets of the annotated Beck maps made in 1767 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
The 1767 and c.1767 Beck maps have no sugar machinery in estates 1-3 Northside A quarter, although ownership attributed to John Boyd stretches into estates 34-36 West End quarter, where an animal mill and windmill are depicted in what is today estate Prosperity.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
Neither of the Beck printings depict any sugar machinery.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
The 1750 map indicates no cultivation but attributes ownership to Governor Solberg.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 1-3, currently named William.
During the French period, a settlement is indicated near the location of estate William, attributing ownership to Poupel.