Estate Betzy’s Jewel

Betzy’s Jewel is estate 12 in St. Croix’s Northside B Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 19th century. However, the existence of this windmill is questionable, because it is only represented on a single historic map. Field reconnaissance failed to locate ruins identifiable as a windmill.

Betzy’s Jewel first indicates an animal mill on the second printing of the Beck map, a feature also found on all of the annotated and manuscript copies of the Beck map and the 1799 Oxholm map. Only the 1856 Parsons map indicates at windmill at Betsy’s Jewel. None of the 20th century topographic maps note any ruins at Betzys Jewell.

Throughout the 1760s, ownership attributed to Jacob Buffron transitions to include Buchon & Boudervin on the 1766 annotated copy of Beck unsigned 1766 manuscript copy of Beck, ownership partially repeated as Bouderhuy on the 1790s manuscript copies of the Beck map. Variations in spelling suggests consistent individual owners between the various maps.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.34) notes a mill indicated on old maps in the southeast corner of the estate on the shoulder of a 613-foot hill. However, while the 613-foot hill can be easily located on the 1921 sheet, none of the maps place a mill with this level of specificity.

Historic Maps of Betzy’s Jewel

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 and 1982 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
The 1958 and its 1982 photorevision USGS topographic map show no ruins at Betzys Jewell.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
The 1921 USGS topographic map shows no ruins at Betsys Jewel.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
The 1907 map indicates no settlement near Betzy’s Jewel.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at Betsy’s Jewel.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and 1820 revision show an animal mill at Betsy’s Jewill.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows an animal mill at Betsy’s Jewill.
Snippet of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 and the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Bouterhuy.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement but not a sugar mill.
Snippet of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
All 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies all consistently include an animal mill in estate 12. The annotated maps uniformly attribute ownership to Jacob Buffron. The unsigned manuscript map attributes ownership to Bouchon & Boudewy, the first name of which may be an alternative spelling of Buffron. The blurred image on the Zöllner manuscript copy of Beck suggests Buffron but the lack of clarity creates uncertainty.
Snippet of both Beck maps printed in 1754 and circa 1757 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
The first Beck map printing indicates no sugar machinery, while the second printing includes an animal mill at Betzy’s Jewel estate.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
By 1750, no settlement is indicated near Betzy’s Jewel estate.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Northside B quarter estate # 12, currently named Betzy's Jewel.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near Betzy’s Jewel estate.