Estate Diamond

Diamond is estate 38 in St. Croix’s Prince’s Quarter. On an early version of a Beck map, a windmill was depicted in estate 43 and this is believed to be an error. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the late 18th century. The windmill was blocked to store water after decommissioning. The inscription plaque says the mill was built in the 1790s and blocked to store water in the early 1900s. The windmill tower is partly collapsed.

The 1750 map shows sugar cultivated here relatively early in the Danish period, including processing by an animal mill. The animal mill remains a consistent feature on the Beck maps and variants, just southeast of center along a stream.

The 1799 Oxholm map indicates a windmill at the southern edge of the estate, as does the 1856 Parsons map. The 20th century topographic maps all include ruins identifiable as a windmill in an analogous location.

The specifics of this location remain important because the first printed Beck map places a windmill in the northwest corner of estate 43, just south of the location where the windmill at Diamond was built. Quite possibly, the location depicted on the Beck map was made in error, especially since the ownership of estates 38 and 43 were both by Constantin.

In 1750, ownership attributed to the Widow Markue. By 1766, the annotated Beck maps attribute ownership to Constantine’s widow and heirs, and then in 1770 just to Constantin. By 1790, ownership transitioned to Rapzaat Heyliger.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.65) locates the mill on a 100-foot swell while noting the estate remained in sugar cane in the 1920s. Notes the combination of estates 38, 39, and 43.

Photos of Diamond, Prince’s Quarter, 2020s

Truncated windmill tower with 5 flagpoles in front under a blue sky. A mahogany tree in the right foreground, palm trees ringing the mill, and buildings behind the mill.
Diamond windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the bagasse opening to the left and machine slot to the right. The lack of an arch above the machine slot indicates the top portion of this windmill collapsed. The windmill was blocked to hold water. Notice the regular size and shape of the cut stone block.

Historic Maps of Diamond Estate 38 Prince’s Quarter

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill at Diamond.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
The 1920 USCGS topographic sheet shows the Diamond Mill just north of the Diamond Chimney in the southern portion of Diamond.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Diamond.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill with a square just to the southwest at Diamond.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill at the southern edge of Diamond.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill at the southern edge of Diamond.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Rapzaat Heyliger.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill but does not attribute ownership in the area of Diamond.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies retain the printed animal mill in estate 38. These maps attribute ownership to Constantine’s widow and heirs, with some spelling variation, except the 1770 annotated map just to Constantin.
Snippet of the c1757 Beck map featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill to the east of the stream in estate 38.
Snippet of the 1754 Beck map featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill to the east of the stream in estate 38.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill to the east of the stream in estate 38.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 38, currently named Diamond.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 38. Ownership attributed to the Widow Markue.

Historic Maps of Diamond Estate 43 Prince’s Quarter

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no ruins or other structures identifiable as a windmill in the area of estate 43.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
The 1920 USCGS topographic sheet shows no structures in the area of estate 43 except a village in the northern extreme that appear connected to Diamond to the north.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
The 1907 map indicates no settlement at estate 43.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts no structures in the area of estate 43.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show no structures in estate 43.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows no structures in estate 43.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Rapzat Heyliger.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill but no ownership attribution in the area of Diamond.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies retain the windmill from the printed maps. The c.1770 map adds an animal mill in the northeast corner of estate 43. All maps attribute ownership of the western half, where the windmill is, to Constantin or his heirs.
Snippet of the c1757 Beck map featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
Both Beck printings show a windmill in the northwest corner of estate 43. Note the estate number is not in the upper right corner but along the dotted line running down the center of the estate. The placement of this windmill creates confusion when compared to later maps, since this location does not correlate with other maps or field findings.
Snippet of the 1754 Beck map featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
Both Beck printings show a windmill in the northwest corner of estate 43. Note the estate number is not in the upper right corner but along the dotted line running down the center of the estate. The placement of this windmill creates confusion when compared to later maps, since this location does not correlate with other maps or field findings.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
Both Beck printings show a windmill in the northwest corner of estate 43. Note the estate number is not in the upper right corner but along the dotted line running down the center of the estate. The placement of this windmill creates confusion when compared to later maps, since this location does not correlate with other maps or field findings.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 43, currently named Diamond.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar and cotton cultivation and structures but no animal mill in estate 43. Ownership attributed to Johan Constantin.