Estate Montpellier

Montpellier is estate 7 in St. Croix’s Prince’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the late 18th century. Field reconnaissance failed to locate ruins identifiable as a windmill.

The annotated Beck maps first draw in an animal mill in 1766. The 1799 Oxholm map and 1856 Parsons map both depict a windmill. None of the 20th century topographic maps depict any ruins identifiable as a windmill.

Most of the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies attribute ownership to Ferral & Nugent, except the 1770 annotated map attributing Ferral & Kreky and the c.1770 annotated map solely to John Ferral with some spelling variation. Ownership by only Ferrall persists through 1791.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.129) notes a mill to the northwest of the road. In the 1920s, producing sugar cane and guavas.

Historic Maps for Montpellier, Prince’s Quarter

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 7, currently named Montpellier.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no indication of ruins at Montpellier.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 7, currently named Montpellier.
The 1920 USCGS topographic sheet shows no ruins identifiable as a windmill at Montpellier. The Montpellier Chimney at 454 feet elevation in the center of the estate.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 7, currently named Montpellier.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Montpellier.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 7, currently named Montpellier.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill on the south end of a ridge north of the road at Montpellier.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 7, currently named Montpellier.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on the south end of a ridge north of the road at Montpellier.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 7, currently named Montpellier.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Ferrall.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 7, currently named Montpellier.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement but no sugar mill and attributes no ownership in the area of Montpellier.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 7, currently named Montpellier.
The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck add a hand-drawn animal mill, except the 1770 annotated map that only added landowner names; however, the name underlined in red on this map indicates sugar cultivated here. All the maps attribute ownership to Ferral & Nugent, except the 1770 annotated map attributing Ferral & Kreky and the c.1770 annotated map solely to John Ferral with some spelling variation.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 7, currently named Montpellier.
Neither Beck printing shows a sugar mill icon in estate 7.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 7, currently named Montpellier.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates no cultivation in and makes no ownership attribution in estate 7.