Estate Negro Bay (Coopers)

Negro Bay (Coopers) is estate 52 in St. Croix’s Prince’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s. Field reconnaissance failed to locate ruins identifiable as a windmill.

The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation but no animal mill. The second Beck printing in the mid-1750s added an animal mill. To this, the annotated Beck maps add sails to depict a windmill. Both the 1799 Oxholm map and 1856 Parsons map include a windmill. The 1921 topographic sheet identifies an old mill tower. The later topographic maps make no indication of ruins.

Estate 52 has a minor identity crisis, being called a number of names. From 1750 through 1791, all the maps consistently attribute ownership to a member of the Cooper family. Even McGuire underlines Cooper ownership through1851. Therefore, the estate understandably can be called Coopers. However, at some point the estate was part of a plantation including other estates and going by the name Negro Bay, reflecting the shoreline feature. To add complexity, the 1799 Oxholm map identifies the estate as Montpellier.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.135, 59) indicates the Cooper family still owned the estate in 1851, calling it Lower Negro Bay. In the 1920s, the estate planted in sugar cane and pasture.

Historic Maps of Negro Bay (Coopers)

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no ruins at Cooper.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1921 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
The 1921 USCGS topographic sheet shows an (old mill tower) in the center of Cooper.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
The 1920 USCGS topographic sheet shows an (old mill tower) in the center of Cooper. Cooper is one of a handful of estates depicted on two different sheets from this topographic map series.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Coopers Bay.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill with structures to the west, south, and east at Negro Bay.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill at Montpellier.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill at Montpellier.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Cooper.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement but no sugar mill and attributes no ownership in the area of Negro Bay – Coopers.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck add a hand-drawn windmill or sails to the 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 Alexander Cooper or his heirs, with some spelling variation.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
The first Beck printing does not show a sugar mill icon while the second Beck printing shows an animal mill in the southwest quadrant of estate 52.
Snippet of the c1757 Beck map featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
The first Beck printing does not show a sugar mill icon while the second Beck printing shows an animal mill in the southwest quadrant of estate 52.
Snippet of the 1754 Beck map featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
The first Beck printing does not show a sugar mill icon while the second Beck printing shows an animal mill in the southwest quadrant of estate 52.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 52, currently named Negro Bay-Coopers.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates cotton cultivation and structures but no animal mill in estate 52. Ownership attributed to Cooper.