Estate Cottage

Cottage is estate 32 in St. Croix’s Queen’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the late 18th century and represented on only a single historic map. Field reconnaissance failed to locate ruins identifiable as a windmill.

While the 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation, the first animal mill appears on the first Beck printed map published in 1754. The depiction on the animal mill remains consistent on the annotated and manuscript copies of the Beck map through the 1770s.

The 1799 Oxholm map shows a windmill at Cottage. The 1856 Parsons map depicts no structures in the area of Cottage. None of the 20th-century topographic maps shows structures identifiable as a windmill at Cottage.

The 1750 map attributes ownership to Doctor Hall. The maps in the 1760s and 1770s attribute ownership to John Meyer. By 1790, ownership of estate 32 transitioned to Coakley.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.60) provides location and early ownership information. Notes that in the 1920s Cottage has three cotton patches and a cane patch; remainder, bush and grass.

Historic Maps of Cottage

the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Cottage.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no ruins identifiable as a windmill at Cottage.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Cottage.
The 1921 USCGS topographic sheet shows no structures identifiable as a windmill at Cottage.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Cottage.
The 1907 map identifies no estate at Cottage.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Cottage.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts no structures in the area of Cottage.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Cottage.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on a ridge with other structures to the south in the center of Cottage.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Cottage.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estate 32 to Coakley.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Cottage.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to Meyer in the area of Cottage.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Cottage.
All the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies retained the animal mill from the printed Beck maps. All these maps attribute ownership to John Meyer.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Cottage.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the center of estate 32.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Cottage.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures but no animal mill in estate 32. Ownership attributed to Doctor Hall.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Cottage.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near Cottage.