Estate Ruby

Ruby is estate 21 in St. Croix’s Queen’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s and decommissioned before 1856. Field reconnaissance failed to locate ruins identifiable as a windmill.

The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation but no animal mill in estate 21. An animal mill appears on both Beck printings from the mid-1750s. A windmill first appears on the annotated map from c.1770.

The 1799 Oxholm map shows a windmill at Ruby. The 1856 Parsons map depicts a tower with no sails at elevation 230 feet at Ruby. None of the 20th-century topographic maps show a structure identifiable as a windmill at Ruby.

The 1750 map attributes ownership of estate 21 to Josias Webbe. The maps from the 1760s and 1770s attribute ownership Peter Heyliger. By 1790 ownership transitioned to Heyliger heirs.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.161) notes the historic connection of Ruby and Diamond, immediately to the south.

Historic maps for Estate Ruby

the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Ruby.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no ruins identifiable as a windmill at Ruby.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Ruby.
The 1921 USCGS topographic sheet shows no structures identifiable as a windmill at Ruby.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Ruby.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Ruby.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Ruby.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a tower with no sails at elevation 230 feet in the south side of Ruby.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Ruby.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on top of a hill at the end of the road in the south side of Ruby.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Ruby.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estate 21 to Heyliger heirs.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Ruby.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement but no sugar mill and attributes ownership to Heiliger in the area of Ruby.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Ruby.
All the annotated maps and manuscript copies retain the animal mill from the printed map except the c.1770 annotated map that depicts a windmill. All these maps attribute ownership to Peter Heyliger Abrahamsen (together with Queen’s Quarter estate 28).
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Ruby.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the center of estate 21.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Ruby.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures but no animal mill in estate 21. Ownership attributed to Josias Webbe.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 21, currently named Ruby.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near Ruby.