Estate St. John

St. John is estate 12 in St. Croix’s Queen’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1750s. The windmill was blocked to store water after decommissioning. The windmill tower is in good condition.

The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 12. Both Beck printings show a windmill icon on the border line between estates 11 & 12, which appears on all the maps in the 1760s and 1770s.

The 1799 Oxholm map shows a windmill at St. John. The 1856 Parsons map shows a windmill at elevation 114 feet at St. John. All the 20th-century topographic maps show a structure identifiable as a windmill at St. John.

The 1750 map attributes ownership to Gouverneur Heiliger paa. The 1766 annotated Beck map attributes ownership to James Heyliger’s Heirs. The other maps through 1770 attribute ownership to Colonel Charles Pym Burt except the 1766 unsigned manuscript copy that attributes ownership to William Bord heirs. By 1790, ownership transitioned to Burt.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.186) provides location and early ownership information.

Historic Maps of St. John

the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 12, currently named St. Johns.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show ruins identifiable as a windmill at St. John.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 12, currently named St. Johns.
The 1919 USCGS topographic sheet shows icon of Stone fanmill with no fan plus Chimney in the northwest quadrant of St. Johns.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 12, currently named St. Johns.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at St. John.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 12, currently named St. Johns.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at elevation 114 feet with other structures to the west in the northwest quadrant of St. Johns.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 12, currently named St. Johns.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill on the east end of a ridge in the northwest quadrant of St. John.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 12, currently named St. Johns.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estate 12 to Burt.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 12, currently named St. Johns.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and notes the name of the estate as S. Jan.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 12, currently named St. Johns.
The annotated Beck maps and the Zöllner manuscript copy include a windmill on the border of estates 11 & 12, although the unsigned manuscript copy omits a windmill here. The 1766 annotated Beck map attributes ownership to James Heyliger’s Heirs. The other maps attribute ownership to Colonel Charles Pym Burt except the unsigned manuscript copy that attributes ownership to William Bord heirs.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 12, currently named St. Johns.
Both Beck printings show a windmill icon to the north of the road in the northwest corner of estate 12 straddling the border with estate 11.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 12, currently named St. Johns.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 12. Ownership attributed to Governeur Heiliger paa.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 12, currently named St. Johns.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near St. Johns.