Estate Work and Rest

Work and Rest is estate 37 in St. Croix’s Queen’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s. The windmill has been reduced to a foundation.

The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation and an animal mill in estate 37. Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the center of estate 37. The 1760s and 1770s maps added sails to the animal mill to depict a windmill.

The 1799 Oxholm map and 1856 Parsons map both depict a windmill. None of the 20th-century topographic maps show a structure identifiable as a windmill at Work and Rest.

Ownership attributed to Seeverin Seeberg. The maps from the 1760s and 1770s attribute ownership to General Krigs Comissair Lucas van Beverhout. By 1790, ownership transitioned to Peter Lotharius Oxholm.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (pp.200-201) provides location and early ownership information. Locates mill on last (meaning estate 37).

Photos of Work and Rest, 2020s

Pile of loosely joined rubble with trees and shrubs growing from the top and grass in the foreground.
Work and Rest windmill foundation from the north. Most of the material has been removed, leaving the rubble interior of the foundation. The recess under the roots is a timber slot, where a timber would have tied off ropes securing the windmill sails when the mill was not operating.

Historic Maps of Work and Rest

the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 37, currently named Work and Rest.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no ruins identifiable as a windmill at Work and Rest.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 37, currently named Work and Rest.
The 1919 USCGS topographic sheet shows no structures identifiable as a windmill at Work and Rest.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 37, currently named Work and Rest.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Work and Rest.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 37, currently named Work and Rest.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at elevation 198 feet at the end of the road with other structures to the southwest in the northeast corner of Work and Rest.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 37, currently named Work and Rest.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill on top of a hill at the end of the road with other structures to the southwest in the northeast corner of Worck & Rest.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 37, currently named Work and Rest.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership of estate 37, with Company’s Quarter estates 15 & 14, to Peter Lotharius Oxholm.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 37, currently named Work and Rest.
The 1767 Küffner manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to in the area of Work and Rest.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 37, currently named Work and Rest.
The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies add sails to the animal mill to depict a windmill except the 1770 annotated map that only added ownership attributions. All these maps attribute ownership to General Krigs Comissair Lucas van Beverhout (together with Company’s Quarter estates 14 & 15).
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 37, currently named Work and Rest.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill icon in the center of estate 37.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 37, currently named Work and Rest.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures including an animal mill in estate 37. Ownership attributed to Seeverin Seeberg.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Queen's Quarter estate # 37, currently named Work and Rest.
During the French period, no settlement is indicated near Work and Rest.