Estate Two Williams

Two Williams is estate 19 in St. Croix’s West End Quarter. A windmill appears on the 1856 Parsons map, and the 1920s topographic map indicates a mill. Field reconnaissance failed to locate any ruins identifiable as a windmill.

The estate now known as Two Williams does not appear to have been settled in the French period. By 1750 sugar cultivation in the southwest quadrant of the estate requires several structures.

Both of the Beck printed maps of the 1750s include an animal mill in the south center of estate 19. All the annotated Beck maps and the manuscript copies of the 1760s depict the printed animal mill. Similarly, Oxholm’s 1778 map of Frederiksted includes an animal mill in the western half of estate 19.

While Thom Schmid is indicated as owning all of estate 19 on the 1750 map, ownership on all the annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies splits the estate east and west, with Thom Smitt owning the west and John Rouan owning the east. Oxholm’s 1778 map and the 1790s manuscript copies of Beck split ownership to Thom Smith in the west and Heyliger in the east.

The 1799 Oxholm map includes an animal mill in the east center of estate two Williams. The 1856 Parsons map indicates a windmill in a similar location at Two Williams.

The 1920s topographic map locates the Two Williams Mill at 167 feet elevation, with other structures to the west. The 1958 and 1982 topographic maps indicate no ruins suggesting a windmill at Two Williams. Field reconnaissance failed to locate evidence of the windmill.

As the McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p. 192) describes, a Moravian school was in the southwest corner of this estate. The land was once divided east and west, being owned by John Rouan and Thomas Smith, creating a mystery of when the Williams owned it.

Historic Maps of Two Williams

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map 1982 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
The 1982 USGS topographic photorevision indicates some additional structures.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
The 1958 USGS topographic map does not indicate any plantation ruins. A few structures dot Estate Two Williams, mostly around the edges.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
The 1920 USGS topographic map depicts the Two Williams mill at 167 feet elevation in a position south and east of the center of the estate. To the west of this lies a small village of structures.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill ruin at Estate Two Williams.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill at 170 feet elevation in Estate Two Williams.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows an animal mill is located just south and east of the center of Estate two Williams. Perhaps this refers to the splitting of the estate ownership in previous years. Note the spelling of Center Linie road.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen indicates a north-south split in the estate with a clear line. Ownership attributed to Heyliger and Smith
Snippet of the Oxholm map of Frederiksted from 1778 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
Oxholm’s 1778 map of Frederiksted shows a split in ownership of the estate. The western half (on this image, north is to the left) has an animal mill with a plantation house to the east and other structures to the west. Slave quarters are depicted to the north and to the east. This half of the estate has ownership attributed to Thom Smith. The east half of the estate has ownership attributed to Heyliger. Notice how the name appears twice. Once is covered by hatching to represent a hill and may have been written a second time to allow better legibility.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
Küffner’s 1767 Beck replica includes a sugar mill in the area of Estate Two Williams.
Snippet of the Zöllner manuscript copy of Beck from 1766 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
Zöllner’s 1766 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a north-south split in the estate, with a line separating the halves. Ownership is attributed to T Smith on the west side and J Rouan on the east side. The single animal mill remains south of center in the estate.
Snippet of the 1766 unsigned Beck manuscript copy featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
The 1766 unsigned manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a north-south split in the estate, separated by a dashed line. Ownership is attributed to Thom Schmidt on the west side and J Rouan on the east side. The single animal mill remains south of center in the estate.
Snippet of the annotated Beck map of c.1770 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
The 1770 annotated Beck map indicates a north-south split in the estate, with a heavy line separating the halves. Ownership is attributed to Thom Smith on the west side and John Roan on the east side. The single animal mill remains south of center in the estate. The names underlined in red indicates a sugar plantation.
Snippets of the annotated Beck maps of 1767-1770 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
The 1767 c.1767, and c.1770 annotated Beck maps illustrate a north-south split in the estate, with a heavy line and distinct coloring of the west half. Ownership is attributed to Thom Smitt on the west side and John Rouan on the east side. The single animal mill remains south of center in the estate.
Snippet of the annotated Beck map of 1766 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
The 1766 annotated Beck map illustrates a north-south split in the estate, with faint coloring of the east half. Ownership is attributed to Thom Smith and Jan Rouan. The single animal mill remains south of center in the estate.
Snippet of the Beck map printed in 1754 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
In the 1750s, the first and second printings of the Beck map show an animal mill in the south center of the estate, just east of the stream.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
By 1749, the estate is planted in sugar, evidenced by the yellow coloring. However, no sugar machinery is depicted. A plantation house to the south of center in the estate is depicted with a slave village to the east. Ownership is attributed to Thom Schmid.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring West End Quarter estate # 19, currently named Two Williams.
During the French period, the area where Two Williams would be does not have any identifiable markings.