Mary Point Estate

Mary Point Estate

Great House at Mary Point Estate
Coordinates 18°22′4″N 64°44′31″W / 18.36778°N 64.74194°W / 18.36778; -64.74194Coordinates: 18°22′4″N 64°44′31″W / 18.36778°N 64.74194°W / 18.36778; -64.74194
MPS Virgin Islands National Park MRA (AD)
NRHP Reference # 78000272[1]
Added to NRHP May 22, 1978

Mary Point Estate is a historic property located on the north coast of Saint John, United States Virgin Islands on Mary's Point. The plantation was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 1978.[1]

History

The land on which Mary Point Estate is located was originally held by Danish West India and Guinea Company officials during the early years of Danish settlement. Not being prime land for planting, the land was held until new settlers needed property. The van Stell family was the first controlling landholding on Mary's Point.[2]

In the aftermath of the 1733 slave insurrection on St. John, Franz Claasen was deeded the Mary's Point estate for alerting the family of the rebellion and assisting in their escape to St. Thomas, a nearby island. Franz Claasen's land deed was recorded on August 20, 1738 by Jacob van Stell. Claasen was the first "Free Colored" landowner on St. John.[2]

Augustus Kragh and the Grancis family were owners of the Mary Point Estate during the late 18th century. Hans Hendrik Berg, a governor and president of St. John and St. Thomas, was an owner of the Mary Point Estate during the 19th century. During this time an L-shaped factory and the one-story Great House were constructed on the property. In addition to the Great House, a servant's quarters, farm building, and cemetery remain.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 David Knight (January 2007). "Mary's Point Hike". St. John Historical Society Newsletter. St. John Historical Society. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  3. ↑ "Mary Point Great House and Factory". National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
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