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History of the United States Virgin IslandsEarly History Magens Bay, St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands was at one time home to a prehistoric village. In the winter of 1916-1917, a significant archaeological dig was completed at the beach, and the remains of seven adults and two children were unearthed, along with canoes, pottery, shells, and other evidence of a prehistoric civilization2p106. 1493 November 14Christopher Columbus visits St. Croix in the Virgin Islands on his 2nd voyage of discovery and encounters fierce resistance from the natives. Believed to be only the second European bloodshed in the new world2p37. 1580 Sir Francis Drake sails through the Virgin Islands in what would later be known as the Sir Francis Drake Channel2p43. 1596 Earl of Cumberland remarks on the difficulty of navigating the waters of the Virgin Islands while enroute to Puerto Rico, stating that "he would rather be the first to take Porto Rico, than the second to pass through the Virgines", and also mentions the islands are "wholly uninhabited, sandy, barren, and craggy"2p43. 1600's Virgin Islands first settled by European natives2p34. Danish, Dutch, and French settlers arrive and find no native Indian inhabitants2p42. 1625 St. Croix in the Virgin Islands is first colonized by European settlers2p44. The Dutch took joint possession with the English6p12. 1647 It is believed that there was a previous European settlement on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. After French settlers from Crab Island fled Spanish soldiers who ruined their plantations and destroyed their ships, they found abandoned orange, lemon, and banana groves, possibly left by early Dutch bucaneers2p46. 1657-1666 Dutch settlers are arriving on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands2p47. 1666 First record of European inhabitants on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands2p44. Erik Schmidt dies on and is buried on St. Thomas. Erik arrived on the Dutch supply ship Eendracht2p47, 6p30. 1667 The remaining Dutch settlers on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands are forced to leave to St. Marten and St. Eustatius by the British. St. Thomas, newly abandoned, is claimed by the Danish West India and Guinea Company, despite Great Britian protests2p47. 1671 August 31 After the newly abandoned St. Thomas is claimed by the Danish West India and Guinea Company in 1667, the Golden Crown is the first ship of settlers dispatched from Copenhagen, Denmark to the island2p47. 1671 November The Danish ship Pharaoh followed the Golden Crown to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, bringing with it Jorgen Iversen, the newly appointed governor of St. Thomas2p48. 1672 (approx) Jorgen Iversen, governor of Danish St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, commences building a fort, which became the residence of the governor and the Lutheran pastor whom accompanied him on his journey from Denmark. Part of this fort would later be included in Christian's Fort in Charlotte-Amalia2p49. 1672 May 23 The Danish ship Pharaoh arrives on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. Passengers arrive to find a few already established colonists, including Dutch planters returning from St. Marten and St. Eustatius to reclaim their former holdings on the island. Along with them, they brought a few negro slaves2p49. 1672 May 25 Danish ship Ferö with newly appointed governor Jorgen Iversen arrives at St. Thomas Harbour on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and the Dutch take the island, which the English left 6 or 7 weeks earlier. 86 people died on the voyage over. Seventy five more died after landing6p37-39. 1673 March 29 The Danish ship Pelican arrives in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. It lost 7 people enroute, and 53 after landing, out of a total of only 676p39. 1684 St. John in the Virgin Islands is colonized by European inhabitants for the first time2p44. 1684 Crab Island, off of Puerto Rico is taken by St. John and added to the Danish West Indies under Governor Jorgen Iversen2p50. 1685 The Danish West India Company, unable to keep up with shipmaking for transporting African Gold Coast slaves to the islands, and goods elsewhere, arranges with the Duchy of Brandenburg to operate a factory in St. Thomas2p51. The contract runs until 17162p51 1690 The Danish King rents all of St. Thomas, except the holdings of the Brandenburg Company, to a man named Thormöhlen2p52. |
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