• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

🌺 Virgin Islands History

Vintage Stories from the Virgin Islands

MENUMENU
  • 🛒SHOP NOW
  • BLOG
  • 🇺🇸US VIRGIN ISLANDS
    • St. Thomas 🇺🇸
      • Creque Family Stories
    • St. Croix 🇺🇸
    • St. John 🇺🇸
    • Maritime History ⚓️
  • 🇩🇰DANISH WEST INDIES
    • Hassel Island, DWI
      • Creque Marine Railway History
      • Creque Family History
    • St. Thomas 🇩🇰
    • St. Croix 🇩🇰
    • St. Jan 🇩🇰
    • Maritime History ⚓️
  • 🇻🇬BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
    • Anegada
    • Tortola
    • Norman Island ☠️
    • Peter Island
    • Salt Island
    • Jost van Dyke
    • Virgin Gorda
    • Maritime History ⚓️
  • WORK WITH ME
    • CONTACT
      • 📕 RESOURCES
      • Mystery Photos
  • SHOP AT AMAZON
  • 📚 BECOME ONE OF OUR BOOK RETAILERS
  • My Books 📚

Disasters

The Untimely Loss of the HMS SANTA MONICA off St. John ~ 1782

The Maritime History of the Virgin Islands: In this post, you’re going to learn a little information about the HMS Santa Monica, originally a Spanish frigate that hit a submerged rock off of Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands. She eventually sunk in Round Bay, St. John shortly after. Her tragic story adds to the […]

Close Call for Two St. John Fishermen When Their Boat Capsized ~ 1908

Fishing Boat off St. John, Danish West Indies, Dansk Vestindien, US Virgin Islands

Fishermen’s Boat Capsizes Two local fishermen swam for their lives using nothing but the buoys from their fishpots to stay afloat. It happened over a hundred years ago on a blustery, Saturday morning in September, in the midst of hurricane season. Between 9 and 10 am, Thomas Rymer, and his friend, Alexander Benjamin were out […]

The Loss of the Dutch Galliot, DETROOP off Anegada ~ 1851

Dutch Galliot, Detroop Wrecks Anegada, the flat, drowned island of the British Virgin Islands claimed countless wrecks over the years. The island’s reputation was notorious! Copious reports spoke of the “wreckers” who inhabited the island and preyed on the helpless victims who hit the surrounding reef. In 1851, the loss of another vessel was reported, but it appeared […]

The Loss of the Virgin Gorda Sloop, PERSEVERANCE ~ 1912

The Loss of the Sloop, Perseverance So many boats have been claimed by the sea that it’s impossible to document them all! Here are some I’ve researched and written about that sank tragically: The Syria,  Pride of Tortola, RMS Rhone,  Kite, the Faith, Come Back, Spider, Fancy Me, the Islander, the Edgewood, the Malakka, and To Windward. There’s even more that […]

A Military Funeral for a German Marine ~ 1914

Funeral Procession for German Marine Imagine having a loved one die overseas. It must have been tragic for the family to hear the news. Training Ship, Vineta The newspapers didn’t report the details, but apparently, a young apprentice whose last name was Loth, passed away aboard the training ship, Vineta. The usual ceremony given to naval seamen […]

Peter H. Thurland, A Jeweler of Distinction Passes Away ~ 1913

P.H. Thurland, jeweler

Peter H. Thurland Very rarely is a vintage photograph found with the name and profession of the subject in the picture! This image was discovered in the Royal Danish Museum’s collection in Denmark. Above is Mr. Thurland, a goldsmith and “much-respected citizen” from Christiansted, St. Croix. Goldsmith In 1907,  he was commissioned to make and […]

What Happened to Little Asta Lawaetz ~ 1915

Lawaetz family of st croix

The Lawaetz Family The Lawaetz family lived in a beautiful, stately home in Estate Little La Grange on St. Croix.  Carl Lawaetz, a Danish cattle farmer, purchased the property in 1896. He and his wife, Marie had seven children together shortly after their marriage, but only five survived to adulthood. One precious little daughter they lost […]

A Historical Account of the Slave Insurrection on St. John ~ 1733

Estate Caroline of St. John, Danish West Indies

November 23rd marks the anniversary of one of the darkest days in St. John’s history that culminated in a violent and widespread uprising by the enslaved individuals. Hundreds lost their lives. Below is an account of that fateful day found in a book entitled, A Historical Account of St. Thomas West India Islands by John P. […]

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Valerie, Welcome!

LOOK INSIDE NOW!

My Book is Available NOW!

Front cover of book
Wholesale orders available!

Search here 🔎

Not on Any Map

Choose a Category 🔎

Pin with me & 12,000 Monthly Viewers!

Pinterest Photos of the Virgin Islands

Silver bracelet

Before our time, an oral history of st john, us virgin islands, dansk vestindien, danish west indies

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 Vintage Virgin Islands, Ltd.  All Rights Reserved.  Privacy Policy

Reproduction, Reuse, Distribution or Publication of any images or content without written permission is Prohibited.