Page 81 - The Virgin Islands

St. John and St. Thomas: The Two Brothers

In 1671 the Danish West India Company received its charter from were under arrest, as needed. Authorities would soon learn that
King Christian V to occupy and take possession of St. Thomas and convicts did not make good workers! The officials in St. Thomas
islands thereabouts that might be uninhabited and suitable for would quickly welcome colonists from other neighboring islands
plantations. Part of the charter indicated that the Danish govern- and rely on African slaves for labor.
ment would supply the company with as many male convicts as
necessary for working the plantations andas many women, who