How Gifft Hill Got Its Name

By researching St. John's plantation history between 1721 and 1728, we found a clear path to the naming of Giftt Hill (aka Gift Hill).

Three Danish land grants were merged to form one large Bellevue Estate during this period. This was labeled as “the jewel in the crown of The St. John plantocracy,” referring to plantation development among an elite group of families who desired control of the most favorable planting grounds. In 1728, the adjoining plantation parcels were subdivided into two parcels. One parcel would retain the name Bellevue; the other was to be a dowry or wedding gift pending the marriage of Anna Maria and Jacoba vonHolten. This parcel then became known as “The Gift.”

The Bellevue Estate ruins still exist atop Gift Hill and are now controlled by the St. John Historical Society for preservation. The ruins are just to the west of the Bellevue Estate housing project and across the street from Kapok Villas.

Frequently the spelling of Gift Hill has two Fs (Gifft). We believe this could be a Danish speech influence.

Either way you spell it, it once made a very nice wedding gift!

Author:  Marvin Hart