British Virgin Islands Colonial Records

Dutch Colonization (1648-1672)
Both Spain (in 1493) and Great Britain (early 17th century) claimed the Virgin Islands as part of their empires. However, the first attempt to settle the islands was by the Dutch around 1615, after which they became part of the Dutch West India Company. England took control of the British Virgin Islands in 1672, at the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Dutch War.

British Colonization (1672-present)
The British Virgin Islands are a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean consisting of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke, along with over 50 other smaller islands and cays. About 16 of the islands are inhabited. British Virgin Islanders are British Overseas Territories citizens and since 2002 are British citizens as well. Although the territory is not part of the European Union and not directly subject to EU law, British Virgin Islanders are deemed to be citizens of the EU by virtue of their British citizenship.