Why did Barbuda become a dependency of Antigua?

Barbuda became a dependency of Antigua primarily due to the administrative consolidation that followed the island's return to British crown control in the late 19th century.

After being granted to the Codrington family in 1685, Barbuda eventually reverted to the crown. During this period, the administration of Barbuda became so closely linked to that of Antigua that it was formally designated as a dependency of the larger island.12