early poindexters in america research committee certification panel report on two issues related to...

Early Poindexters in America Early Poindexters in America Research CommitteeResearch Committee

Certification Panel Report Certification Panel Report on two issues related to our Immigrant on two issues related to our Immigrant

George PoindexterGeorge Poindexter

July 12, 2003July 12, 2003 Poindexter Descendants AssociationPoindexter Descendants Association 22

EPARCEPARCFounded in 1985, charged with gathering facts with Founded in 1985, charged with gathering facts with sources and information concerning our immigrant sources and information concerning our immigrant George (1) and the first generations to descend from him George (1) and the first generations to descend from him in America.in America.Reports published in the newsletter since 1987.Reports published in the newsletter since 1987.All reports to date are also available on the PDA web site All reports to date are also available on the PDA web site for all to review (see Family History and Research for all to review (see Family History and Research section).section).In 2002, EPARC Chair, Ed Poindexter, assembled a In 2002, EPARC Chair, Ed Poindexter, assembled a certification panel: certification panel: – to review more than a decade’s worth of Reports .to review more than a decade’s worth of Reports .– to benchmark what we know from the Reports.to benchmark what we know from the Reports.– recommend future direction of research. recommend future direction of research. – and present the most plausible lineage tree for adoption as the and present the most plausible lineage tree for adoption as the

official PDA lineage.official PDA lineage.Future research may surface documents that may change this Future research may surface documents that may change this lineage, but until then, we have a benchmark lineage to work from. lineage, but until then, we have a benchmark lineage to work from.


EPARC Certification PanelEPARC Certification Panel

The panel selected two BIG questions to focus our The panel selected two BIG questions to focus our attention on this past year:attention on this past year:1.1. Who is Susannah, wife of George (1) our Immigrant and Who is Susannah, wife of George (1) our Immigrant and

founding mother to all Poindexters in America. What is her founding mother to all Poindexters in America. What is her maiden name, Nicholle, Marston, Marsden, Benskin)? When maiden name, Nicholle, Marston, Marsden, Benskin)? When and where were they married?and where were they married?

2.2. Is Thomas Poindexter (who married Sarah Crawford) the son or Is Thomas Poindexter (who married Sarah Crawford) the son or grandson of our Immigrants George and Susannah?grandson of our Immigrants George and Susannah?

Panel provided paper copies of all reports.Panel provided paper copies of all reports.Many documents referenced in reports are not available Many documents referenced in reports are not available with the reports or presented in a later report.with the reports or presented in a later report.– Panel was charged with benchmarking sources and content Panel was charged with benchmarking sources and content

contained within the Reports.contained within the Reports.– Panel not charged with finding missing cited documents or to Panel not charged with finding missing cited documents or to

seek new sources of information.seek new sources of information.


Poingdestre-Poindexter Poingdestre-Poindexter A Norman FamilyA Norman Family

The “Bible” for many Poindexter researchers!The “Bible” for many Poindexter researchers!By John Poindexter Landers after he did extensive By John Poindexter Landers after he did extensive research in America, England, Jersey and Franceresearch in America, England, Jersey and FrancePublished 1977 by Robert Downs PoindexterPublished 1977 by Robert Downs PoindexterSections in the book:Sections in the book:– Poingdestre and related families in the Middle Ages on Jersey.Poingdestre and related families in the Middle Ages on Jersey.– Jean Poingdestre, our immigrant’s great half-uncle. Jean Poingdestre, our immigrant’s great half-uncle.

Lt. Bailiff of Jersey, Latin Secretary to Charles l, educated at Oxford, Lt. Bailiff of Jersey, Latin Secretary to Charles l, educated at Oxford, royalist in English civil war, etc.royalist in English civil war, etc.PDA web site has a copy of Jean’s “PDA web site has a copy of Jean’s “Caesarea-A Discourse on the Caesarea-A Discourse on the Island of JerseyIsland of Jersey” on our web site.” on our web site.

– Section on the Poindexter Family in North AmericaSection on the Poindexter Family in North America

Library of Congress 77-90527Library of Congress 77-90527Some data missing, some has been disputed.Some data missing, some has been disputed.


1. The Susannah Questions:1. The Susannah Questions:

Who is Susannah, wife of George (1) our Who is Susannah, wife of George (1) our immigrant and founding mother to all immigrant and founding mother to all Poindexters in America?Poindexters in America?

What is her maiden name, Nicolle, What is her maiden name, Nicolle, Marsden, Marston, Benskin?Marsden, Marston, Benskin?

When and where were they married?When and where were they married?



Definitive civil and church records have Definitive civil and church records have not been found.not been found.– England, Jersey, France, AmericaEngland, Jersey, France, America– English Civil War in progress so a document English Civil War in progress so a document

may never be found.may never be found.Parliamentarian control of England forces Church Parliamentarian control of England forces Church record keeping underground or non-existent.record keeping underground or non-existent.

Marriage could have taken place in France, on a Marriage could have taken place in France, on a ship or elsewhere.ship or elsewhere.



Oral Traditions (hear-say), such as:Oral Traditions (hear-say), such as:– She indentured herself and children to come She indentured herself and children to come

to Virginia, where George paid there passage.to Virginia, where George paid there passage.– George and Susannah marriage fell out of George and Susannah marriage fell out of

favor with Charles ll or with Parliament, so favor with Charles ll or with Parliament, so they came to America.they came to America.

– George came first, she and children later.George came first, she and children later.– George owned ships, so may have traveled George owned ships, so may have traveled

back to England often before settling down in back to England often before settling down in America.America.



Conclusion and Recommendation:Conclusion and Recommendation:– We do not have We do not have definitivedefinitive original original

documentation (civil, church, legal) or sources documentation (civil, church, legal) or sources to dispute the Landers tree at this time.to dispute the Landers tree at this time.

– Until such documentation is discovered and Until such documentation is discovered and reviewed by EPARC, the Certification Panel reviewed by EPARC, the Certification Panel proposes that the official PDA lineage proposes that the official PDA lineage recognizes Susannah Nicolle as George’s recognizes Susannah Nicolle as George’s wife and mother to his children.wife and mother to his children.


2. The Thomas Questions:2. The Thomas Questions:

Is Thomas the son or grandson of George Is Thomas the son or grandson of George (1) the Immigrant?(1) the Immigrant?– Landers says he is the grandson of George Landers says he is the grandson of George

(1) but fails to cite his sources. (1) but fails to cite his sources. Past attempts by PDA to access his research Past attempts by PDA to access his research notes failed. notes failed.

– Some Landers’ dates have been questioned.Some Landers’ dates have been questioned.– Alternate lineages have been suggested.Alternate lineages have been suggested.– Landers is repeated in many genealogies by Landers is repeated in many genealogies by

people today.people today.


2. The Thomas Questions:2. The Thomas Questions:The Landers’ TreeThe Landers’ Tree

(male lines in question so are only ones shown)(male lines in question so are only ones shown)

George Poindexter 1627-1690 (the Immigrant)

George (2) c1651-1716 (child immigrant)

John (2) c1652-? no issues(child immigrant)

George (3) = 1673-?

Thomas (3) = c1675-1707

Mary (Overton) Sarah Crafford(aka Crawford)


2. The Thomas Questions:2. The Thomas Questions:Alternative Tree #1Alternative Tree #1




John (2) c1652-? no issues(child immigrant)

George (3) = 1673-?

Thomas (3) = c1662-1700

Mary (Overton) Sarah Crafford(Crawford)


2. The Thomas Questions:2. The Thomas Questions:Alternative Tree #2Alternative Tree #2




John (2) c1652-? (child immigrant)

George (3) = 1673-?

Thomas (3) = c1675-1707

Mary Overton Sarah Crawford

George’s brother or uncle back in Jersey?


2. The Thomas Questions:2. The Thomas Questions:

Conclusion and Recommendation:Conclusion and Recommendation:– We do not have We do not have definitivedefinitive original documentation original documentation

(civil, church, legal) or sources to prove the Landers (civil, church, legal) or sources to prove the Landers tree is in error in Thomas’ placement as grandson to tree is in error in Thomas’ placement as grandson to the Immigrant George (1) at this time.the Immigrant George (1) at this time.

– Until such documentation is discovered and reviewed Until such documentation is discovered and reviewed by EPARC, the Certification Panel proposes that the by EPARC, the Certification Panel proposes that the official PDA lineage recognizes Thomas as the son of official PDA lineage recognizes Thomas as the son of George (2, child immigrant) and grandson of the adult George (2, child immigrant) and grandson of the adult immigrant, George (1).immigrant, George (1).


Panel ChallengesPanel Challenges

The Reports constitute a huge collection of The Reports constitute a huge collection of information on paper with no index or cross information on paper with no index or cross references.references.The Reports are not electronically indexed and The Reports are not electronically indexed and not easily searchable across Reports.not easily searchable across Reports.Many sources or possible sources mentioned Many sources or possible sources mentioned are not included with the Reports or are provided are not included with the Reports or are provided in a later report.in a later report.The Panel members are all volunteers: The Panel members are all volunteers: – distance was not the challenge, time was. distance was not the challenge, time was. – we used email and web to communicate and archive.we used email and web to communicate and archive.


Recommendations to EPARCRecommendations to EPARC

An inventory be made of all citations and references to An inventory be made of all citations and references to documents that may be vital to these two questions.documents that may be vital to these two questions.– Use funds allocated for EPARC research as needed to obtain Use funds allocated for EPARC research as needed to obtain

copies of documents we do not already have (foreign copies of documents we do not already have (foreign researchers, copying, digitizing, etc).researchers, copying, digitizing, etc).

– Electronic copies be made available to the Panel and published Electronic copies be made available to the Panel and published and on the PDA web site, possibly in the newsletter as space and on the PDA web site, possibly in the newsletter as space allows.allows.

– Members need to volunteer to help collect and index the Members need to volunteer to help collect and index the documents.documents.

EPARC review documents and propose any new EPARC review documents and propose any new probable lineages to the Panel.probable lineages to the Panel.The Panel review EPARC’s proposed answers and The Panel review EPARC’s proposed answers and recommend changes to the official PDA benchmark recommend changes to the official PDA benchmark lineage accordingly.lineage accordingly.


Volunteers Needed!Volunteers Needed!

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