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If you know of publications that should be listed here, send details to me, the webmaster.

Poindexter books:

Manuscripts by Jean Poingdestre in the 1600's, Jean was the Great half-Uncle of our immigrant, George. He served as Latin Secretary to Charles l and as Lt. Bailiff of Jersey. Jean wrote many papers, view a list of some of them. His paper about the Isle of Jersey is available for your reading as a PDF file.

"Poingdestre-Poindexter - A Norman Family", by John Poindexter Landers. Also known as "The Red Book" and as the Poindexter genealogist's Bible. Available in many historical libraries and some public libraries and can even be found in England and Jersey. This book serves as a starting point for those wanting to learn about the family history on Jersey and in America. A lot of research went into its writing in the 1970's. Today, some of the facts surrounding the immigrant George and his family can not be proved, so the PDA is seeking the author's original documentation. The book was published in 1977 by Robert Downs Poindexter, printed by Von Beckmann-Jones in Austin, Texas. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 77-90527. Some copies may be available for sale by contacting Priscilla Poindexter at plp1940@earthlink.net or on E-Bay from time to time.

"Poindexter Family" by Ronald Poindexter. Contains stories and data he has collected. His contact info:

Ron Poindexter 10700 East 56th Street Raytown, MO 816-356-8927 ronaldpoindexter@att.net

"The Poindexter Pride" by Gladys Blake, Publisher New York ; London : D. Appleton & Company, 1929. Description 3 p. b., 230, [1] p. front. 20 cm. Located at Oxford University, Bodleian BOD Nuneham Library Holdings, Location Call Number 25612 e.9939. I have not seen this book, yet. It might be available in other libraries in America, please let me know if you find it here in the U.S.

"Are We Related To Charlemagne?" By Edward G. Pickett, 2003, not a book, but is research in a web page format available right here.

Books that give historical background to the lives of our ancestors:

"Jersey 1204-The Forging of an Island Community" by J.A. Everard and J.C. Holt, 2004. Publisher Thames & Hudson, London (£19.95). This book was published to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Jersey's unique relationship with the Crown. It looks at the events of 1204 that changes Jersey's place in the world forever. This is the year that King John looses the Dukedom of Normandie to France's Phillip Augustus. This book is a must-read for the Poindexter genealogist that wants to understand how family loyalties caused splits in land ownership between Jersey and Normandy. I read the book and now have a better understanding of that period in history. Book Review

Not in the book, but probably affected by the events of 1204, is the fact that the earliest record of Poingdestre in Jersey is 1309, but the name Poingdestre appears in Normandy in 1185 (more info). This book doesn't fill in the gap, but certainly helps us to understand what was happening and, who know, may help us genealogists to fill in the gap someday.

Webmaster's Note: I was very lucky to schedule a holiday to Jersey when this book was released in May 2004. Professor Sir James Holt presented to an almost packed auditorium in St. Helier, discussing some of their research strategies and hurdles. He announced at the end that this was his final research project and presentation as he was retiring. It was a great experience for me. The Bailiff of Jersey was present, along with other Island VIPs, members of the Societe, Jersey Heritage Trust and the States of Jersey. I think the two of us were the only Americans in the audience. We did get to meet Sir James briefly afterwards and have him autograph our copies of the book.

Norman Pipe Rolls - Henry ll, 1180 and 1184 A.D., published by the Pipe Roll Society, London, 2004. On Page 5 in the Bayeux district (Basse Normandie or Lower Normandy), the pipe roll lists Ricardus Poindestre r.c. de x li. pro eodem. In thes. c s. Et debet c s.

See email from Dr. Everard for translation and background. This book ties in with "Jersey 1204" in that prior to King John loosing Normandy, our surname existed in Normandy. Ricardus owes a tax in this entry and again some years later. One time a wine tax and another time a fine for taking ell fish from the ocean which only the king could do. If he is paying a wine tax, did he have some land and cultivated grapes or run a winery?

"All For the King - The Life story of Sir George Carteret (1609-1680)", by G.R.Balleine. This book is about Sir George Carteret of St. Ouen's Manor, Jersey. Much of the book covers the time of the English Civil War and how the Isle of Jersey was involved. He was about 20 years older than our immigrant, George Poingdestre, who himself nearing 20 years of age when the war started. So the reader gets a good idea of what life was like for many on the Isle that fought to preserve the Monarchy. Available to order online from the Société Jersiaise for £3.00 (about $5 US) and can be ordered online. I have read the book and highly recommend it for the history and what life was like during the 1600's in Jersey. Our immigrant George's half-Great Uncle Jean Poingdestre is mentioned in the book. Many other books and pamphlets are also available from the Societe.

"Old Jersey Homes - Volume 2", by Joan Stevens, Publisher Phillimore & Co., London in 1977. The book is available from Société Jersiaise for £9.99. Volume 2, Page 128 discusses "Grainville", the home built by the main Poingdestre family when they moved from Swan Farm in the early 18th Century (well after our immigrant George came to America). Grainville is also mentioned in Poingdestre-Poindexter, A Norman Family listed above which also has a photo. A 1849 map reference is available on RootsWeb. Volume 1 (out of print) discusses Swan Farm, the manor that George would have grown up in, being a son of the Seigneur of the Fief es Poingdestre.

"Roman du Rou", Maistre Wace, translated from the original by Glyn Burgess, published by Société Jersiaise 2002. Wace chronicles the first Dukes of Normandy and the first Norman kings of England through 1106 and the reign of Henry ll, Wace's benefactor. I have read this book and recommend it for those interested in reading about these early Normans from a decidedly Norman point of view. Keep in mind that even today, we can "buy" a published genealogy from publishers that include our own research or our own misinformation. Wace was being paid by Henry ll to write Henry's genealogy. Also, there is agreement by some historians that could indicate the Poindexter's are descended from these early Dukes.

"The Parish Church of St Saviour", by F de L Bois, 1976. A history of the Church that the Poindestre family considered its home church. Compiled from authentic records, photos, plans and acient documents. Pages 66-68 are of particular interest to the PDA. These pages cover the period before and during our immigrants, George, childhood and the marriage of his father to his mother. Nicholas Effard is Rector, it his his daughter Elizabeth that marries George's father, Thomas. Another Thomas, George's Great Half-Uncle, that followed Nicholas Effard as Rector. It was during Nicolas and Thomas' Rectorship that many marriages and deaths were not recorded. This being the time period where our immigrant may have gotten married. This could be why we can't positively identify George's wife. Available from the Société Jersiaise.

 

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