Individual Details

Chapman Poindexter has not been placed in the Poindexter family. There are a number of Poindexter marriages in Halifax Co VA, including his. Some online databases have assumed he was a son of Bondaville Poindexter II, but this doesn't work out very well. I found a reference online to a will that seems to provide parents and siblings that make more sense - I believe there is an intervening generation that has been missed. Several Poindexters were in Louisa Co VA about the time of Chapman's birth. I think one possibility is that he is a grandson of Thomas & Sarah Veale Poindexter; perhaps through a previously unidentified son, which would make Chapman a first cousin to Bond Veale II. Chapman also appears with a middle name of David - I think this highly unlikely and that it originated with an attempt to meld his records with that of a David Poindexter who was in North Carolina, later Tennessee, who has also been impossible to place in the Poindexter family. Some refer to multiple Chapman Poindexters, but what I find all can easily be applied to one man without conflict.

Orange Co NC Will Book A, p.127
John Poindexter bequeathed all goods and chattles, real and personal to be divided equally between his wife and children. Elizabeth was his wife. Children listed as William, eldest son, John, Lovel, Chapman, Thomas and Francis Poindexter. James McCan and John Hart, both of Orange Co to be executors. 23 Oct 1772. Signed with his mark.
Wit: Abraham (x) Whittiker, Nelly (x) Reily, Elizabeth (x) Tate.

A Lovel Poindexter also appears in the marriage records in Halifax Co VA - if he is the same man from the will he would have been well into middle-age. The fact that no sons were given the duty of executor, would lead me to believe that most of these children, if not all, had not yet reached their majority. The Pension application of Chapman indicates that he was born in 1760 and would have been about age 12 in 1772. However, he says he was born in Louisa Co and entered the Revolution from there - the will in Orange Co NC would seem to be from an interim residence of the family not noted by Chapman. It is of course possible that the family relocated to North Carolina, the father dying soon after, then returned to Louisa Co or Albemarle Co after the death of the husband and father.

Chapman Poindexter is on tax lists in Albemarle from 1786-1790 and on a Halifax Co VA tax list in 1800. Lovel Poindexter was also on the tax list in Albemarle, 1787.

The following said to be in the Albemarle Co records:
15 Aug 1799. WB 1, p.148 [Should this have been part of the following in Deed Book 1, not a Will Book? Since the page is the same?] Power of attorney from Micajah Via of Halifax Co VA to sell 100 acres on the Rivanna River adjoining land owned by William Via. Given to Via by his grandfather's will.
3 Sep 1799, DB 1, p.148 [ Albemarle Co?] Chapman Poindexter of Halifax Co to Thomas C. Fletcher of Albemarle Co. For sum of 100#'s current money of Virginia. Tract belonging to Micajah Via for which Chapman has power of attorney to dispose and sell. Said power of attorney annexed to a deed from Poindexter to Phillip Day dated 15 aug last. Tract of 100 acres on the Rivanna River adjoining lands of John Baber, Joseph Hackley and William Via and given to said Micajah Via by the will of his grandfather as will appear in the records of Albemarle Co. Signed: Chapman Poindexter Wit: Philip Day, W. Robertson, Nelson Barksdale, Charles Goodman, Rowland Goodman.
Superior court at Charlottesville, 15 apr 1802. Proved by witnesses.
3 Nov 1801, DB 13, p.586 [Halifax or Albemarle?] William Via & Chapman Poindexter of Halifax VA to John Birckhead Junr of Albemarle. For $200. Tract in Albemarle: James River, corner of Thos. Fletcher; Robinson's; Hackley's line; corner to Barksdale and Hackley; bend of the river. 112 1/2 acres. Signed: Wm (x) Via and Chapman (x) Poindexter
Wit: John D. Grymes, Francis Birckhead, Richard Birckhead
Albemarle City, Court the 1 Feb 1802. Proved by oaths of the three witnesses.

In March 1803, Thomas C. Fletcher filed suit in Chancery, Albemarle Co, concerning his title to the 100 acres which Micajah Via had sold by power of attorney to Chapman Poindexter. I suspect from some of the testimony that Fletcher had not yet paid all he owed, as he states 10#'s was paid at the time of the sale and two separate bond of 45#'s were payable at distant periods. Fletcher claims the power of attorney was not legal. Among the papers is a bond to Chapman Poindexter for 114.5.2 which indicates to me Chapman has not been paid the full amount. Testimony sent from Chapman Poindexter and Micajah Via from Halifax indicates that the power of attorney was issued and the sale carried out in all good faith will full awareness of Thomas Fletcher. A new deed was written, 24 Dec 1803, recorded 2 Jan 1804. It restates that Micajah Via did on 15 Aug 1799 execute power of attorney to Chapman Poindexter and that Thomas C. Fletcher became the purchaser of the 100 acres on 9 Sep 1799. Signed by Micajah (x) Via and Chapman (x) Poindexter. Proved in Albemarle Court on 26 Dec 1803 by the witnesses William Hudson, William Cole, and Marbell Camden.

There are two marriages recorded in Halifax Co, VA for Chapman Poindexter; however he surely had an even earlier marriage given his age.
7 Oct 1799. Chapman married Betsy Johnson, John Johnson bondsman [Chapman would have been 39 years old - late for a first marriage]
5 Jul 1816. Chapman to Elizabeth Black; Wiles Whittemore, bondsman. This marriage may have been to a young widow, Elizabeth Runnels/Reynolds, and it may have taken place in 1815, rather than 1816.
Halifax County Virginia Marriage Bonds 1753-1854; Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City, Jul 1937. [Transcription has errors.]
Other Poindexter marriages in Halifax suggest that perhaps Chapman had several children by an earlier marriage. Born in 1760, even if he married after his Revolutionary service, he could have had several children born before the marriage to Betsy Johnson. Many of these marriages have been attributed to rather imaginary siblings of Chapmen, but it seems unlikely that so many middle-aged men and women would be marrying, when they could have been in the next generation and marrying in their early 20's.

I think it likely that that this marriage is a daughter of Chapman Poindexter, born of an earlier marriage. Halifax Co VA. Polly Poindexter married John Bayes, or Beges, 11 Nov 1806; Chapman Poindexter was bondsman. Or Polly could have been his niece, daughter of one of his brothers.

Halifax Co VA Plea Book 22
p.165   Dec Court 1803   Indenture between Micajah Viah & Chapman Poindexter to Thomas C. Fletcher, proved by witnesses and ordered recorded.
Same page:
Ordered John ?Poindexter, John Black, Charles Slaughter, John Marshall & Daniel Marshall or any three to examine account current of Henry Dillon, late guardian of John Echols, orphan of Jeremiah Echols with the said orphans' estate and make report.
[Note: This film is very light; the handwriting very small. I cannot be sure of the Poindexter named John, but it certainly appeared to be "Poindexter"]

The 1810 census for Halifax Co VA has been lost. In 1820 there was Bond Poindexter and a Lucy Poindexter in Halifax. Many of the censuses for Tennessee for 1820 are missing as well.

1830 Census, Grainger Co, TN:
Chapman Poindexter: 1m -5, 2m 5-10, 1m 10-15, 1m 60-70 [Chapman, born 1760]; 1f under 5, 1f 5-10, and 1f age 30-40 [Elizabeth born about 1796]
John Poindexter: 1m under 5, 1m 5-10, 1m age 30-40; 1f 10-15, 1f 15-20, 1f 40-50
If this John is a son, he was born prior to the marriage to Betsy Johnson - another reason to suspect Chapman had an earlier marriage.
There was also a Thomas Poindexter living in Hawkins Co TN by 1830 - he seems to be the same Thomas that will still be there when Chapman moves to Hawkins Co prior to 1850. Thomas was age 40-50 and had a rather large family. Also in Hawkins Co on the same page was a John Poindexter, age 70-80 with a lady of the same age - I wonder if this was the John that was supposed to have testified for Chapman as a Revolutionary soldier. He could even have been the John named along with Chapman and Lovel in the will in Orange Co NC, 1772.

Revolutionary Pension Application.
23 Aug 1832, Grainger Co TN
Chapman stated he was born in Louisa Co VA and entered the service from there. He later lived in Albemarle [for about 8 years], Halifax, and Henry Counties in Virginia, he then moved to Tennessee, living in Hawkins County for about a year and moving to Grainger where he lived at the time he applied for his pension.
He was age 72 at the time.
He was a private in the Virginia Line. He entered the service under Capt John Sanders, in Louisa Co VA and was marched to Richmond. He was transferred several times, serving under different officers. He was marched to Cheraw Hills in the Peedee [South Carolina] and then back to the Halifax Courthouse, serving under Gen. Green. He was in the battle of Guilford Courthouse and was at the Troublesome Iron Works. They were marched to Deep River and to Campden [Camden] and then to Ninety Six where Gen. Green laid seige to the British. Chapman was wounded and taken prisoner and taken to the British fort. When the British left the fort, he was parolled. He had entered the service in Oct of 1780 and was parolled on 9 Jul 1781. He had enrolled for eighteen months. He had affadavits from officers he had served under and they had previously been filed.


1840 Census. Grainger Co TN
Chapman Poindexter
1m 10-15, 1m 15-20, 1m 20-30, 1m 80-90. 1f -5, 1f 10-15, 2f 20-30, 1f 40-50
Listed as Pensioner, Chapman Poindexter, age 81

1850 Census. Hawkins Co TN, Dist 12, Hh 57
Chapman Poindexter, age 90, b. NC
Elizabeth, age 52, b. TN
James 23 and Susan 18, both born TN
Also in District 12, Hh 12
Thomas & Mary Poindexter, both age 60. He is said born in Virginia, the rest of the family born in Tennesse. George 30, Emaline 18 and Robert 15.
Hh 68 is a James Poindexter, age 32; his wife Perlina age 23, and son Robert age 1.

Birth	1760	Louisa County, Virginia
Marriage	7 Oct 1799	Halifax County, Virginia - Living
Marriage	18 Jul 1815	Virginia - Elizabeth Runnels
Death	21 May 1851	Mooresburg, Hawkins County, Tennessee
Marriage		[Poindexter]

Spouse	Elizabeth Runnels (1796 - )
Child	Talton Poindexter (1816 - )
Child	Sarah Poindexter (1817 - )
Child	John M. Poindexter (1819 - )
Child	William Poindexter (1823 - )
Child	James Poindexter (1827 - )
Child	Susan Poindexter (1832 - )

Spouse

[Poindexter] ( - )

Spouse	Living
Child	Watson Gentry Poindexter (1803 - 1848)

Father	? John Poindexter ( - 1772)
Mother	Elizabeth [Poindexter] ( - )
Sibling	William Poindexter ( - )
Sibling	John Poindexter ( - )
Sibling	Lovel Poindexter ( - )
Sibling	Thomas Poindexter (1765 - )
Sibling	Francis Poindexter ( - )