Richard Pointer (abt. 1740 - 1827)

Born about 1740 in Virginia [uncertain]

Died 1827 at about age 87 in Lewisburg, Greenbrier, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Richard Pointer is Notable.

Richard "Dick" Pointer was an American frontier hero, known for his brave participation in the defense of Fort Donnally in West Virginia in 1778.^[1]

Richard Pointer was born about 1740, likely in Virginia. He was enslaved by Andrew Donnally, who came west in 1771 from Tidewater, Virginia in order to settle on Little Sinking Creek in what is now Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The Donnally house was later fortified into a military garrison during the Revolutionary War.^[2]

For his bravery in defending Fort Donnally in 1778, Richard was granted a life lease to a piece of land in Lewisburg where he lived the rest of his life. In 1795 he petitioned the Virginia Assembly for his freedom but was denied despite local support.^[3]

On 2 March 1801, he was legally emancipated by James Rodgers, who had apparently purchased him from Donnally.^[4]

On 11 December 1819, he petitioned the Virginia Assembly for financial help, with letters of support signed by seven people. After describing the attack on Fort Donnally, he stated:^[5]

In Rendering this service Your petitioner believes he Contributed to save the lives of many Citizens of this Commonwealth at the risque of his own life, and after being worn out in Slavery and in old age was together with his wife another slave of Donally abandoned by their Master (the said Donally) who removed from this County and your Petitioner at an advanced period of his life thrown upon his own extertions & industry to provide a support for himself & wife, which with much difficulty he has been able to effect for many years past until your petitioner has arrived to upwards of Eighty years of age.

It appears his petition was found "reasonable" and a bill was drawn on 20 December 1819. It is unclear how much support he received.

In the 1820 census, he was living in Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, Virginia, with his wife.^[6]

Richard Pointer died in 1827 in Lewisburg and was buried there at the African Cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia: Dick Pointer
2. ↑ Fort Donnally - The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Fort Donnally
3. ↑ Dick Pointer - The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Dick Pointer
4. ↑ 1801 Emancipation Record - FamilySearch database. Deeds (Greenbrier County, West Virginia), 1780-1901, Deeds, v. 2 1798-1803. Page 400. Image 210 of 380. Link to Record.
5. ↑ 1819 Pension Petition - "Pointer, Richard: Petition," Digital Collections, Library of Virginia. Legislative Petitions of the General Assembly, 1776-1865, Accession Number 36121, Box 93, Folder 96. Record No. 000601206. Link to Record
6. ↑ 1820 Census: "United States Census, 1820"
   citing Page: 189; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M33; Digital film/folder number: 005156992_004_M9F1-P98; FHL microfilm: 0193691; Image number: 29
   FamilySearch Record: XHLT-2YY (accessed 2 April 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YB7-GVS
   Richard Pointer in Lewisburg, Greenbrier, Virginia, United States. Two free people of color: 1 Male (age 45+), 1 Female (age 45+).

• http://genealogytrails.com/wva/greenbrier/donnallysfort.html

• Find a Grave

Dick Pointer

Birth: unknown

Death: 1827

Burial: African Cemetery, Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, USA

Plot: 37.80127 - 80.44925

Memorial #: 12276905

Bio: Dick Pointer was the slave of Col. Andrew Donnally who was later granted him his freedom for his bravery during the Shawnee attack on Fort Donnally on May 29, 1778. Following the attack he lived in a cabin built by local residents of the area who reconized his heroic actions. He died in 1827 and was buried with military honors in the African Cemetery in Lewisburg, West Virginia.

Created by: S.G. Thompson (46616521)

Added: 7 Nov 2005

URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12276905

Citation: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 July 2020), memorial page for Dick Pointer (unknown–1827), Find a Grave Memorial no. 12276905, citing African Cemetery, Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, USA ; Maintained by S.G. Thompson (contributor 46616521) .

• Military Service: "United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783"
  citing Page: 630; Digital film/folder number: 101711079; Image number: 644
  FamilySearch Record: QG2M-XBYS (accessed 2 April 2024)
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3Q-HFLR-B
  Name: Richard Pointer; Military Service Date: from 0177 to 1983; Military Service Place: United States; Residence Place: Greenbrier; Vis Status: VISIBLE; Source Reference: John Hastings Gwathmey. Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines,1775-1783 Richmond [Virginia] : Dietz Press, 1938; System Of Record: SLS. "Pointer, Richard, a Negro, of Greenbrier, E."

• 2022 Magazine Article - "Dick Pointer: Enslaved Hero," Blue Ridge County, 16 Nov 2022. Includes photos. Dick Pointer: Enslaved Hero