Jersey, Channel Islands – May 2025 — More than 30 descendants of George Poingdestre, a 17th-century emigrant from Jersey to Virginia, have returned to their ancestral homeland in what has become the largest Poindexter family tour to date.
The group, part of the Poindexter Descendants Association, includes relatives bearing surnames such as Poindexter, Poingdestre, Pendexter, and Puddester. The association, formed in the 1980s by amateur genealogists, now spans the globe and estimates that George Poingdestre has nearly 10,000 descendants in the U.S. alone.
International Turnout for 2025 Tour
This year’s tour welcomed visitors from 10 U.S. states, Canada, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Among them was Jamie Poindexter, a Wisconsin native who organized the 2025 event. Describing Jersey as her “second home” since her first visit in 1998, she praised the warmth and hospitality of the islanders.
“The association started almost by miracle,” Jamie explained. “Some of us doing genealogy in the ’80s found each other and began organizing reunions.”
Tracing Roots and Family Bonds
Participants like Jimmy Poindexter of Virginia made the journey with extended family — 16 in total. For Jimmy, it was a long-awaited “bucket list” trip. “We don’t get to see buildings this old in the U.S.,” he noted while touring the island’s historic town center.
Kim Cisna, from Iowa, joined after recently discovering her Poindexter lineage via a DNA test. “It’s still a shock, but I’m embracing it,” she said. “It’s fascinating to see shared family traits even when you didn’t grow up knowing them.”
Francis Puddester, visiting from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, also traced his roots back to Jersey. “My ancestors were Poingdestres who worked in the Newfoundland fishery,” he said. “I always love coming here — I consider it my homeland.”
Celebrating Heritage and Connection
The association holds annual reunions in the United States and organizes Jersey tours every few years. This year’s record turnout highlights a growing interest in personal heritage and the legacy of George Poingdestre, whose legacy has spanned continents and centuries.
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