Robert Pointz

Sir Robert Pointz or Poyntz (1588–1665) was an English landowner and politician. He sat in the House of Commons for Gloucestershire, between 1626 and 1629.

Life

Pointz was the son of Sir John Poyntz, Lord of the Manor of Iron Acton. He matriculated from Brasenose College, Oxford on 15 March 1605, aged 15. In 1624 he stood unsuccessfully for parliament as member for Gloucestershire and petitioned, also unsuccessfully. He was made a Knight of the Bath on 2 February 1626, at the coronation of Charles I. In 1626 he was elected knight of the shire for Gloucestershire. He was re-elected MP for Gloucestershire in 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. He was High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1637.

In the civil war Pointz visited Bristol when it was a garrison for the King and later was called to account as a delinquent Royalist. On 15 March 1649 he begged to compound for delinquency, claiming that in going there, he "Never bore arms, nor contributed to the maintenance of the war against Parliament". He was fined £748 on 26 April, which was corrected after an error to £723. On 1 September 1651 he was assessed at £200, and on 10 April 1652 a request was made on his behalf for discharge from assessment on the Act of Parliament, which was granted 13 April. In 1661 Pointz wrote a "Vindication of Monarchy".

Pointz died in 1665, and was buried at Iron Acton, on 10 November.

Family

Pointz married firstly the daughter of a gentleman of Kent, and secondly Cicely Smith of Acton.