A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Poynter, Charles Willet
POYNTER. (Lieut., 1823. f-p., 36; h-p., 0.)
Charles Willet Poynter is second son of Jas. Melthurst Poynter, Esq., at one time a Commander in the Hon.E.I.Co.’s mercantile marine, and subsequently Captain of the Walmer troop of Yeomanry Cavalry, and Captain of Sandown Castle, who died 26 Jan. 1835, by Elizabeth, youngest daughter of the late Jas. Peck, Esq., Surgeon, of Deal, co. Kent.
This officer entered the Navy, 28 Aug. 1811, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Inconstant 36, in which ship, commanded by the present Sir Edw. W. C. R. Owen, he came into frequent contact with the Bologne flotilla. After serving for 14 months with Captain Owen in the Cornwall 74, attached to the force up the East Scheldt, he removed as Midshipman, in May, 1814, to the Nymphen 36, Capt. Matthew Smith, under whom he escorted the Allied Sovereigns to England, returned with the King of Prussia to Calais, and assisted, subsequently to the battle of Waterloo, in blockading two French frigates lying ready for sea in the port of Brest, suspected of an intention of conveying the person of Napoleon Bonaparte to America. While on the books, from Aug. 1815 to Nov. 1817, of the Albion, Queen, and Northumberland 74’s, commanded at Sheerness by Capt. Jas. Walker, Mr. Poynter served twice with his former Captain, Owen, in the Royal Sovereign yacht. He joined next the Andromache 44, Capt. Wm. Henry Shirreff, and, sailing in that ship for the Pacific, was there, in Dec. 1819, sent as Mate (he had passed his examination in Nov. 1817) and second in command of the hired brig William, Master-Commander Edw. Bransfield, to ascertain the character of a tract of land then just discovered, and now known under the name of “New South Shetland.” On leaving the Andromache, in July, 1821, he became Acting-Master of the Morgiana sloop, Capt. Wm. Finlaison, on the coast of Africa. In the following Nov. he removed, as Acting Second-Master, to the Doris 42, Capts. Thos. Graham and Fred. Edw. Vernon (now Harcourt), again on the South American station; where, from Sept. 1822 until his return to England in July, 1823, he officiated as Master’s Mate and Acting-Lieutenant in the Alacrity 10, Capts. Jas. Bance and Thos. Porter. He was confirmed in his present rank on 26 of the month last mentioned. His appointments have since been in succession – 9 Jan. 1824, to the Coast Guard, in which service he continued as Supernumerary Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, and Hyperion 42, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and Wm. Jas. Mingaye – 22 April in the latter year, to the Coast Guard – 21 March, 1844, to the command of the Silvia Revenue-vessel – 20 Nov. 1846, again to the Coast Guard – and 22 April, 1847, to the command of the Harpy, another Revenue-cruizer.
Lieut. Poynter married, in 1833, Louisa, only daughter of John Illenden, Esq., by whom he has a large family. Agent – Joseph Woodhead.