Buckingham Baptist Church, Part III
Monument to Elder Poindexter P. Smith (1793-1845)
Fork Union Baptist Church Cemetery, Fluvanna County, Virginia. Courtesy Find a Grave.
Need to catch up? Click Here: Buckingham Baptist Church, Part I
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Lulie Patteson’s article, “Old Church in Buckingham Still Stands as Lighthouse of Gospel,” published in Charlottesville’s The Daily Progress, preserved interesting details about the history of Buckingham Baptist Church, focusing on the contribution of its first pastor Renee Chastain and his successor, Poindexter Smith:
Buckingham church had representatives at the first general meeting ever held by Virginia Baptist. Renee Chastain, pastor and William Johnston, member, road over the bridle paths to Elisha Braig’s “Meeting House” in Orange County in May, 1771, where the meeting was held. Twelve Baptist churches were represented and Frederick County, on one hand, and Pittsylvania, on the other, were the limits of this gathering in the first effort of this individual-spirited denomination to cooperate with each other.
It is said that Renee Chastain was made moderator of the Middle District Association several times. It then included all the Baptist churches south of the James River to the North Carolina line and from Petersburg in the East to Bedford in the West. When the Appomattox Association was formed from the Middle District, the pastor of Buckingham became its first moderator.
The report of Buckingham Church to this general meeting in 1778 gave number of members is 52 and 16 additions by baptism. Buckingham Church has had many long pastorates. . . .
Poindexter Smith who was born in Buckingham but spent much of his early life in Tennessee and served in the War of 1812, followed Chastain. He was converted and joined Red Oak Church; was an overseer before his ordination; pastor of Buckingham Church for 37 years; and buried at Old Fork church in Fluvanna.
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For more about Poindexter Smith, search the archives at Slate River Ramblings and enjoy the results.
Coming next, Buckingham Baptist Church, Part IV
slate river ramblings . . . . 
I have seen this monument so many times in passing through Fork Union. It is across from Fork Union Military Academ in the side yard of Fork Union Baptist Church. I didn’t know who it was memorializing. Thank you for the information.
Nancy,
Thanks for your comment. It’s good to know Rev. Smith stands out!
Joanne
Dear Readers:
Poindexter Patteson Smith was often known as Elder Smith and was a member of the Smith family of Bent Creek in Appomattox County. He was a first cousin to the Smiths of Cartersville, Virginia. His nephew was R. Waverly Smith, Esq. of Galveston, Pres. of the Sealy-Smith Foundation of Galveston–the largest benefactor of health care in the State of Texas.
Harry Stuart Holman
Harry,
Thanks for elaborating on our kinsman!
Joanne