Born at Alkerton, Oxfordshire, on 19 May 1668, he was son of John Pointer, rector there from 1663 till his death in 1710, and Elizabeth (d. 1709), daughter of John Hobel, a London merchant.
He matriculated at Merton College, Oxford, on 24 January 1687, graduating B.A.
[1] Pointer took holy orders, being ordained deacon on 24 December 1693, and priest on 23 September 1694, and from 1693 until he resigned the office in 1732 he was chaplain to his college.
[1][2] Instituted in September 1694 to the rectory of Slapton, Northamptonshire, Pointer retained the post for life.
He was lord of the manor of Keresley in Warwickshire, and in December 1722 he came into other property in the parish.