Elizabeth Currin
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *Joseph Crews
Marriage:
Status:
Martha Dandridge Custis
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 1731 - New Kent
Christening:
Death: 22 May 1802 - Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Virginia, USA ( at age 71) 67
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *George Washington
Marriage: Jan 1759 - Virginia 67
Status:
Catharine Dale
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 1652 25
Christening:
Death: 10 May 1703 - ( at age 51) 25
Burial:
Parents
Father: Major Edward Dale
Mother: Diana Skipwith
Spouses and Children
1. *Captain Thomas Carter Sr.
Marriage: 4 May 1670 - Lancaster County, VA 25
Status:
Children:
1. Edward Carter
2. Thomas Carter Jr.
3. John Carter
4. Henry Skipwith Carter
5. Diana Carter
6. William Carter
7. Nich Carter
8. Elizabeth Carter
9. Daniel Carter
10. James Carter
11. Katharine Carter
12. Peter Carter
13. Joseph Carter
Major Edward Dale
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *Diana Skipwith
Marriage:
Status:
Children:
1. Elizabeth Dale
2. Catharine Dale
Notes
General:
ward Dale appears as Clerk of the county in 1655, and thence
continuously until ]May 10, 1674 when John Stretchley took the
oath as clerk of the county.
In Colonial days the clerk was probably the most important
officer next after the County Lieutenant, and besides belonging
to the local gentry, was one of the leading men of his county, or
what that champion gossip, Samuel Pepys denominates "'a very
great man"; which needs no other proof than the mention of
such names as Sir Marmaduke Beckwith, Sir Grey Skipwith,
Peter Beverley, Benj. Harrison, \\Vm. Nelson, Wm. Stanard,
\\Vm. Randolph, Robert Boiling, \\\\"m. Fitzhugh, Thomas Lee
and dozens of other names of equal prominence, whose owners
were clerks of their respective counties. The clerks were also
the legal advisers to a large part of their constituents, and for a
time were permitted to act as attorneys before the court, but
even after this priviledge was taken from them they probably
drew up more deeds and wills than all the other attorneys in the
county. Edward Dale's library included the following law
Ux>ks: The Compleat Justice, The Office of a Complete Attor-
ney (in Octavo), Jure Maritimo (Quarto), De Jureaments by
Sanderson, The Book of Oathes, and Virginia Laws (in folio).
From sometime in 1669 till April 1684 Edward Dale was a
Justice of the County Court, which included such men as Cols.
John Carter, Sr. and Jr., Capt. David Fox, Capt. Wm. Ball,
Capt. Thomas Carter, :Mr. Rawleigh Travers, :Mr. Richard Par-
rott, and Mr. John Custis. :Mr. Bruce says, 'Throughout the
Seventeenth century, the most important tribunal in Virginia for
the administration of local justice was the monthly or county
court," He continues, "According to the Act of 1661-2, the jus-
tices were to be chosen from among the 'most able, honest, and
judicious' citizens of their respective counties. * * * There
are innumerable proofs that they were drawn from the body of
the wealthiest, most capable and most respected men to be found
Jn the whole community." "The office of a justice was looked
upon as being &<:> purely honorable that, following the English
precedent, it carried no salary in the strict sense of the term;
nor were there any perquisites growing out of the position ap-
14 GEXEArOGY OF THE CARTER FAMILY
preaching in importance those which made the office of Coun-
cillor so valuable from a pecuniary point of view.'' The judges
on the county bencli were allowed thirty pounds of tobacco from
each litigant who failed to win his case.
The old records show that in the years 1670, 1671, 1679 and
1680 Major Dale was High SherilT of Lancaster, having been
chosen by the governor from among the names presented to him
by the county court, as for example the court held for ]\\Iarch
1679, "Ordered that ]Mr. Thomas Grymes, Major Edward Dale
and Mr. Robt: Griggs be presented to the Rt. Hon^=< S^ Henry
Chicheley Lt. Deputy Govern' and Capt Generall of Virg^ in
election of a Sheriff for this county for the year Ensuing." And
on May 12, 1679, "According to order of the Right Hono*"^ Sr
William Berkeley, K'. Governor and Cap' Gen" of Virginia the
oath of high Sheriff for this County was this day administered
to Maj° Edward Dale." For 16S0 his commission was dated
April 10, and he took the oath on May 26th. In 1681 he ap-
peared as the security of Capt. David Fox who was commis-
sioned high Sheriff. Bruce says. "From some points of view,
the sheriff was a more important officer than the clerk.'' "The
shrievalty was invested with as much dignity in Virginia as it
was in the ]\\Iother Country itself." Blackstone, the great Eng-
lish jurist, says of the English sheriff' that, "as the keeper of the
King's Peace both by common law and special commission, he is
the first man in the county and superior in rank to any noble-
man therein during his office."
In Nov. 1677 and January 1683 Major Dale received from the
county court his pay as a Burgees from Lancaster county \emdash eight
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five pounds for each service.
The date of Edward Dale's commission as a major in the
Lancaster militia has not been ascertained, he appeared in a
list of militia officers in Virginia in 1680 as Major Dale, and
in the various court records previous to that year. Bruce says,
"The members of the House of Burgesses belonged to the circle
of foremost citizens of the colony. Although all ranks of freem.en
enjoyed the franchise down to 1670, there is no indication that
this system of universal suffrage led to the frequent election of
GENEALOGY OF THE CARTER FAMILY 15
representatives of an inferior standing from a social point of
view." And of tlie officers of the militia that ""The men who
bore these military titles were the foremost in all the various
departments of action represented in the Colony."
Maj. Dale's part in Bacon's rebellion seems to have been that
he represented Lancaster county "Att a Committy (by OrdCf
of Ye Grand Assembly) for Laying a Levy in the Northern
Neck for ye charge in Raisinge ye forces thereof for suppres-
sing ye late rebellion mett at Capt. Beales ye 14'*" of August
1677 being present Mr. \\Vm. Presley, Maj' Ed. Dale, ^lajor
Isaac Allerton, Mr. Peter Presley, Coll. Wm. Travers, Coll. Sam'
Griffin, Coll. George Mason, & Mr. Martin Scarlett."
In addition to his offices in Lancaster, his home county, Edward
Dale was also the first clerk of Westmoreland county between
the years 1652 and 1662, running the office by the help of a
deputy.
The old worthies of Seventeenth century Virginia were very
careful of their honor and dignity, and prompt and severe in their
resentment of any infringement of the same. On February
8th, 1670, in contending for a point of this kind Mr. Dale routed
the entire court, causing them to adjourn without transacting
any business, as the only record of their meeting is as follows :
"Mr. Edward Dale, Clerk of this county & in Commission for
the peace, and high Sher'. of this County conceiving himself
sufficiently qualified to sett covered in Court w"^ some of ye sd
Justices would not allow of they did thereupon adjourn till ye
second Wednesday in the month next." During his fifteen years
on the county bench he dissented from the opinion of the other
justfces more than any other one of them, and always saw to
it that his dissentions were recorded. Another illustration of an
affront to their dignity in which Major Dale played a part is as
follows : "Att a court for ye County of Lancaster Nov. yŽ 8'** Ano
Dni 1 67 1 at ye Co" house these
Mr.Will Ball Sen. Mr.Bryan Stott
Mr. George Wale ]\\Ir. Robert Beckinham
Mr. Tho: Hayne Mr. Will Ball, Jun^
Mr. Robt. Griggs Mr. Tho : :MarshalI
Mr. Dan: Harrison.
l6 GEXEALOGY OF THE CARTER FAMILY
"Itt manifestly appearing to y*^ Co'^ several of its members
being there psonally prte that on Sonday y^ first of y'^ instant
of Nov: in ye tyme of divine service at ye p'she Church of St.
Marys White Chappell in this County one Rich'^ Price did after a
rude irrehgious and uncivil manner intrude himself e into y*
seate purposely designed and made use off by his Ma'^ Justi'
of ye peace for this County there beinge then psonally psent
inye seate two of ye sd Justic' w"' ]M^ Edward Dale high Sherr:
of y'^ County whom ye s"* Price did rudely force backward upon
his seate whilst he endeavored to keep ye s"^ Price out which
behaviou"" of ye s*^ Price tending to ye dishon"" of God Almighty,
ye Contempt of his Ma^'* ]Mynister, offence of y* Congregation
Scandall to religion and evil example of others. All of w'^^ this
Court taking into Consideration and fearing they might bee
thought ptiall (the Vindicacon of their s** membs and Sherifte
considered) have ordered that Mr. Edward Dale doe send a
messengere forthwith to ye Right Hon'''^ Govern'' to crave his
hon" speciall warnt to command ye s** Price psonally to appear
att ye next Gen" Co'^ at a day Certaine to ansv/er yo said'
M"" Robert Beverley is hereby authorized and desired to precute
ye sd Price at y* sd Court."
The existing Lancaster records show no deed to ^Major Edward
Dale prior to May 6, 1663, when he had a certificate for 750
acres by assignment from Rich : Perrott ; and on the same date
five hundred acres from Richard Merryman. March 30th, 1662
John and Margaret Paine sold to Richard Merryman "the planta-
tion whereon Mr. Edw"^ Dale now liveth." Feb. 2, 1664 ^laj.
Dale had a deed from Edward Lunsford for three hundred and
fifty acres of land on the Eastermost branch of Corotoman River;
and Dec. 14th. of same year a deed from \\Vm. Chappan for
700 acres on the same branch, for the two of which he paid
eleven thousand pounds of tobacco for five hundred acres ; and
in May 1681 a like amount to Thomas Chetwood, mierchant, for
six hundred acres in St. Mary's White Chappel parish to which
he removed and where he lived the remainder of his life.
Of this thirty four hundred acres Maj. Dale deeded five hundred
to his daughter Katharine Carter in 1674, and six hundred acres
GE.^EALOGy OF THE CARTER FAMILY ly
to his daughter Elizabeth Rogers in 1677. In all of his deeds
and other papers he was always styled "Edward Dale, Gentle-
man,"' a title that in the seventeenth century was defined with
legal precision, and its use not permitted to any one who had
not the right to it. Major Dale's original will has disappeared
from the clerk's office at Lancaster court house, but fortunately
his son-in-law, Capt. Thomas Carter, sealed his will in 1700 with
a seal that shows the crest of the Dales. Mr. Wm. x\\rmstrong
Crozier, a well known Xew York genealogist and authority on
heraldry says this seal shows the crest of the Dales of Northamp-
ton and London and gives the reading as following: "On a
chapeau gules turned up ermine, a heron argent, beaked, legged
and ducally gorged or." The arms are: "Gules on a mount
vert, a swan arg. :Membered and ducally gorged or." At a
visitation of the heralds from the College of Arms in 161 3 these
arms were confirmed to Wm. E>ale, Esq., of Brigstock, North-
ampton. He was the third son of Robert Dale, Esq., of Wencle
in the county of Chester, whose first and second sons were, Rob-
ert, Jr., of Wencle, and Roger of Inner Temple, London. Edward
Dale of Virginia was probably a son of one of these.
Major Dale was a '"cavalier" or adherent of King Charles L,
as is plainly shown by his epitaph, the fact that he enjoyed
numerous political offices under that rank royalist Sir William
Berkeley, and the following story of him that has come down
through his descendants: The story relates that upon one oc-
casion a stranger stopped at ^lajor Dale's house one day just
about the dinner hour. His horse was sent to the stable and he
was invited to join the family at the dinner just then being served.
When they were seated at the table the visitor immediately bowed
his head and offered a long puritanical prayer, in which he
asked rich blessings upon Oliver Cromwell (who was not then .
dead) and especial m.aledictions on the head of the pretender-
Charles H. This so incensed Major Dale that he ordered the
man from his table, sent a ser for his horse and told him
to hunt his dinner elsewhere, thus in his loyalty to his King
transgressing one of the strongest unwrittt-n laws' of the time\emdash
the law of hospitality.
[8 GEXEAZOGY OF THE CARTER F.LMl
.V
A three-quarter length portrait of Edward Dale handed down
in the Carter family showed him as a portly brown-eyed gentle-
man dressed in black velvet coat, dark red waistcoat, cream col-
ored satin breeches and a powdered wig. At the close of the war
Its owner, the late Col. Thos. Carter of Kentucky removed to
Chicago, where the portrait, with other valuable pictures and
heirlooms, was lost in the great fire in that city. A copv is now
owned by the author.
Dec. 8, 1674 "Edward Dale of the County of Lancaster in
Virg^ gent', as well for and in consideration of a marriage already
had and solomonized between Thomas Carter of the same Countv
Merch^ of the one parte and Katharine his wife, daughter of
mee the aforesaid Edward Dale," etc.. convevs to Thomas and
Katharine Carter a plantation of five hundred acres in Lancaster.
His wife, Diana Dale, signing the deed relinquishing her dower.
On the same day they conveyed to Thomas Carter and wife
a negro boy named Dick, a gray mare and two-vear-old colt
SIX young cows and their calve^. and half the hogs on the
plantation.
March 12, 1677, Edward and Diana Dale deeded to their
daughter Elizabeth, "now the wife of Mr. William Rodgers, son
of Capt. John Rodgers of the County of Northumberland, a
plantation of six hundred acres in Lancaster."
Oct. 7, 1687 Maj. Dale conveyed to "Mr. Thomas Carter and
wife, Katharine," in consideration of "love and affection," etc
Uvo negro boys named James and Robin; and after the death of
-Thomas Carter and his wife, the bov Robin was to go to Dale's
grandson, Edward Carter, and the other negro to his other
Carter grandchildren.
"In the Name of God Amen, the twentv fourth dav of \\uo-'
1694. I Edward Dale of the County of Lancast^ "in Rapp'k
River in Virg- Gente. being of Sound & perfect Memory God
be praised doe make and ordaine this my last will & Testament
in manner and forme following. Ffirst I commend mv Soule
mto the hands of Almighty God my Creator and Redeemer. Mv
body to the Earth from whence it Came to bee decently interred
w'^out any wine drinking.
CEXEALOGY OF THE CARTER FAMILY 19
"As for such worldly Estate as it pleased God to bless me
w"" I dispose of in manner and forme following.
"Imp^ if it shall please God that my wife shall happen to out-
live niee I give imto her for her maintenance during her life the
whole proffit of my Estate whatsoever it being had to her as
an honest woman a Gentlewoman, and a great many years my
wife."' After the death of his wife his daughter Katharine Carter
was to have control and use of all his estate until his Carter
grandchildren were all of age, when it was to be divided as
follows. Grandsons, Peter and Joseph Carter, to have his home
plantation in St. Mary's parish with all plantation tools, etc.,
and a negro man each when they arrived at the ago of twenty-
one years. This was about 171 1. as in January, 1712, tliey divided
their grandfather Dale's plantation. Granddaughter Elizabeth
his best bed and furniture and a trunk. To daughter ElizabetPi
r<odgers twelve pounds in full of all claims on his estate. The
residue of estate to be divided equally between his grandchildren.
Elizabeth and Catharine, Peter and Joseph Carter, when they
-hould become of legal age or marry. Daughter, Katharine
Carter, and grandson, Edward Carter, to be executors of his
will, and granddaughter, Elizabeth Carter, to also be one when
she arrived at the age of sixteen.
The inventory of his estate was returned to court ]\\Iarch 30,
1695. and amounted to ten thousand and six hundred and seven
pounds of tobacco. It included besides the usual household and
plantation furniture a parcel of books, three pictures, two silver
dram cups without handles and a pair of silver tongs. This
inventory does not list his books separately, but two of them
have been preserved by his descendants, and in one of them is
the following:
Elizabeth Dale
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: Major Edward Dale
Mother: Diana Skipwith
Ailey Dampier
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 14 May 1807 1
Christening:
Death: 24 Jan 1886 - Worth County, Georgia ( at age 78) 1
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *William Monk
Marriage: 1828 - Bulloch County, GA 1
Status:
Robert Sherman Daniels
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 2 Jun 1893
Christening:
Death: 24 Mar 1963 - ( at age 69)
Burial:
Spouses and Children
1. *Minnie Jane Corbitt
Marriage:
Status:
2. Minnie J. Corbett
Marriage:
Status:
Sarah Daniels
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: William Daniels
Mother:
Spouses and Children
1. *Henry Deloach
Marriage:
Status:
William Daniels
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Spouses and Children
Children:
1. Sarah Daniels