Major Dale viz.a.viz. Captain Thomas
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In reply to:
Capt. Thomas Carter Revisited - New Info
Richard Zieman 9/26/12
Dr. Miller on the Carter - Dale
"The old records of Lancaster for the first two or three years after the county was
organized are not quite complete, but Edward Dale appears as Clerk of the county in
1655 and thence continuously until May I0, 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, Wm. Nelson,
Wm. Stanard, Wm. Randolph, Robert Boiling, Wm. 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".
"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 proof that Diana Dale was a daughter of Sir Henry Skipwith is a letter from her brother, Sir
Grey Skipwith, who lived on the south side of the Rappahannock in what is now Middlesex county.
This letter, recorded in Lancaster Record Book No. 2', page 364:
"Major Edward Dale.
Brother Dale.
Pray do me the favor to acknowledge in court
on my behalf two bills of sale for Cattle made to Mary Bayley
and this my note shall impower you for the doing of it as ful
as any letter of attorney,
Sr I have not else only our love presented to yrselfe and
my sister."
Sr I am your lo: brother
Grey Skipwith
That's Captain Thomas Carter of Barford
As before,Dr. Hayes has proven his Thomas of William was in Surry County by 1658, his father Thomas Carter of Surry deceased 1654, and Major Thomas deceased in 1659 (Beginning with Dr. Miller, no one to date has put ... all ... the facts together).Therefore, this is our Capt. Thomas Carter in 1662 ..... before ..... his second marriage to Katherine Dale.We do know from her signature that first wife Catherine was alive in 1662:
Colonial Abstracts Series II Vol. II by Lindsey Duvall, Pp. 19 / 228
"Capt. Thomas Carter, Edward Dale and Richard Merryman appraisers
of Est. of Mr. Anthony Stephens, dec'd. Court.January 29, 1662"
Virginia Colonial Abstract, Vol. 1. Page 283
"David Fox of the County of Lancaster, Virginia makes Excrs. and Adms.
My loving friends Capt. Thomas Carter, Mr. Edward Dale of County
of Lancaster in Rappah river in Virginia"
Signed, Davyd ffot [sic] ..... Recorded 14th September, 1664
"The Randolph Manuscript, now in the Collection of the Virginia Historical Society,
shows that "Capt. Carter" on 2 October 1667 was appointed to a committee of nine
to consult with some of the Governor's Council, so it is believed he was a Burgess
at this time and probably subsequently. No first names are given for committee
members, but no other Carter was called "Capt. Carter" during this period".
[King Carter born 1662 and his father John was already a Colonel].
Finally, the following is the exact citation found in the will of Robert King Carter (died 4 Aug 1732 - date of the original will is 1726, second codicile in 1728).In no way is this any Thomas of the Isle of Wight Clan, proven in Wight by this time.Separately, the King would not be frivolous with the title of Captain.Just to be fair and balanced, someone should verify the statement that Jr. received his father's commission in the 'Melitia':
"Whereas Capt Thomas Carter [Jr.] hath gone through a series of Business for me
several years together in selling divers cargoes of Goods and upon other accounts,
of whose honesty and integrity I have always had a very good opinion. It is my will
that such accounts of my affairs as he can make up, be received as satisfactory
from him by my Ex'tors, and he be to no trouble at law upon my account.' He also
directs that all his "selling goods' coming in by that shipping be delivered to Capt
Thomas Carter to be disposed of by him with the goods already under his care....."
Although there were legitimate questions and concerns at first, we can now say with absolute certainty our subject was Capt. Thomas Carter Sr., Gentleman, of Barford.We must concede Lancaster County, Virginia of the 1650's was quite confusing - but we now have our Thomas, and Dr. Hayes has his Thomas.