I have done extensive search on these three families, with the help also
of very good cousins that have been found through the Internet.

There has been some confusion and uncertainty among the descendants of the Dales of Somerset (later Worcester) County Maryland as to the correct lineage from the two brothers James and John Dale who were the first ancestors of these Dales of the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

I believe that this confusion has arisen from interpretation (or rather mis-interpretation) of a letter written by Adam Dale (great grandson of James¹) without a thorough check of all vital records available to determine whether all the facts set forth in this letter were in accord with the records.

One must remember that Adam was 83 years old when he wrote this letter..It would not be at all untoward to assume that his memory could be faulty. Unfortunately he named few names in his letter so one has to rely on remarks made to determine of whom he was speaking. Be that as it may - his letter contains a great deal of valuable information about the Dales of the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

I have spent six years studying all the Maryland records of this area and present the results of my study --well documented so that I believe that they can stand up under examination. Also a letter (or part of a letter) - not as well known as Adam's --written by one of his younger brothers establishes beyond doubt the authenticity of an important part of these conclusions.

However, a conscientious Genealogist always keeps an open mind; so I certainly stand corrected provided the correction is documented and not just heresay or tradition.

A common tradition has been passed around - that these Dales were descended from Sir Thomas Dale, the first govenor of Virginia..I am sorry but this is wishful thinking. There is no proof that Sir Thomas Dale had any children.