Hello "Sheepherder."
It is this elusive Samuel Dale that I am trying to track. A couple of my Aussie contacts have the same story of Alexander's grandfather being Samuel. However, I have now been through the Church records of Magherafelt C of I and Presbyterian, Woods Chapel C of I, Castledawson Presbyterian, Saltersland Presbyterian and Curran Presbyterian, the Salters Company estate records, the Marquis of Londonderry Estate Records, the 1740 religious census, the 1766 religious census, the 1831 census etc and there is no record of a Samuel Dale (or Deal) in Derry although there was one in Tyrone and one in Antrim. From what I understand, a number of years ago an Aussie Dale descendent hired a researcher to trace Dales in Ireland and this is where the name Samuel popped up as being the progenitor of this line of Dales. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the researcher made a mistake. I would be extremely interested to learn if you have any documentation for this Samuel or if it comes from this same source--the researcher.
In the 1740 census the heads of households in that part of Derry were Thomas in Anaghmore and Thomas and James in Ballymulderg. From what I can determine, I am descended from the Ballymulderg branch. However, they are all descended from a John Dale who emigrated from Ayrshire in the late 17th century.
Are you a male Dale? Has any Dale in your branch had their DNA tested? A few of us Dale descendents have done so.
Please let me know what you can of this elusive Samuel Dale.
Ron Dale
