Major Edward Dale and his wife, Diana Skipwith Dale, were among the earliest settlers in Lancaster County, living nearby on surrounding land as part of a 350-acre plantation purchased from William and Jane Clappam in Dec. 1664. Between 1653 and 1695, Dale served at various times as the Westmorland County clerk, a member of the Virginia General Assembly, and as the clerk, justice, high sheriff, “Collector of Publique and County Levies”, and “Commissioner of the Fort” for Lancaster County. The Dales’ children married into the Carter, Harrison, and Rogers families.