SAMUEL DALE AND THE DALE FAMILY. 65
The exact date of Dale's death (like that of his birth) has
been long in doubt. Until recently, the accepted date has
been 6th June 1739, but this is certainly wrong.91 That he
must have been still in fair health in the summer of 1738 seems
clear from the fact that, writing to Birch, he speaks92 of having
been "at your house in July last." Yet the further fact that,
in the following month, he made his will suggests that he felt
his hold upon life becoming precarious. Anyway, it is certain
that he died between this date and April 1739, when his will
was proved.93 The Rev. Stephen Newcomen says94 Dale's death
took place 15th March 1738-9, which is very nearly right. As
a matter of fact, it occurred three days later, on the 18th of
that month. This is recorded in a memorandum by Relhan,
discovered some years ago by Prof. Boulger on a sheet in either
the Linnean or the Smithian Herbarium, but since lost sight
of:—"Samuel Dale dyed between 3 and 4 of the clock on
Sunday morning March 18, 1738/39, aged for this 81 year."95
Dale's burial-place, too, has long been in doubt. It has
been assumed generally that he was buried at Bocking, in
the ground attached to the Chapel, of which he had been one of the
founders; but there has been hitherto no definite proof of this,
for all the earlier Registers of the Chapel, from 1707 to 1811,
have been lost. Some years ago, I searched the grave-yard
carefully, in the hope of finding some memorial to him, but
entirely without success. Recently, however, Mr. Avery has
produced the letter from Newcomen,96 in which, writing just
six years after Dale's death, he says:—" He was buried in
the yard belonging to the Meeting House in Bocking, aged
79 years. There is no inscription or monument for him: only
a stone over his wife,97 who was first buried there."98 This
may be regarded as conclusive.
Dale's will,99 made 5th August 1738, seven months before
his death, and proved (with a codicil dated 17 March 1738-9,
the day preceding his death) on 6th April 1739, before the Rev.
91 The error has been due obviously to the misleading obituary notice referred to above.
92 Letter dated 23rd Aug. 1739 (Sloane MS. 4304, io. 40).
93 See post.
94 See letter already referred to (ante, p. 58.
95 As to Dale's age, see ante.
96 See ante, p. 58.
97 Presumedly his second wife. Sarah, though both wives seem to have been buried in one
grave (see post, p. 67).
98 Even this stone has now disappeared, so far as I can find.
99 Comm. of London, Essex, and Herts., Bull, 212.
E