SAMUEL DALE AND THE DALE FAMILY. 
63 
next work was his History of Harwich and Dovercourt (1730, 
re-issued in 1732 79 ), already noticed. Then come the three 
papers on miscellaneous subjects, contributed to the Philoso¬ 
phical Transactions between 1692 and 1732. Lastly comes 
a brief sketch of the life of Ray, written in 1737, 80 which 
remained unpublished until the last few months. 81 
Dale’s activities also manifested themselves in connec¬ 
tion with local public affairs. He was, for many years, a member 
of “ The Company of Four-and-Twenty,” otherwise known 
as the “ Headborough,” the local authority which, from time 
immemorial, had governed the town (still unincorporated). It 
had a self-imposed Constitution and Rules, a monthly dinner, 
and a large official pew in the parish church. Dale served 
it Well in all its public offices, acting at one time as its clerk 
or secretary, as shown by its well-kept minutes in his hand¬ 
writing. He also made a copy (which still exists) of a book 
containing local records dating back to early-Tudor times, 
thinking, no doubt, that it was in danger of being lost or 
destroyed, as it has been. 82 
Nor did Dale confine his local activities to secular affairs ; 
for he was equally prominent in religious matters. He was 
(or became) a strong Dissenter, which renders somewhat re¬ 
markable his intimate friendship with Ray, an eminent divine 
•of the Church of England, though for many years together 
unbeneficed. 
During the closing years of the Seventeenth Century, a 
small Dissenting Congregation was formed at Braintree. Its 
first minister was the Rev. Thomas Shepherd, formerly a clergy¬ 
man of the National Church. He came, in 1700, from Bucking¬ 
hamshire to Braintree, where he ministered for many years, 
with great success. 83 Seven years later, in 1707, the body 
79 Though styling itself, and always styled, a “ New Edition," it was, in fact, no more than a 
re-issue. The whole of the matter appears to be identical in both, except the title-page, which 
is slightly different. 
80 There are references to it in Dale’s letters to Birch in the British Museum (Sloane MSS. 
4304). It was written apparently on Birch’s suggestion. On 4th March 1735-6, Dale writes (fo. 
19) that, as soon as he had finished the index to his Pharmacologia, he hoped to be “ at leisure to 
oblige you with what I promised about Mr. Ray.” But, as late as the end of the following 
November, it was still unfinished (ff. 25 and 27). By August 1737, however, it had been finished 
and sent to Birch (fo. 40). 
81 It was printed in The Essex Review, xv. (1917), pp. 139-143, where it was ascribed 
erroneously to “ George” Dale. 
82 See Mr. H. J. Cunnington, in Cunnington and Warner’s Braintree and Booking (Lond., 
4°., 1906), pp. 3-5 ; also Morant, ii., pp. 398-399. 
83 He was born in 1665, at TiUbrook, in Bedfordshire, of which parish his father had been 
vicar. He was a learned theologian, and published various discourses, copies of which are in 
the British Museum Library. He died 29th January 1738-9 (a few weeks only before Dale 
himself), leaving several children. He was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Pitts, who remained 
lour years only, resigning in 1742 
