Re: Edward Dale's wife, Diana Skipwith

As to any supposed social inequality between Edward Dale and Diana
Skipwith. Permit me to say that I think it absurd to imagine a baronet's
daughter was so much more exalted than a gentleman of good family -
substantial gentry himself, as "hoch und wohlgeboren" as Diana. Though
occurring almost 200 years later, one is reminded of Elizabeth Bennet's
statement to the haughty Lady Catherine de Burgh, with reference to any
supposed incongruity of a link-up between Elizabeth and Lady Catherine's
nephew, "I am a gentleman's daughter, he is a gentleman". There was no
more to be said. (But, when Lady Catharine rebutted, "Well, what about
your *mother*!" - that was entirely another matter.)

Doug McDonald...

So what's the rest of this story? Who was the mother? Is the
genealogy of this tale on Genealogics?

Doug McDonald

A baronet and a knight were merely gentlemen differentiated from others
of their class only by the handle on their name.

Tim Powys-Lybbe...

Class is one thing and I agree with you that they were all much of a
muchness, but marriage negotiations were an entirely different matter.
In the course of having a look through early 17th century baronets and
their families, I was struck by how much the marriages of daughters was
with fellows of similar title. If they could afford to buy a
baronetcy, they could afford to provide dowries get the lasses married
off well.

Tony

Anthony Hoskins
History, Genealogy and Archives Librarian
History and Genealogy Library
Sonoma County Library
3rd and E Streets
Santa Rosa, California 95404

707/545-0831, ext. 562

Re: Edward Dale's wife, Diana Skipwith - maiden name rather