The new DGS website

One month on and, judging by your comments, the new look website of the Dalton Genealogical Society has met with universal acclaim. As I explained last month, we are implementing the new site in stages with Daltons in History, the Dalton International DNA Project and Clan Dalton now transferred and operating in the new format. Over the coming weeks, the DGS Journal Index, the Daltons in History Archive, the DGS Officers and Committee details and the details about joining the DGS will be moved across. The Journal Index and the Daltons in History Archive will include a new search facility which will be incorporated in the toolbar on the left. This will make it even easier to identify references by entering a keyword. All these elements will continue to operate on the old site until they are moved across, and by clicking on the links you will be routed back to them automatically.

If you find any links that are not working as they should, or you have any other queries about the new website please contact the webmaster on:

webmaster@daltongensoc.com

We will look forward to hearing from you.

The 2007 Gathering and AGM in Worcester – 27/28/29 July

More bookings have been received during April. Time really is running out if you want to be at the Gathering, and we cannot now guarantee ongoing availability of rooms at the Fownes Hotel. However, if you are still thinking about coming, do please contact Howard Dalton, our Gathering Organiser and Coordinator, as soon as you can and advise him of your intentions. His email address is h.dalton1@ntlworld.com and he will do his best to accommodate you. Howard and I are spending two days in Worcester on 8th and 9th May putting the finishing touches to the programme for the weekend and ensuring that all the arrangements are in place for a really successful and enjoyable gathering. With just three months to go before we meet all the delegates in Worcester, the DGS officers and committee members are really looking forward to the event with eager anticipation. We trust you are too.

This month, in “Daltons in History” you will find a brief article written by Howard about Sir Edward Elgar. In honour of the 150th anniversary of his birth, we have included in our programme a visit to Elgar’s birthplace at Lower Broadheath, three miles from the centre of Worcester.

Also in this issue of “Daltons in History”, you will find the official calling notice and agenda for the Annual General Meeting of the Dalton Genealogical Society, which is incorporated into the gathering programme for the morning of Saturday 28 July 2007.

In the next two issues of “Daltons in History” for June and July, we will feature more details about the programme for the weekend.

Clan Dalton

On Saturday 28 April 2007, The Clans of Ireland held its Annual General Meeting and Open Day in Dublin. As a registered Clan, Clan Dalton was represented at this important meeting by the Clan Chieftain and DGS Irish Secretary, Ciaran Dalton and myself as Clan Chairperson. Ciaran and I made our acquaintance with members of the Clans of Ireland Ltd Board of Directors and found out more about the benefits that membership brings to us. We will be reporting more fully on this in the June issue of “Daltons in History”.

After the AGM, we travelled to Birr in Co Offaly to start putting together the more detailed arrangements for next year’s joint Clan Dalton and DGS Gathering and AGM taking place on the weekend of 1/2/3 August 2008 at Dooly’s Hotel in Birr. We will be announcing details of the programme for the Birr weekend in “Daltons in History”, in the DGS Journal and at this year’s DGS Gathering in Worcester.


Enjoy this month’s issue of “Daltons in History”, your regular monthly update on everything that is happening in the world of Dalton family history.


Thank you for your attention and best wishes to you all.


Yours very sincerely

Michael Neale Dalton


Chairman and Honorary Life President of the Dalton Genealogical Society

Notice is hereby given that the 2007 Annual General Meeting of the Dalton Genealogical Society will be held on Saturday 28 July 2007 at the Fownes Hotel, Worcester, UK commencing at 9.30 am in the John Fownes Suite.


The agenda for the meeting will be as follows:

    1. Welcome and opening remarks by the Chairman
    2. Apologies for absence
    3. Minutes of the 2006 Annual General Meeting and matters arising
    4. Chairman’s report
    5. Treasurer’s report
    6. Secretary’s report
    7. Election of officers and committee
    8. Reports by the Editors of the DGS Journal and of “Daltons in History”
    9. Report on the Dalton International DNA Project
    10. Australian Secretary’s report
    11. American Secretary’s report
    12. Irish Secretary’s report
    13. Forthcoming gatherings and AGMs
    14. Any other business
    15. Close


Please note the following points:

  • The minutes of the 2006 AGM were published in DGSJ Vol 45 (Dec 06) pp 39-43 (Agenda item 3). All other papers for the meeting, including the accounts for 2006 (Agenda item 5) will be made available at the meeting.
  • Nominations for the various officer positions and for membership of the committee should be made in writing to the Secretary of the Society, preferably before the meeting and with the permission of the nominee. Agenda item 7.
  • Items of “Any other business” should be notified in writing to the Secretary of the Society preferably before the meeting. Agenda item 14.

On the morning of Saturday 28 July, we have a full programme and it is important that the AGM commences on time and is concluded by 10.45 am. Advance notice of any questions that may be asked, or any other matters that may be raised, will be much appreciated, and it will enable us to ensure that everything is covered in the time available.

By Howard J Dalton

Howard writes about Elgar’s connection with Worcester in anticipation of the Worcester Gathering in July 2007 and the visit to be made by delegates to his birthplace.

This is an exciting year for Elgar enthusiasts as 2007 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of arguably Britain’s greatest composer. Celebratory concerts and events are being held across the country. Worcester was the birthplace of Elgar and where he spent approximately 55 of his 76 years gaining inspiration from the beautiful scenery of the Malvern Hills and the Three Cathedral cities of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester.

Edward William Elgar was born the fourth of seven children to William Elgar and Ann nee Greening. His father was born in Dover and moved to Worcester in 1841 with his career as a piano tuner. They married in 1848 and three children were born at 2 College Precincts, opposite the east end of the cathedral. Herefordshire-born Ann yearned for the country air and the family rented “The Firs”, a tiny cottage at Lower Broadheath, three miles north-west of Worcester. There Edward was born on 2nd June 1857.

Within a few years William Elgar and his family moved back into rooms above 10 High Street where he and his brother ran a music shop specialising in pianofortes.

Edward grew up amidst the famous Three Choirs Festivals and much later played in the violin section under amongst others the composer Dvorak. In his boyhood he helped his father in the music shop and accompanied him on his piano tuning rounds to the large country houses in the Malvern Hills. He left school at the age of fifteen and family finances meant that he had to find work in the offices of a local solicitor. This lasted only a year, and Edward decided to make music his career. He was a self taught composer and made money by giving piano and violin lessons. For a time he also had the somewhat strange title of ‘Bandmaster of the Attendants Orchestra’ at the Worcester and County Lunatic Asylum at nearby Powick! In 1885 he was appointed to take over his father’s post as organist at St. George’s Roman Catholic Church in the city.

It was through his violin teaching in Malvern that he met his future wife, Caroline Alice Roberts, daughter of Major General Sir Henry Roberts, of the Indian Army. They were married in May 1889 and a daughter, Carice, was born the following year. Shortly after they moved to London to try to further his career but very soon moved back to Worcester. After several years of hardship due recognition came to Elgar with his ‘Enigma Variations’ and the ‘Dream of Gerontius’. He became rapidly famous and was knighted in 1904 and received the Order of Merit in 1911. The occasion that meant more to him than any other was receiving the Freedom of the City of Worcester in 1905. As the procession made its way to the Guildhall Edward looked to the upper window of the shop of ‘Elgar Brothers’ and observed his proud elderly father looking down on the scene below.

Although he lived in various places he returned to his native city for the last ten years of his life as a Baronet and Master of the King’s Music. He died on 23rd February 1934.

Both Elgar and his wife are buried in the churchyard of St Wulstan’s Church in Little Malvern. The Elgar statue was unveiled by the Prince of Wales in 1981 in Worcester High Street across from the Cathedral where there is a magnificent memorial window to the composer. His symphonies, choral, orchestral including the ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ Marches, and chamber works live on and are played throughout the world. It is indeed an exciting time to visit Worcester and the Elgar Birthplace Centre!

Tombstone Detail
Sir Edward Elgar with Worcester Cathedral in the background

By Sir Geoffrey Dalton

Part 1 of this article was published in “Daltons in History” last month. Here Sir Geoffrey concludes his account with specific information about the Drapers Company and the Daltons who have been members.

So with that run over the history of the Livery Companies how does the Drapers Company fit in. First it is accepted that it came into being in 1180 and its first Charter was granted by Edward II in 1364 and reinforced several time by later monarchs until a new charter was granted by James 1 in 1607 wholly incorporating the company with the title of The Master and Wardens as Bretheren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Mystery of Drapers of the City of London.

During the early medieval period the finest cloth was manufactured in Florence and the low countries. The wool which fed the continental looms came from England or Scotland and English merchants, some of them Drapers profited well from this trade. However in the middle years of the 14th century there was a change of direction stemming from Edward IIIs prohibition of the export of wool and import of foreign cloth. The result was an opportunity for the English cloth industry to expand and resulted in radical changes to the Drapers guild. In spite of the ban on exporting wool exceptions were made and some enterprising merchants set up a thriving trade to Spanish ports, Calais, Danzig and Lisbon. This also allowed wealthy merchant drapers to pursue trading interests outside the Drapers Guild leading to changes in trading practices. There was movement of other traders into the guild thus the whole character became more fluid leading to the dilution of the Drapers as a Mistery denoting a craft or trade, effectively severing their hold on the cloth trade. They widened their horizons and diversified their business. Yet the Company didn’t disintegrate, on the contrary by the beginning of Elizabeth’s reign it took steps to assert their position in the city. The Company was also in the happy position of receiving numerous endowments, bequests, legacies properties and rent which enabled them to enter the 17th century on a firm financial footing. The Drapers strength now no longer lay in the cloth trade but in the wealth, prestige and social conscience of the Worshipful Company.

Like many of the other Companies The Drapers has its Hall in the City near the Bank of England. The first one was in St Swithun’s Lane down by the Thames and was in 1423 built on part of a tenter ground which is a place where the cloth was stretched on tenters to dry and held in place by hooks – hence the expression ‘on tenter hooks’. After little more than a century in St Swithun’s Lane the Company bought Thomas Cromwell’s mansion in what is now Throgmorton Street. It was a palatial house with extensive grounds and on his downfall passed to the king – Henry VIII – and had been empty for three years. Sadly it was one of the last buildings to be burnt down in the great fire of 1666 as also was the St Swithuns Lane one.

The Drapers quickly decided to rebuild on the original foundations but to a new design. Misfortune struck again in 1772 when a fire in a cellar spread to do considerable damage involving much rebuilding. Finally a large programme of renovation and repair was carried out in 1825 which provides the basis of the splendid building we have today.

From it’s medieval origins as a religious fraternity, the Drapers Company has evolved into one of the wealthiest and most influential of the City Livery Companies. The position of the Drapers as third in the order of precedence after the Mercers and Grocers was finally established in 1516 by the Lord Mayor. Incidentally this decision was not without controversy as the Merchant Taylors and Skinners disputed who should be at No.6 or No.7. A Solomon like judgement instituted a procedure whereby on mid-summer’s day the Masters of the two companies call on the Lord Mayor and formally change places for the following year. Hence the origin of the expression ‘all at sixes and sevens’. There are now over 100 companies of which the 12 most senior are known as the Great 12 and the remainder the minor companies.

The charitable and corporate wealth of the Company derives from the bequests of individual drapers who over the centuries have left money, land, rents, plate, paintings, documents and instructions. Additionally property has over a long period proved a sound basis for prosperity and having been endowed over the years with properties scattered throughout the city, the Drapers remain substantial landowners.

The main function of the 21st century Drapers Company is the administration of trusts. For over 600 years the company has been entrusted with legacies, property, the government of schools, almshouses and in past times their sometimes troublesome inmates. Today the Company is still a trustee of three groups of almshouses which provide sheltered homes for some two hundred elderly people, and it administers a number of education and welfare trusts and also make grants in many other fields.

The Company’s experience in education originated in the medieval apprenticeship scheme formalised after 1551 when exhibitions were awarded to scholars at Oxford and Cambridge. In the years following, the Company became involved with the establishment and management of no less than 13 schools. Later caught up in the wave of Victorian enthusiasm for education of the people, the Company founded and financed technical schools, university departments and laboratories and with other Livery Companies founded the City and Guilds Institute. Finally the legendary People’s Palace was built at Mile End in the East End of London on a site provided by the Drapers. The Company paid for the construction of the technical school alongside the Palace and with continuing support it evolved into the East London Technical College receiving a Charter of Incorporation in 1934 from Queen Mary. It has subsequently been joined by Westfield College and the Medical Schools of Barts and the London Hospital, and now known as Queen Mary at London University.

Although the association of the Draper’s Company with the drapers’ trade has been tenuous since the late 16th century, links have recently been re-established by the foundation of awards and sponsorship in the field of textile design, conservation and technology and lately in the new field of industrial textiles. Overall the various Draper’s Trusts and the Company contribute more than £3 million each year to these various good causes.

Nowadays membership of the Company as a Freeman is open to men and women and can be by patrimony through the father or redemption which is by recommendation and interview. Thereafter advancement to the Livery is by selection. Each year one liveryman is elected to the Court of Assistants which forms the Board of the corporate part and the Trustees of the charities. For the last five years ladies have been eligible for election to the Livery and Court and this year we have our first female Junior Warden. The medieval member of the Draper’s Guild might have had a small shop where he sold drapery. The wealthier members were likely to be merchants, exporters of woollen cloth, moneylenders to the King, financiers and businessmen who were involved in all aspects of City life. Similarly today the members of modern livery companies comprise a cross section of professional interests. Some members’ families have been Drapers for centuries, others have been admitted to the Company on recommendation and following an interview. The freedom of the Company has from time to time been presented to men such as Sir Francis Drake after the defeat of the Spanish Armada and to Admiral Lord Nelson after the Battle of the Nile and to several of his captains after Trafalgar. Our most illustrious freeman is the Queen and Prince Charles is also one. More recently they have been joined by the Duchess of Gloucester.

So this brings me to the subject of the Daltons and the Drapers Company and I make no apology for spending rather a long time talking about the Livery Companies in general and the Drapers in particular because it is only by knowing the scope of their activities that it is possible to understand what it is all about.

For those with long memories you will remember that there have been at least two articles in the magazine about the Daltons and the Drapers, one written by a cousin Neale Dalton and more recently one by Michael Cayley for which he carried out extensive research in the Company archives and from which I have drawn much useful information and I can do no better than to quote from it where necessary.

‘The earliest Dalton member who appears in the surviving records is John Dalton who was apprenticed in 1503 but little else is known. Slightly more is known of Edward Dalton, who appears to have been a merchant in Calais before 1550 and there may have been a connection with the Dalton Merchants of Hull. Even more is known of Jerome Dalton, who was apprenticed in 1558 and obtained the Freedom of the Company in 1565 and died in 1592. Two of his sons became Drapers and one, Edward, was elected a warden in 1633. There were several other Dalton members in the following two centuries but it is William Edward Dalton, apprenticed in 1783, who started the succession which so far has lasted for nine generations. During which time they have contributed much to the governance of the Company.

From 1841 to the 1950’s there have only been eight years, 1862-70 when there hasn’t been a Dalton on the Court and seven have been elected as Master including Hugh Dalton, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer. Another, Sir Cornelius Dalton, was a distinguished Chairman of Governors in the early days of the formation of Queen Mary College and of course his great-great-grand daughter Rosemary Dow is an enthusiastic member of the Society. Michael Cayley, in his article, lists a total of 64 Daltons both male and female who have been or are members of the company of whom 9 are members today! To see who they were or are I thought it would be interesting to look at the occupations of some of the descendants of William Edward Dalton, who began the Dynasty and who are in our direct line. He was elected to the Company by redemption in 1780, a linen draper of Fleet Street born in 1755 and himself a fifth generation descendant of Walter Dalton of Curbridge near Witney in Oxfordshire. Next in line was his son John Dalton who married Hannah Neale and became a member by patrimony in 1802. He was Clerk to Dorrens & Co in Finch Lane, London and became a warden of the Company. Another was William Dalton, a bookseller, of Piccadilly followed by Rowland Neale Dalton, a drug broker of Hampstead who became the Master in 1897 (a drug broker was quite a different profession from today’s use of the term!), and who was my great grandfather.

His son William Henry Dalton, ‘a Gentleman of Hampstead’ and then my father Jack Rowland Thomas Dalton, a rubber planter in Malaya. There are 17 other brothers and sisters spread over the 9 generations who are or were Drapers. An interesting diversity of careers! I suppose the most distinguished one was Hugh Dalton, Chancellor of the Exchequer in the late 1940’s, a member of the House of Lords and Master of the Company.

Between John Forbes Dalton being Master in 1858 and William Henry being Master in 1880 extensive alterations and redecoration was carried out in the Hall. Included in the Court Dining Room are a number of shields spread around the upper part of the walls on which are painted the Coats of Arms of the Masters of that time.

William Henry was fortunate enough to qualify for the last one of these so to this day the Dalton Coat of Arms is there for all to see.

That completes all that I wish to say except to add what a privilege it is to be part of such a distinguished company in which I have enjoyed being a member with the opportunity of contributing to many of the facets of its work for more than 50 years.

By Ciaran Dalton

Those of us interested in genealogy fully realise the importance of old churches and graveyards in the ongoing study of family history. How many of us have attempted to read a weathered tombstone in the hope it might reveal its secrets.

I recall visiting an ancient churchyard in Rathconrath, Westmeath, the ancestral home of the D’Altons a few years ago and being unable to decipher the gravestones there.

When we do come across these unreadable grave stones, we perhaps silently hope that a previous generation or generations considered them important enough to record them. It is therefore satisfying to learn that at a considerable number of sites, records have indeed been collected and survive. These are contained in a number of volumes with the longwinded title of The Journals of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead. The information within these volumes was gleaned by antiquarians, local priests and other interested parties from many parts of Ireland. In some cases, exact drawings of the larger and more interesting tombs have been included. The volumes were published at the turn of the 20th century and are now rare. From their pages I have extracted some data on The Dalton/D’Alton family and hope it will be of interest to the members of the D.G.S. in particular.

I have included, also, one or two D’Alton death notices from other sources. I wish to acknowledge here too the work done by those early antiquarians and collectors. The spellings are as written. The volumes are deposited in The Granary Library, Limerick, Ireland.

County Offaly

On the south side of the burial ground. Long flat slab: letters in relief.

Pray for the soul of Christopher Dalton who depd this life Octobr The 20 1767 aged 25 yrs. Pray for the soul of James Dalton his brother who depd this life Octobr The 8 1767 Agd 20 years. And also pray for the soul of Judith Dalton alias Eagan who Depd this life July The 5 1818 Aged 48 years and also her husband Robert Dalton Who Departed this life December The 18th 1881 Agd 71 years. May they Rest in Peace.

The above extract was recorded at Clonmacnoise graveyard Co. Offaly. (Then called King’s County). Series vol.6, 1904-05-06. p.377. Clonmacnoise is a famous monastic site.

County Clare

“….. In memory/grandfather the said/Edward Dalton Esqre….. 1796 Interred 6 August 1823/Michael Eyre D’Alton Esqre….. Woodpark aged 32…. “Arms – A lion rampart between 7 fleurs –de- lys, Crest-a winged dragon. Motto – “Sub hoc signo vinces.” A neat mural tomb:- Edward Dalton of Deerpark his estate and/his wife the Hon: Miss Eyre sister of Lord John Eyre of Eyrecourt co Galway, are both here entered. (This omission of dates and Christian names occurs frequently on the D’Alton tombs). On the oval “6 Au. 182_ (1822?)/ Michael Eyre D’Alton of Woodpark Ist Lieut./of the Ross Castle Yeomanry/was interred with military honours.
In that dread hour when we all must meet And the Creator see
While standing at thy judgement Dear Christ! remember me.
“Blessed are the dead &c. Erected by his father Captain D’Alton.”
‘’ John H. Dalton d.9 March 1813 aged 17. Charles Minchin Dalton Esq. D.1811.
Michael Dalton of Woodpark 63 years of Age. Margaret Minchin wife of Michael Dalton late of Woodpark. (no date). Amelia Dalton d. 20th Jan.1896. Captain Dalton.” Already given in report.

The above extract recorded at a church at Bunratty County Clare. The editor wrote:

“Inside the church the east end is occupied by a number of plain tombs of the Dawsons, and the middle by many of the D’Alton family and a vault of the Butlers.”

I visited the church a few years ago but unfortunately it was locked. Bunratty Castle nearby, is a restored townhouse and a famous stopover close to Shannon Airport. The Ross Castle mentioned was probably that of Ross Castle, Killarney, County Kerry. For more on Woodpark, see Houses of Clare by Hugh Weir. John D’Alton, the historian, wrote that one branch of the Westmeath family of D’Alton migrated westward i.e. Michael D’Alton to Deerpark, Co. Clare (see J.D’Alton, King James’ Irish Army List p.423, Vol. 3. 1895-97).

County Down

Erected by Sarah Dalton in the memory of her mother & two sisters. Elizabeth died a.d.1814 ae 13 years. \Her mother died a.d.1815 ae 32 years and Jane died a.d.1815 12years. Edward Dalton died Nove 16th 1850, aged 75 years.

The above extract was recorded at Blaris graveyard, Co. Down, Vol. 10. The Dalton name is rare in County Down.

County Galway

Pray for the so/uls of Andrew/ Dalton deceas/ed the 10eth of/ Ivly(July) 1709 and of/ Richard Dalt/on his son here/interred from Dvblin in the 18et/H of April 1712.
Pray for Mr. Michael /Dalton who dd’ ian.uary the 28th 1753/ This monument was rebuilt by his son/Mr John Dalton Aug/ust 1753.

Extract recorded from Kilconnell Abbey Co. Galway. Vol. 9.

By Ciaran Dalton

The Irish Genealogist, a journal primarily for and about those of Irish descent, began in 1937. One of the main objectives of this publication was to attempt to repair some of the damage done to Irish Genealogy by the destruction of the Public Record Office in 1922. It was felt, that there was an urgent need at the time for a journal that would be “exclusively devoted to Irish Genealogy.” Containing extracts from unpublished family registers, abstracts from wills, monumental inscriptions, etc., it proved to be a mine of information on the subject of family history. Among the pages of its many volumes are references to the Daltons and I have extracted these for readers of “Daltons in History”. The extracts included range from such varied sources as Henry VIII’s army lists, early church records, to voters’ lists and more. A brief resume will be given where required of the document in question and any other relevant information.

The Irish Genealogist, Volumes 1-8, 1937-1993 are to be found in the major county libraries of Ireland. It is also available on CD ROM from Eneclann.

(A) List of Irish Army Sent into England 1544
Raised by Henry VIII in Ireland to fight against the French and Scots, it was to be over 3,000 but only less than half that figure were enlisted. A number of regiments of kerne were formed, among them were:

“Sir Thomas Cusacke and the Borderers of Me(a)th and Westmythes (Westmeath) Kerne” where we find Walter Dalton, Ric. Dalton. Included also was a Reymonde Daton.

(B) Lismore Cathedral Registers, Marriages 1692-1767-1784-1838

Marriage: William Dalton & Margaret Hallahan, 2nd July 1695.

William Hogan & Margaret Dalton, 20th May 1754.

James Dalton & Alice Hill, 17th June 1755.

(C) Killaloe Marriage Licence Bonds, 1680-1720 & 1760-1762

Michael Dalton Esq., of Woodpark(e), Co. Clare and Anne Fitzgerald of Castlekeale, Co. Clare, Spinster. Bondsman, Rev. John Malony of Sixmilebridge, 20th April, 1761.

Elizabeth Dalton of Ballinderry & Robert Davies, Yoeman, of Killaloe, Co. Clare. Bondsman, George Vallens, of Killaloe, 14th April, 1707.

Extracts from the Calendar of Petitions to Ormonde in 1649 and 1650

The petitions, part of a collection of 274 volumes by Thomas Carte (1686-1754), are now in the Bodleian Library. They contain over “120 volumes of Irish material”.

James Butler, twelfth Earl and First Duke of Ormonde (1610-1688), was an important political figure in 17th Century Ireland. The calendar of petitions are mainly concerned with lands but also contain “minor domestic catastrophes and casualties of war.” The writer noted that the “volumes provide the last appearance in Irish records of families about to be disposed by the Cromwellians and who either sank into that obscurity that is beyond the reach of records, or went abroad.”


P: Lt. ffulke Rockby, married to An Rockby, widow of Edmund Dalton, heir of Richard Dalton of Mullaghmihan in the County of Westmeath.

D: Richard Dalton of Mullaghmihan, Thurles, 26 March, 1649.
(Mullaghmeehan Co. Westmeath and Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Ireland).

P: The gentry, freeholders and inhabitants of the baronies of Galtier and Middlethird in County Waterford (ruined by the quartering upon them of Captain ffarrell’s and Captain Dalton’s Troops of Horse).
Kilkenny Castle 30 January 1650.

P: Major Thomas Dutton.
D: Lt. General ffarrell and Captaine Davyes to bring forward their officer Captain Burrage and Cornett Dalton to answer a charge of assault on the petitioner’s servant Bryon Neill. Limerick 19 March, 1650.

P: Edmund Dillon of Athlone merchant.
D: Donagh O Higan, Gerrott Dalton (excutor and administrator for Richard Dalton).
Rowland Brandon and Gerald O’Byrne. Richard Dillon. Lt. Edmund Dillon. Morish Dillon. Gerrald O’Byrne. In debt to the P. Athlone, 1 June 1650.
(Athlone Co.Westmeath).

P: Richard Dillon esq. whose father and grandfather seised and possessed of the Rectory of Templepatrick in the County of Westmeath.
D: father Garrett Dalton who disturbed the P. in his possession of the said rectory.
Loughrea, 14 August 1650.
(Loughrea is in County Galway. Seised = possession of freehold land.)

P: James Holmes
D: Conly Geoghegan and Richard Dalton of Rowlanstowne. In debt to P.
Athlone, 25 July 1650.
(Rolandstown, Co.Westmeath.)

From Millicent Craig

Darrell Lee Dalton is a testee in the Dalton International DNA Project and has close matches with several in the project. Darrell is descended from Grayson County, Virginia Daltons, the home of a large line of Daltons. The head of this line was Timothy Dalton whose origin is still unknown. Timothy died in Bedford County, VA in 1775. Timothy it is believed had four sons; William, Samuel, Reuben and Timothy. Darrell descends from the oldest son, William, and has sent some interesting notes on the conflict with the Native Americans as settlers moved into their territory.

The Conflict

Dunmores’ War was between the Colony of Virginia and the Native Americans of the Ohio Valley. Following increased raids and attacks on frontiersmen in this region, the Royal Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, organized a large force of militia and marched to Fort Pitt arriving at the end of August 1774. Dunmore also ordered Colonel Andrew Lewis, commander of the south western Virginia militia, to raise an army in the south and meet Dunmore’s force along the Ohio River. Lewis formed militia companies from Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Culpeper, Dunmore, Fincastle, and Kentucky counties. After Colonel Lewis’ victory at the Battle of Point Pleasant, Dunmore successfully negotiated a peace treaty with the Delaware, Mingo, and Shawnee chiefs that prevented them from settling or hunting south of the Ohio River.

William Dalton, Member of the Militia

Entry below is from the Index to the names of Virginia citizens or soldiers from the counties of Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Culpeper, and Fincastle who were compensated in 1775 for supplies and service during Dunmore’s Expedition in 1774. This index covers individuals from the counties of Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, and Fincastle only. The records are now part of the Virginia Colonial Government records group (RG#1) and are housed in the Archives at the Library of Virginia.

William Dolton, believed to be the ancestor of Darrell served in the militia under Capt. John Dickenson and is listed in Dunmore's Expedition Register, 1774. He received 124 days pay of 9 pounds, six shillings.

In the Daughters of the American Revolution Patriot Index a William Dalton is listed as Lieutenant in the Mongtomery County, VA Militia in Captain Jonathan Isham's Company.

The Urgency of the Settlers

The following two letters were selected from a group of letters that depict the plight of the settlers.

Source: Letters to Washington and Accompanying Papers. Published by the Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Edited by Stanislaus Murray Hamilton.

[Note 1: 1 Sent by President Blair to Washington.]

Letter 1.
BEDFORD COUNTY

This Day Timothy Dalton made Oath before me one of his majestyes Justices of the peace for the Said County: that yesterday there Came to his house three Indians and Quickly after Came four white men in Pursuit of the Said Indians namely John Wheeler Robt. Dalton Henry Wooddy William Hall from whom the Said Indians had Stollen horses from them Demanded the horses of the Said Indians but they Refused to let them have them on which the Said Wheeler went to take one of the horses on which they Shot at the Said Wheeler three times but Missed him on which the Said Indians went away and the Said white men in a Small time Joined with Seven more white men and went in Pursuit of the Said Indians again and them Indians being Joined by ten more Indians went over Stanton River a mile above the mouth of Pigg River and Threw off there Packs and Prepared them Selves for Battle then William Vardeman Sener and Some of the Rest went up to them and told them they Did not want to fight they only wanted there Horses and Did not want to hurt them on which the Indians told them they Should fight for them and Immediately the Indians fired on them three Guns Still the white men would not Shoot at them then the Indians fired three Guns more at them on that the Battle Began in which William Hall was mortally wounded of which wound he Died this Morning: and Likewise Richard Thompson was wounded in the Shoulder and Buttock; and that the white men Like Wise Killed and Scalped three Indians on which the Rest of the Indians Ran away and Left the horses and the Chief of the Plunder they had Stolen; and farther this Deponent Saith not.

Certified under my hand this the 9 Day of May 1758
... ROBT. BABER

Letter 2.
The George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799

Pinkney Hawkins to Clement Read, May 10, 1758

Letters to Washington and Accompanying Papers. Published by the Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Edited by Stanislaus Murray Hamilton.

BEDFORD May 10th. 1758
DEAR SIR

Last Thursday Co[???]lll. Witton Order'd me out to Blackwater Fort to Releave Capt. Cargill tho Instead of Releaving any we want five Times as many more, Tuesday Morning I Received an Express from Co[???]ll. Talbott to March immediately to Join Capt. Mead with another party of men to follow some Indians that had done some Mischef on Goose Creek we follow'd hard after Still till this Morning about 10 OClock we Came to an engagement in which we were forced to give Ground, by all that I Can gether from my men & Com.y we have killed 16 or 17 of them, we have Six Men Mising tho hope they are not all killed for they Still keep Comeing inn the Battle was faught 9 Miles from hence; if Lieutenant Mitchell has not 30 Men Make up that Quantity and 30 More besides at Least, the Wood is full of Indians and few White; we faught 35 Men to at Least By all Accts.vs 70 or 80 Indians, I offered them a parley which Occasion'd me to fallin their hands, they beat me and Strip'd me and then sent me away, pray dont fail making Mitchell's Company Sixty men for these back Parts wholey Depend on Lunenburg for Sucker; healp is now so much wanting that these Parts dont Gett Immediate help Coll. Talbott will be the frontear house in one Weak, pray be as expeditious as Possible

I am Dear Sir Yr. Most hbl Sert. &ca.
PINKN. HAWKINS
P. S. pray be so good as to Write to my Brother I have no time Likewise to
James Coleman that his son is well. ... P. H.

Land Grants to Timothy

Less than a year after these skirmishes, a Timothy Dalton on 28 March 1759 received a land grant of 150 acres on both sides of Frying Pan Creek in Halifax County. On 4 July 1759, a Timothy Dalton received a grant of 1180 acres on both sides of the aforementioned Pigg River, Halifax County. This Timothy is believed by descendents to be the first Timothy, father of William, Samuel, Reuben and Timothy and ancestor of Darrell.

Notes: Our appreciation is extended to Darrell Lee Dalton for his notes and ancestral information that will be shared with the Dalton International DNA Project testees who connect with his line. We also thank him for the Dunsmore's War reference material.

From Millicent Craig

Seamen Impressed by British War Vessels, 1800-1818

The following seamen were two Dalton brothers, mariners of Salem, MA. Their mother, Sarah Moses Dalton was the ancestor of DGS member, Dorothy Malcolm of Braintree, MA and this article was sent by Dorothy.

Data was transcribed from a contemporary manuscript by Nancie Farnsworth which was presented to the Essex Institute in 1881 by George B. Jewett of Salem, Massachusetts. Historical Collections, Vol XLIX, October 1913.

http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ma/essex/towns/salem/seamen.txt

John Dalton, twice impressed, son of Sarah Dalton. He escaped by swimming. He says in his letter to his mother dated on board the Inflexible, July 21st, "I have been impressed ever since the 26th of March last, having lost my Protection. I have made application to the Consul for my clearance, who in-forms me that I must have a fresh protection from the custom house, with a certificate of your marriage, sent to the Admiral. I am very anxious to return to my own country to see my friends and I hope none of them will ever be so unfortunate as to be in my situation." - Register.

Samuel M. Dalton, born at Salem, his mother, now living was the dau. of Capt. Moses; has sent five sets of papers, certificates, etc; has been absent ten years and is still detained on board the Brig, Elk, Capt. Coglan. We have seen five letters from him dated on board different ships. He received "duly authenticated proof" of being an American several times. Evidence of his birth by the Town Clerk, and of his baptism by Dr. Barnard, together with certificates from the principal merchants of Salem, were sent out five several times; upon their being shown to the Admiral he declared them to be unsatisfactory and finally told Dalton that he should not go, for, said the Admiral, "I do not see any reason why you should not serve his Majesty as well as myself. "This case clearly shows the utter falsity of the assertion of Mr. Pickering, that "men are always delivered up on duly authenticated proof." - Register.

Note: Official reports with lists of names and a short summary of the circumstances of each impressment may be found in the Executive Documents of the 8th Congress, 1st session; the 9th Congress, 1st session; the 10th Congress, 1st session; the Executive Reports, 11th Congress, 2nd Session; and 12th Congress, 1st session.

Millicent Craig

Kelvin Dalton writes from Northampton, NH that the Town Council has duly recognized the Dalton founders of Hampton in their recent meeting. Following the AGM of the DGS in October 2006, a photograph of the Dalton stone in Founders Park has now been entered in the Town Records and a new road has been named Dalton Lane.

During the month of April Barbara Diemer of Littleton, Colorado was added to the membership rolls. Barbara is a distant cousin of the American, Mary Emma Cook Dalton of Thurnham Manor and is in England, researching Mary Emma's life at Thurnham.

Progress is being made in compiling the lineages of Group A of the Dalton International DNA Project. This large group has ancestry in VA, KY, TN, WV, NC so if your lineage crosses these borders you may want to learn through genetic genealogy whether you have common ancestors. Your DNA will confirm or deny connections and open new avenues for research. Contact your DNA Coordinator, Millicent Craig. Millicenty@aol.com

DNA results for two new members of Irish descent were posted in April. The two groups of Irish descent are growing so if you are a Dalton, Dolton, Daton, Daulton, or any other variation, you are welcome to learn whether or not your DNA matches testees in the two significant clusters of Irish Daltons. The DIDP is also registered with Clans of Ireland as the recognized organizer for Clan Dalton through Family Tree DNA, the largest international DNA testing company. Millicent Craig is your DNA Clan Project organiser.

The DGS requests that Daltons of English descent respond to our call for participants in the DIDP. So many of our Dalton lines originated in England that we need to broaden the number of testees in the hopes of locating the lines of those emigrants who have settled in other parts of the world.

Bill Dalton of Washington would like to begin extracting Daltons from the 1841, 1851 Census of England for the Dalton Data Bank. This is a large project and Bill will need volunteers. If you have some free time please contact me.

Dorothy Malcolm of Braintree, MA has renewed her enthusiasm for research by acquiring a handwritten manuscript that was offered on e-Bay. It contains some early details of her Daltons and Drivers in MA.

Dairne Irwin

Thank you, again, to all those who have contributed to the May 2007 issue of Daltons in History. Please continue to support your newsletter and also please send in articles that will be suitable for publication in our twice yearly Journal.

Note: Daniel Lievois has requested that the following amendment and additions be noted concerning his “Melchior Dalton” article in last month’s newsletter:

“Two remarks about the text in your journal. First the tombstone was not discovered by myself, but by the Archeological Service of the city of Gent. Secondly, it is Porcenses and not Procenses. The college where Oliver stayed during his time at Leuven was that of the Pork, in Flemisch Het Varken. This was the house name of course. He belonged to the pauperes, these are the poor students. It would be nice if you could change these details.

Thank you and best regards,
Daniel Lievois”