Introduction

Greetings to you all!

By the time you read this it will be the beginning of August and toward the end of the month we will be holding our AGM in Lancashire. The notes below include more information about this event together with the usual updates to keep you fully informed about all our various DGS activities.

2009 Annual General Meeting

On Saturday 22nd/Sunday 23rd August 2009 the DGS Annual General Meeting takes place in Lancashire, England. It will be a full weekend event, with the AGM itself taking place in Oswaldtwistle on the Saturday morning and a visit to Queen Street Mill in nearby Burnley in the afternoon. The agenda for the AGM will be found below. There will be a dinner on the Saturday evening and then a visit to Thurnham Hall on the Sunday which will include lunch. For those travelling from further afield accommodation has been arranged at the Swallow Hotel, Samlesbury. Full details are published in the “Forthcoming Gatherings” section of this website. Thanks go to John Dalton, Editor of the DGS Journal, for making the arrangements for this weekend. For those who are attending it is important, if you have not done so already, that you return your registration form to John immediately. This will ensure that John can finalise numbers and accommodate everyone who wishes to attend.

Future DGS events

2010 marks the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the Dalton Genealogical Society and we will hold a special Gathering and Annual General Meeting in Surrey, England over the weekend of Fri/Sat/Sun 30th/31st July/1st August 2010. Arrangements have been made for the main events on the Saturday to take place at the Surrey National Golf Club, Chaldon, Surrey. These will include our conference during the day and a splendid celebratory dinner in the evening. The conference programme will include guest speakers and our AGM, and there will also be entertainment in the evening. The theme of the weekend will be Daltons in Surrey and we will arrange a programme of activities and visits for the Friday and the Sunday. Accommodation will be available locally. The Surrey National Golf Club is beautifully situated and has a modern clubhouse with excellent conference and dining facilities. Further information may be found at www.surreynational.co.uk.

More detailed planning for this 40th Anniversary celebration is currently under way and further details will be announced here in “Daltons in History” in due course. In the meantime, please reserve the dates in your diary now. We hope that many members and their families will join us for this very special weekend, and that overseas members will use it as an opportunity to visit other parts of the UK as well.

For 2011 we have arranged for the DGS Annual Gathering to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA over the weekend of Fri/Sat/Sun 14th/15th/16th October 2011. This will be another very special event and I am very grateful to our American Secretary, Karen Preston, who has agreed to be the gathering organiser. Karen and her team are now putting the more detailed plans in place and these will be announced here in “Daltons in History” in due course.

The 2011 DGS Annual General Meeting will be held in the UK earlier in the year and an announcement about that will be made later.

For 2012 and beyond we have a number of suggestions already. If you have any particular thoughts about where you might like to meet, or a particular Dalton theme you think we should incorporate, we would really like to hear from you with your ideas.

The Dalton International DNA Project (DIDP)

As has already been reported our consultant, Chris Pomery, has completed the draft of Issue 3 of the Dalton International DNA Project Progress Report. This includes all the new participants who have joined the project over the past few months, and whose results have now been made available by Family Tree DNA. There were 99 participants included in Issue 2 of the report published a year ago. Issue 3 has 128 sets of markers recorded and analysed. This represents an impressive expansion of the project in just a year. Additionally, many participants have extended their number of markers and this adds considerably to the value of the database as a whole to our Dalton family history researches.

The report is a landmark document and extends to 53 pages. As part of the Orange conference, I gave a presentation which previewed its contents. This presentation may now be viewed here on our website in the "Photo/Video Gallery". I have almost completed the detailed checking, editing and finalising of the document prior to its distribution to all participants. The distribution by email is scheduled to take place soon.

The number of separately identifiable genetic families has increased from 10 to 13. The number of singletons has increased by just three, from 18 to 21. This reflects the high success rate that we are achieving, with nearly all new project participants finding matches with existing project members.

Now with 128 Y-DNA project participants, DIDP is one of the largest and most respected projects of its type internationally, but we still need to expand it further, particularly with individuals who have documented ancestral lines that take them back to known English or Irish Dalton origins. The strength of the database as a family history research tool lies in its size, and its continued growth is of paramount importance to us all.

Further information about material from Issue 3 of the report will be published in the “Dalton DNA Project” section of the website shortly. In the meantime, please do contact me by email if you would like to join the project, or if you have any questions which you wish to raise. During the past few months we have received an encouraging number of enquiries and there are already new participants in the pipeline and further results are starting to come through from Family Tree DNA.

The DGS Journal

Volume 50 of the DGS Journal (for June 2009) has now been distributed and all DGS members should have received their copy. If you have not received yours please contact your local secretary by email immediately.

Back issues of the DGS Journal continue to be available. On this website you can access the DGS Journal Index from the homepage. Here you will find a full synopsis of the contents of the Journal of the Dalton Genealogical Society commencing with Volume 1 published back in 1970 through to Volume 41 published in December 2004. Lists of contents are available for Volumes 42 to 50 and the full synopses will be available in due course. Copies of all back numbers are available for purchase and these can be obtained from DGS member, Mrs Pat Robinson (address: Mallards, 3 High Street, The Green, Barrington, Cambridge CB2 5QX, UK email: gandprobinson@waitrose.com.) Details of prices, including postage and packing, will be found with the index.

Conclusion

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. We will be back again at the beginning of September.

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 2009 Annual General Meeting of the Dalton Genealogical Society will be held on Saturday 22 August 2009 at the Library & Research Centre of the Lancashire Family History Society, 2 Straits, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, UK commencing at 11.00 am.

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 2008 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


The minutes of the 2008 AGM were published in DGS Journal Vol 49 (Dec 08) pp 42-46 (Agenda item 3). All other papers for the meeting, including the accounts for 2008 (Agenda item 5) will be made available at the meeting.

From Mike Dalton of Oregon, USA

PATRICK JOSEPH DALTON 1876 - 1939 Biographical Time Line

Introduction:

Patrick J. Dalton is an Irish descendant of the Maurice Dalton family of Bromore, County Kerry, Ireland; the same Maurice Dalton who filed a will circa 1806.

Patrick went to America to become a Roman Catholic Priest with the Congregation of Holy Cross Fathers (CSC). It is a teaching order of religious clergy. It appears that he first attended Holy Cross High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. By mid-1903, he was ordained a priest. Much of his career alternated between New Orleans and Notre Dame, Indiana.

The Reverend Patrick Joseph Dalton

16 March, 1876: Birth to John Dalton and Catherine (Mary) Enright at Rahavanig, Kilconly Parish, County Kerry, Ireland.

16 December, 1892: Arrival in New York City aboard SS "City of Berlin" from Liverpool as a student, with two pieces of luggage, headed for South Bend, Indiana.

15 May, 1893: Applied for US citizenship at New Orleans, Louisiana Court.

1900 US Census: Graduate student at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC; listed as emigrated in 1893; naturalized.

8 June, 1903: Naturalized US citizen; District Court of the Parish of Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana.

21 June, 1903 to 2 September, 1903: Travel to Ireland, per 1922 Passport Application

20 August, 1903: Arrival in New York City aboard SS "Teutonic" sailing from Queenstown, at age 27, a priest, from Listowel, County Kerry to Holy Cross College, New Orleans, Louisiana; given as his place of residence in the US.

September, 1905 to June, 1911: Member of the faculty at University of Portland, in Portland, Oregon. He was a teacher of Latin and Mathematics, and a Prefect of Discipline. University of Portland was founded in 1901 by the Holy Cross Fathers CSC.

September, 1908 to June, 1911: Instructor in Mathematics and Latin, and Director of Corby Hall, a student residence, at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana.

1910 US Census: Rev. Patrick Dalton at Notre Dame University, Clay Township, St. Joseph County, Indiana. He is listed with other CSC priests.

circa 1911: Letter from Patrick J. Dalton CSC to John W. Cavanaugh at Church of the Sacred Heart, 3204 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.

12 September, 1918: World War I Draft Registration card: Priest, Minister of the Gospel, Holy Cross Community at 4950 Dauphine Street, New Orleans; nearest relative listed as John Dalton of County Kerry, Ireland; physical description: tall, medium build, brown eyes and brown hair.

1920 US Census: Reverend Patrick Dalton, at 4950 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, Orleans County, Louisiana, with Community of the Holy Cross. He is listed as a priest in the household of Brothers of the Holy Cross. He is listed as: immigrated 1892; naturalized 1900.

The Reverend Patrick Joseph Dalton's Passport Application

24 February, 1922: Passport application for naturalized citizen to travel to Ireland to visit relatives; granted by the US Court of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Rev. P.J. Dalton listed his mailing address as St. Patrick's Rectory, Arcola, Allen County, Indiana. He had been there about two years. He intended to depart for Ireland from New York on 24 May, 1922 aboard the SS "Scythia" on a four month trip. Physical description: Height: 6 feet, 1 inch, full face; dark and gray hair; dark eyes; long nose.

28 August, 1922: Patrick Joseph Dalton arrived back in New York from Ireland aboard the SS "Baltic". He was traveling to his home at University of Notre Dame, Indiana.

8 to 10 May, 1923: Letter correspondence with Rev. Matthew J. Walsh, President of Notre Dame University.

1930 US Census: Rev. P.J. Dalton, household head, age 54, residing at 511 Second Street, Henderson City, Henderson County, Kentucky.

19 August, 1939: Rev. Patrick Joseph Dalton died at Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. Obituary details are forthcoming, to verify burial in County Kerry, Ireland

Sylvia Grant-Dalton and Brodsworth Hall

Dorothy Malcolm of MA recently forwarded an article to Millicent Craig about Brodsworth Hall and Gardens. Mentioned are the Grant-Dalton families. Those of us who attended the 2006 New England Gathering, which Millicent organised, may remember meeting Dorothy there.

Millicent, I saw this on my English Heritage newsletter:

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1680

Monach gramophone of 1902

This summer visitors to Brodsworth Hall will be able to hear music once enjoyed by the Thellusson and Grant-Dalton Families between 1900 & 1970. The music will sound as the family heard it – crackles and all – recordings have been taken directly from the well-used gramophone records. The family listened, and danced, to their gramophone records in the South Hall, where a magnificent Monarch gramophone player of 1902 is shown in a tantalising photograph.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.17400?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=July09

Brodsworth Hall and Gardens

At Brodsworth Hall and Gardens near Doncaster you’ll discover the story of a house and the memories of a home that evolved through the ages. Conserved as it was found in the 1980s, the Hall's interior offers a time capsule of family life, from High Victoriana to the retro additions of the mid 20th-century. You may catch yourself reminiscing over some familiar items or wondering at the more unusual ones and discover the stories of the people who lived and worked on the estate.

Explore the enchanting gardens whatever the weather or season, which have been restored to their 1860s magnificence and divided into distinctive areas, there is always something new on offer every season. See the magnificent fern dell, stunning displays of roses and immaculate lawns as well as the classical summerhouse. Children can let off steam in the new play area, with a boat and mini rocking horses reflecting the family's sporting pursuits. Families will continue to have memories of Brodsworth for generations to come.

Additional notes by the Editor of "Daltons in History"

I subsequently did some further research and came across the following interesting information.

In the DGS Journal Vol 29 – Nov 1998 an interesting and extensive article entitled "The Grant-Daltons of Brodsworth Hall" was contributed by the late Lucy Joan Slater.

Searching further I read that a Mrs Sylvia Grant-Dalton, the last resident of the Hall, had fought a losing battle against subsidence and leaking roofs for 56 years. She died in 1988 and English Heritage acquired the Hall in 1990. Who was she; she appeared to be an indominatable lady? There are many references to her on the internet and the following will give a brief glimpse into her life.

A rare archive from BBC Radio 4 can be accessed at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2004_31_thu_05.shtml

In it Sylvia Grant-Dalton is heard talking about the relationship between herself as mistress of the house and her servants. Sheila Parkin Coates and other maids can also be heard speaking about their life at the Hall.

Further information in an article by Caroline Murphy, first published 18th August 2003 can be accessed at www.newstatesman.com/200308180025.

She refers to Sylvia Grant-Dalton and her later years at Brodsworth Hall when through her willpower and barricading herself in decreasing parts of the house, thereby leaving entire floors to decay, she was able to stay in the house.

By accessing http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/familytree.pdf an article can be read explaining how Sylvia Grant-Dalton became mistress of the house. There is an extensive, illustrated family tree showing the first Dalton, Mary Slade Dalton (1783-1820) marrying in 1810 a Robert Foster Grant. Through her marriage to Charles Grant-Dalton, in 1916, Sylvia Cecil West became a member of the family. Unfortunately her husband died in 1952 but subsequently Sylvia married her first husband’s cousin Eustace Grant Dalton in 1959. He died in 1970.

A source of information, which can easily be overlooked are packs prepared for schools and their teachers. Brodsworth Hall has such a pack, containing photos of rooms, plans, as well as describing the life of the inhabitants. This can be read at

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?search_word=Brodsworth+Hall&terms

Finally I would like to recommend an excellent article based on a talk given by Alison Constantine, of English Heritage, to the Tickhill and District Local History Society in February 2007 which can be seen at:

http://www.tickhillhistorysociety.org.uk/documents/BrodsworthFullPics2.pdf

Greetings from very hot Las Vegas!

The social networking trend has reached the genealogy world!

It has been popular to use social networking sites such as FaceBook for sharing genealogy information and networking with other researchers who have similar interests. In July, the company behind the "World Vital Records" subscription records site has launched "Genealogy Wise", a social networking site specifically for genealogists.

It is free to join. Simply go to http://www.genealogywise.com/ and fill out the registration form.

I have already started a Group for Dalton Ancestors on the site. As of the end of July, there are 2,902 groups for specific research interests. To search for topics of interest to you, simply type in a name or a location, and the site's search engine will show you if a group has been established.

Dalton Data Bank Update

28 July, 2009: Ohio, USA - Extensive update to Census, Deaths & added City Directories Contributed by Mike Dalton, OR

25 July, 2009: England - English Medieval Soldiers 1369 - 1453 Contributed by Karen Dalton Preston, NV Utah, USA - Pardons Granted to Utah Prisoners Contributed by Rodney Dalton, UT

4 July, 2009: California, USA - New California SSDI Database Contributed by David Preston, NV

2 July, 2009: Ireland, Northern & Republic of - New Ireland Burials page now available Contributed by Mike Dalton, OR

Data Bank site Visitors: 28 June to 28 July 6,300 visitors

50.3% - UK
34.0% - USA
6.2% - Australia
3.9% - Ireland
2.4% - Canada
1.7% - New Zealand
1.3% - South Africa
.2% - Rest of the World

Best wishes for a terrific Summer!

Karen Dalton Preston
Secretary for North America

Our usual thanks to this month's contributors. We always look forward to receiving your e-mails and reading your latest news about your Dalton families.

You will notice that some of the usual items are missing this month and that is because there is nothing to put in them!! We have no articles for the next "Daltons in History" - PLEASE SUBMIT SOMETHING!!

We will have our usual contributions from Australia, if Tom and Gerry are within computer range!

We are looking forward to the AGM in Lancashire and hope to see lots of you there - If you haven't applied yet read the "Forthcoming Gatherings" section on the DGS website.

Please continue to send to me any ideas for future articles and also keep looking for any information to include in the Dalton Strays section and the "Anything Dalton Challenge".

Contributions for the September issue need to be with me no later than 25th August 2009. (e-mail: dairneirwin@ntlworld.com).

Please be on time with your articles as it causes problems when it comes to actually producing "Daltons in History" and putting it up on the website.