By Dr. Lucy J. Slater

The following talk was given by Dr. Slater, Executive Secretary of the Dalton Genealogical Society. It covers the earliest records of Daltons in Cambridgeshire, England and provides some insights into their lives. The talk is constructed from wills, tythes, estates, civil, parish and other pertinent records. The photographs were taken in 1993. This rare account is an invaluable aid to Daltons with roots in Cambridgeshire.

 

"The earliest record found of a Dalton in Cambridgeshire is that of William Dalton in 1455. In the records of Peterhouse, Cambridge, written by Nicholas Gay, Bursar, we can read that William Dalton became Bedall of the College in 1455. In 1456, he paid personal tythe of 3s 4d, and again in 1457 and so on. In 1462, he paid the same personal tythe but also a tythe on a mill, unnamed. In 1462, one John Frying was charged with breaking into the house of William, Bedall, at 11 o'clock at night armed with a dagger and a club, and he stole a bible, a partase, a silver bowl and 10 pounds in money. (Does anyone know what a partase is?)

 

Nicholas Gay adds that this may have been a forcible repossession of John of his own impounded property. In 1463 a legacy was received of 12d for the High Alter, from the wife of William Dalton and finally in 1470 a legacy of 6s 4d was received for the High Alter from the estate of William Dalton. The amount of this tythe shows that he was not a very rich man for that time. Also the Bedall was not in Holy Orders but had a wife and lived in a house, rather than in the college The important point here is that he paid tythes for a mill, unnamed, but it may well have been the mill at the mill pool. So he had connections with milling.

 

 

The next Dalton in Cambridgeshire that we know of is Thomas Dalton of Shelford. He left a will, proved at Ely, in 1507, and bequeathing among other things, land for growing malting barley at Shelford. He asked to be buried in the yard of St. Mary's, Shelford, and left 20d to the High Alter, and a quarter of barley for the repair of the bell tower. Another quarter of barley was left to the Fraternity of St. Mary, 10 measures of barley to the poor of the town, two measures of barley to Margaret Raynald, three and a half acres of land to his son, William, and all his other goods to his wife, Alice, who is his executrix The will is witnessed by the Vicar, Thomas Papworth, John Steyd and others. There are two facts of interest in this will; that he is in the milling business, though he does not seem to own the mill and that his son is called William, Perhaps this Thomas is the descendent of the William Dalton who was a Bedall at Peterhouse, fifty years before.

 

There are other wills of Daltons in Cambridgeshire, John Dalton of Leverington, near Wisbech (1537), Henry Dawlton of Newmarket (1543) and John Dalton of Hauxton (1557). John of Leverington is a sheep farmer and leaves various sheep to Simon and Richard, his sons, and to Agnes and Emma, his daughters. His wife Katherine has the residue of the estate and is his executrix. Henry of Newmarket must have died a fairly young man as he leaves items to his brothers, Richard, Hugh and William, and his sister, Elizabeth. He seems quite a rich man as he leaves 6 pounds, 13 shillings and 4 pence to his daughter Margaret. He leaves his wife, Elizabeth the residue of the estate. He leaves his best cap to his steward, Hugh Plat, and another cap to his father-in law, Dawson, which could hardly make for family harmony. Witnesses to this will are Sir Hugh Beningwoth, William Cook, Hugh Plat, and William Culpeys. John of Hauxton leaves various household items to his daughter, Elizabeth and the residue of the estate to Agnes, his wife, who is his executrix. He seems to have been a farmer.

 

The earliest parish records of Daltons are from Elsworth, where we find a family of Daltons being born from the start of the parish registers in 1538 to 1580. However, they left no wills nor any other evidence of their existence. Their family Christian names were John, Thomas, Richard, Nicholas, Joan and Agnes. The only added information is the word, labourer, on one of the family burials.

 

In the Shelford parish records, the family names were, Peter, Ralph, Nicholas, William, Robert, Christopher and Joan. They flourished from the start of the registers in 1559 to the mid 1600's. They are almost certainly the descendents of Thomas of Shelford but the similarity of the names with those of the Ellsworth family makes one think that they also may have been related.

 

They left wills, even though they called themselves labourers; John in 1572, and Nicholas in 1613. John left his moiety to be divided equally between his wife, Elizabeth, his brothers, Christopher and William, and his sister, Elizabeth. He does not seem to have been married properly to his wife as he makes her executrix and calls her Elizabeth Chambs alias Dalton. The will of Nicholas is a strange one. He leaves his sister, Mary and Elizabeth, a smock, an apron, and a workdress each and the rest of his goods to his son, Robert. The next installment will cover the union of the Dalton and Jellybrand families in detail and the ancestry of one of the most famous Dalton lines.

Perseverance is a quality exhibited by the three women in our story who have each been trying for over a dozen years to make connections to their Newfoundland Daltons. DGS member, Sherry Ellice Dalton, lives in Camden, New Jersey, DGS member, Diane Jackman, in St. John's Newfoundland, and Ann Simpson in Jackson's Point, Ontario. Their problem is common to those whose ancestors arrived in Newfoundland in the wave of emigration that took place around 1825 or later from Ireland, i.e. to bridge the gap to their ancestral home. Because there were direct sailing routes between Newfoundland and Boston, and to New York, often times descendents of emigrants chose to come to the US and families lost trace of them.

 

Sherry Dalton

About a year ago, Sherry Dalton wrote letters to all 13 Daltons shown on the internet as then living in Conception Harbor. She explained her search, received some favorable responses and flew to Newfoundland in June 1997 to interview them. The results added to her family history, spurred an interest among her cousins, and this year she will return for two weeks. She will be accompanied by two cousins and a 76 year old grandaunt. Around 1910, a direct sailing route between Newfoundland and Philadelphia was established and Aunt Dolly (76) and Aunt Bette (88) are able to recall details of their mother's visits to Newfoundland with six of her children. One child was born during a visit.

 

Her search is two-fold. One is to find the ancestors of John F. Dalton, born July 15, 1874 in Newfoundland and Mary Vincent Mahoney, born Mar 1, 1877 in Conception Harbor. They were Irish Catholic descent The second goal is to find descendents of some of their 12 children: Anna Rita Dalton, b. c 1900 - Boston; Philip Dalton b. 6/1902 Boston. The remainder were born in Camden, NJ and are: Katherine May Dalton b. 1906; Mary Iona Dalton b.c. 1912 Newfoundland (during a visit of her mother), Lillian Evangeline Dalton b. c. 1914; John Francis Dalton b. c. 1915; Edward Dalton b. c. 1917; Beatrice Dalton, b. 1919; and James Raymond Dalton, b. 1925. We wish Sherry success in her next visit to Conception Harbor. Contact: SherDalton@aol.com

 

Diane Jackman 

Diane has finished a term as President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Genealogical Society and spent years tracing her Dalton ancestor to Carrick on Suir, County of Tipperary, Ireland. The D'Alton name was introduced into Tipperary shortly before the siege of Calais in 1346. Daltons owned extensive property there until 1641 when their estates were swept away by the Mayor and citizens of Waterford who forced D'Altons and other families from their lands. In the numerous little villages of Tipperary and Waterford, there remained many D'Altons. Absence of a central file of Catholic Church records makes tracing in each parish a long and tedious process. In Diane's case the difficulty is increased because of the large number of Michael Daltons.

 

Diane has learned that her great, grandfather, Michael Dalton, was born in Carrick on Suir, C. 1833-1844, but has not yet found him in parish records. He arrived in Newfoundland prior to 1864. Diane's great, grandmother was Mary Devereaux, born c. 1835 in County Kilkenney, Ireland. Michael and Mary were married in the Roman Catholic Basilica in St. John's, NF on Nov 7, 1862. The witnesses were James Devereaux and Francis Sanders. The couple had one son, Francis, who died at age 19. Mary died at St. John's, Nov. 8 1883. Michael was a miner and worked for a time at the Tilt Cove, Newfoundland copper mine.

 

Michael remarried on April 24, 1884 to Bridget Dixon of Ballyline, County Kilkenny, Ireland who was born in 1848. Michael and Bridget had three children: Mary Ellen Amelia, b. Jan 29, 1885, d. 1980, USA; Nora Catherine, b. Mar.10, 1886, d. 1961, St. John's; and William Francis b. Jan. 6, 1888 d. Oct. 7, 1970, St John's. He was Diane's grandfather.

 

Michael Dalton had two brothers who came to St. John'57 NF. William, a policeman, married Alice Gallivan in 1866, died in St. John's in April 1885. His obituary appeared in a Boston newspaper, suggesting that there may have been relatives in MA in 1885. Diane is currently pursuing this lead. The other brother, was Patrick. Diane would like to hear from anyone who has done research on Daltons in Carrick on Suir or who can shed some light on the MA connection. njackman@thezone.net

 

Ann Simpson

Most of Ann Simpson's ancestors remained in Canada but spread out into several Provinces. Family history says that William Dalton and Rebecca (?) were married in Western Bay, NF but she has no vital statistics on them, documenting that they are her g g g grandparents ,has become a real challenge and it is not known whether they were of Irish, Scottish or English descent.

 

In her research she has found two brothers, Thomas and William who are either the sons or grandsons of William and Rebecca. Thomas married Dinah (?) and had 3 known children, Sarah, Dinah, and James Sarah Dalton b. 1857, d.1933. m. Peter Milley in Western Bay on Nov. 15,1877. They had nine children and include: Martha Susanna Dalton, b. Sept 15, 1878 in Western Bay, married Matthew Milley, b. June 16, 1871 in Blackhead, NF. The couple was married in Boston, MA in 1895. Both died in Point Claire, Quebec. Dinah Jane, b. Sept.15, 1880, Blackhead NF married Ambrose Oates, and her second husband was Adam Gracie. John Thomas (Jack) Dalton, b. Sept.13, 1882, Western Bay, NF married Annie Alice Cameron, b. April 1 886 in Marie Joseph, Guys boro County, Nova Scotia and both died in Donkin ,Nova Scotia. Eugene Dalton, b. Sept. 1885, in Western Bay, married Susan Lydia Follett b. Nov. 1888, Western  Bay. The marriage took place in Western Bay and both died there. Josiah Crowley, b. 1887, Western Bay, married Amelia Bessie b Aug 23, 1900. The marriage took place on Feb 10,1921, Amelia d. 1993, and then Josiah m. Ella Matthews. He died 1962 in Carbonnear, NF. Other Dalton marriages in this family include the names, Patten, White, Butt and Walsh. Ann would appreciate hearing from anyone connected to her family line. pipeman@ils.net

This is the second in a series of "Dalton Sites of Interest" that are nearby the Dalton AGM to be held on July 4, 1998 at the Rufford Arms Hotel.

 

In fact, it is less than a quarter mile away. This Hall was the ancestral home of the Hesketh family and was built in the 16th Century. Lord Hesketh was a knight and wealthy Lancashire landowner who gathered the local knights for dinners, meetings and entertainment in the impressive Hall. Shakespeare's troupe is said to have performed here. It was in this early period that a Dalton male married a Hesketh lady, but she did not bring a dowry of part ownership of the Hall to the marriage with her. This was unusual as the Hesketh's and Daltons along with other local families held joint ownership in several Halls or Manors in Lancashire County. Perhaps it was because this was the Hesketh

ancestral home.

 

Over time, the Hall deteriorated and finally the National Trust took over the property, salvaged and restored the Hall, one the finest examples of 16th century architecture in England. Part of the original quarters were demolished and the brick section was an addition of the 18th Century, the living quarters of the family.

In the cupola to the right, Lord Hesketh sat with his back to the windows, facing all the knights at the round table and at the long dining table in front of him. To his right was the priest's secret passageway, no longer attached.

 

The magnificent hammer-beam roof of the interior, looking toward the sphere arch, is a compelling sight. Equally compelling is the massive hand-carved movable screen in the center of the Hall. It took many knights to move this screen forward, supposedly to concentrate the warmth from the massive fireplace near the dining tables.

 

Rufford Old Hall is surrounded by beautiful gardens and pathways along the river Yarrow and of course, has a Tea Room. The family no longer lives at the Hall but their artifacts are on display. Of particular interest is the children's study/playroom with a wonderful collection of early toys and playthings.

Daltons Listed in the Boston City Records and General Directory of Citizens - 1856

 

Benjamin F.     22 Indiana Place

Charles     26 Federal

Charles J.  boarder Gibbs Hotel

Edwin   carpenter   House, 37 Middlesex

Henry   treasurer   Boston & Prov. RR., Office, Depot, Boards, Tremont House

Henry L.    hardware    17 Union, House, 21 Sheafe

James       House, 2 Mt Vernon

James G.    engineer    Boards, Marlboro Hotel

John        30 Commerecial, House, 126 Federal

John    waiter  13 Hamilton

John C. coach and hack  Boston & Salem Stage Lines, 9 Brattle, House, Salem

Joseph  harnessmaker    House, 21 Thatcher

Michael currier House, 93 Endicott

Michael (Phelps&Dodge)  30 Hull St.

Peter Roe       House, 72 Boynton

Richard tailor  House, 31 Medford

Samual      82 Mt. Vernon

Thomas  locksmith   House, 73 A

Thomas  waiter  House, 29 S. Russel

Thomas  glassblower 4 Third

Thomas D.   auctioneer  Winthrop Block & Decatur

William F.  typefounder Boards, 30 Hull

William T.  W.S. Madgett Co.    House 22 Indiana Place

Notes: Benjamn F. and William T. were both living at 22 Indiana Place; James and Samuel were both living on Mt. Vernon; Peter Roe is the son of Capt. Dalton; and the boarders could have been newcomers- exception is Henry, treasurer of the Boston & Providence RR

 

Daltons from Ireland to New York; England to New Zealand from Passenger Lists courtesy of the GOONS, Guild of One Name Studies, England.

Catherine Dalton on the TELEGRAPH from Liverpool and Tralee* to New York, 25 October, 1853.

William Dalton on the ODESSA from Dublin to New York, 2 April 1852

Dalton, John (41, bricklayer, Princes St); Margaret, wife (42); Hugh (13 - son); on the MARY, arrived in Port Chalmers, New Zealand, sometime between 1848 and 1851.

* Tralee is a fair sized city near the coast of southwestern Ireland in the Province of Munster on the border of Kerry.

This Fanny Dalton came to America from England and no trace of her was found according to her family's pedigree chart. She was the daughter of Jeremiah Dalton and Eunice Marles who were married in the town of Monmouth in 1820. Monmouth is a border town to Wales. Fanny could be the nickname for Ann or Annie. She had a brother Sidney. If the names Jeremiah, Eunice, Fanny or Sidney are in your lineage, she may be your relative.

It is with deep regret that we report the death of Mrs. Morag Chisholm Simpson on March 6, 1998, at Leeds, England. For many years, Morag was not only the Treasurer of the Dalton Genealogical Society, but an editor, writer, and contributor to the Society's Journal She wrote with a distinctive flair that made her articles a joy to read, whether it was the about the flight of Walter Dalton to Wales in 1621 or about the Westmoreland Daltons from whom an American line is descended. DGS members may view a picture of Morag in the November 1997 issue of the Journal. If you wish to send a note to her husband, Ian Simpson and family, the address is: 11 Weetwood Crescent, Leeds LSl6 5NS, England.