| from Millicent V. Craig Over 40,000 people passed by the bier in the City Hall of Manchester, England, to pay their respects to their beloved citizen, teacher, scientist and natural philosopher, Dr. John Dalton. What is even more remarkable is that this man achieved such greatness and honour by virtue of being self-taught, a true didactic. As a member of a dissenting religion, Quaker, the universities were closed to him at that time in history, but through persistent scientific investigations, teaching and devotion, his pursuits were recognized and he eventually was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by Oxford University for his scientific achievements. Dalton's Family Background The Daltons of Eaglesfield Note: A distant relative of John Dalton namely John Dalton, Esq. put together their family tree back to 1560 but we have not printed the earliest entries for lack of completeness. The three children, of Joseph and Deborah Dalton, who lived to adulthood did not marry, and this line became extant. The Early Years John's cousin, George Bewley, was headmaster at the Quaker School, a boarding school in Kendal some 45 miles away. Jonathan, John's brother, had already joined the staff. At age 15, John walked the 45 miles to Kendal and he too became an assistant at the school in 1781. A few years later, Bewley retired and John's parents took a mortgage on their farm to enable their children to purchase the school.. Mary joined them as housekeeper. They taught Latin, Greek, French, mathematics, writing, and merchant's accounts. To make ends meet, they gave private lessons, tutored, gave public lectures, ventured into subjects of mechanics, optics, meteorology as well as natural philosophy. They occasionally had to borrow a few pence but paid off the mortgage. When Joseph died, Jonathan returned to Eaglesfield and John remained at the school. For 17 years, John taught at Kendal and it was there that he became the protegee of Quaker John Gough, son of a wealthy merchant. Gough though blind, had an extensive library, had taught Latin and Greek to young Dalton, was an experimenter himself and directed his junior to organize and keep meticulous records of all experiments. In return, Dalton was a reader for Gough. After being in Kendal for so long, John thought it was time to pursue a career in which he could earn enough money to support a wife and small family. He sought the opinions of friends and family concerning the study of physics but their advice was that his future was in teaching. Gough had converted to Unitarianism and a close friend who was a fellow member of the prestigious Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society (MLPS) and a Unitarian minister in Manchester, sought a referral from Gough. There was an opening for a Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in a new college, an Academie for Dissenters in Manchester. Dalton was recommended and accepted the position in what became known as New College. This decision opened a whole new world of opportunity for Dalton. A Career in Manchester Dalton, the only Quaker on the staff of New College was assigned pupils to whom he taught mathematics, mechanics, geometry, algebra, bookkeeping, natural philosophy and chemistry. He was given large comfortable quarters where he could continue his experiments, and marvelled at the 3000 book library of the school. Part II will appear in the July 1999 issue of "Daltons in History" and will include a summary of the next fifty years of Dalton's life, all spent in Manchester. Note: This account has been abstracted from "John Dalton and the Atomic Theory" by Elizabeth Patterson, 1970. At the end of Part II which covers his fifty years in Manchester, there will be a list of the references to articles on John Dalton that have been published in the DGS Journals. |
| Robert Hooper of Marblehead, MA a fourth generation colonist, was born in 1709 and outlived three of his four wives. One of his daughters, Ruth, married the Hon.Tristram Dalton of Newburyport, MA at Hooper's mansion in Danvers, MA on October 24, 1758. Hooper was known as "King Hooper" because he controlled the fishing industry and other business interests in Marblehead. He owned extensive properties in NH and MA, an elegant house in Marblehead as well as the mansion in Danvers which was the scene of "royal parties". Nevertheless he was a philanthropist and a man of integrity who served as "councillor of the Province". He also maintained a warm relationship with his children and grand children. His reply to a letter from his granddaughter, Ruth Dalton, who had married, merchant Lewis Deblois follows. Marblehead, March 17, 1790 The letter provides insights into the inner life of this
man who obviously cherished his relationships with his family and was
on good terms with his son-in law, Tristram Dalton. His last sentences
portend his impending death for less than two months after Hooper wrote
this letter, he passed away on May 20, 1790 at 81 years of age. |
| Travel Plans to England On Saturday morning, August 7, there will be a general meeting and it is expected that Lucy Slater will read the will of Francis Dalton, Gentleman, who was a prominent Swaffham resident in the 16th Century. After lunch, there is time to explore or to attend the open air market and then assemble for dinner. Every Saturday, this tranquil town is transformed by the famous open air market and lively public auction which attracts thousands of people. Swaffham was a fashionable centre in the Georgian period and attracted many of Norfolk's gentry to its great social and sporting events. Lord and Lady Nelson, and Lady Hamilton were frequent visitors. On Sunday morning there will be a special service for the DGS at the Church of SS Peter and Paul. It is one of the many Medieval churches in East Anglia, with a magnificent hammer-beam roof and carvings depicting the legendary Pedlar of Swaffham, John Chapman. But of high interest to Daltons are the Dalton memorial slabs in the center aisle in front of the altar, and the many Dalton memorials in the graveyard beside the church. Swaffham is located in the center of many historical sites which you may want to venture and see on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Castle Acres, the 11th Century Cluniac Priory is only four miles distant and the remains of the Castle is open to the public. Within forty minutes drive are King's Lynn, Sandringham, Norwich, Thetford Forest and Coast, all of historical interest to Daltons. The area also offers a full range of activities including golf courses, fishing and horse riding. So there is plenty of sight seeing and exploration in this part of East Anglia. For more information about accommodations please send an e-mail to Millicenty@aol.com or send a note to Lucy Slater whose address is on the Entitlements page. Bispham, The Seat of Our Forefathers
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| from Arthur Whittaker, Kaysville, UT. DGS member Arthur Whittaker has spread as much information on his mother's maiden name of Dalton to as many sites as possible. It was seen by DGS member, Rodney Dalton. Arthur states that this was a most interesting and productive find since Rodney and Arthur turned out to be cousins. Rodney started working on his family history about September 1998 when his son, Scott, called and asked if he had any information on his Dalton ancestors. Rodney began surfing the internet, saw the name Dalton, and obtained Arthur's address from a posting. They soon learned that they were connected to a common ancestor, Charles Wakeman Dalton, back four generations. Rodney lived about 15 miles from Arthur in Ogden, UT. They learned that they were both born in Circleville, UT, yet did not know each other. They finally met and realized that the reason they did not know each other was because Rodney had moved away when he was 3 1/2 years old. Upon comparing their genealogy they found that they were more closely related on the Whittaker side than the Dalton side. Rodney's grandmother was Charlotte Whittaker who was a sister to Arthur's grandfather, Arthur Whittaker. So Arthur and Rodney are second cousins on the Whittaker side and third cousins on the Dalton side. They are now working together on both the Dalton and Whittaker lines. Arthur finds that Rodney is a fine detective and has found a great deal of information on the lives of both the Dalton and Whittaker ancestors which will supplement information that Arthur has already collected. They plan to write a series of books with the information that they have gathered. If this is your family line you may reach Arthur at: arthur@harkmarketing.com and Rodney may be reached at: rtdalton33@utah-inter.net Note: Rodney and Arthur are descendents of the Thomas Dalton line of Pembrey, Wales. See a message from Rodney at the end of the "DGS News" section, this issue. |
| The Idaho Newspaper Foundation has announced an annual award in honor of Max D. Dalton. In "Daltons in History", Vol. 1, No. 2, February 1998, there was a story about Mr. Dalton who was killed by squatters on his ranch in Costa Rica in November 1997. Prior to his ranching enterprise, he had operated a milk-testing farm in Meridian, Idaho. (Max Dalton is the father of DGS member, Richard Dalton, Woodside, CA). In 1980, Dalton asked the Idaho Dairy Commission for their list of names and addresses of all Idaho dairy farmers for a mailing to the list. His request was refused by the Commission on the basis that the list was confidential. Dalton filed a lawsuit to establish his rights to the documents under Idaho's open records law. After much litigation, in 1984, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in Dalton's favor. It reinforced the right of every citizen to have broad, prompt access to any public record in possession of state and local public agencies unless a secrecy exemption specific to that record existed in the law. Thwarted in their efforts to control public information, Idaho government agencies have put through exemptions for their own records and meetings into Idaho law. Today, prompt, inexpensive citizen access to most pre-Dalton public record files is virtually impossible. The new Max Dalton Open Government Award aims to reward aggressive citizen actions that advance open government in Idaho. It will promote public awareness of the trend toward government secrecy in Idaho as stated by the Idaho Newspaper Foundation. Nomination of candidates for the annual $1000 Max Dalton Award may be made to the Foundation in Boise, ID. Note: Max Dalton was a descendent of the Thomas Dalton line of Pembrey, Wales. |
| The following Dalton entries are to be found in The English Army Lists and Commission Registers, 1666-1714, edited and annotated by Charles Dalton, F. R. G. S. and dedicated to his brother, Lieutenant Colonel James Cecil Dalton, R. A. It was originally edited between 1892-1904. Colonel Saunderson's Regiment of Foot - 1697
The Second Battalion of the Royal (Scots) Regiment
of Foot. Commission Register 1709. Royal Scots First Regiment of Foot Guards
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| Entries in Griffiths Valuation of Ireland,
1852-53. Australian Daltons in the Boer War - 1899-1902
Notes from the Norfolk Records Society, contributed
by Lucy J. Slater. |
| There has been a query regarding the frequency of military-oriented information in "Daltons in History". When one considers that the family estate was generally inherited by the eldest male, the usual lines of occupation open to the remaining sons were either to earn a living in the military or to become a vicar in the church. Thus far, Daltons who joined the military seem to have outnumbered those who became vicars. Perhaps there is something special in our make-up which is expressed in an old English saying, "a Dalton never missed a good war". If DGS members have not already received the Spring Journal, it will arrive within a few days. We remind you that renewal notices have been sent out and we look forward to hearing from you. We now have a very limited supply of Dalton Memorabilia which was first offered last Fall. There are five each of the Dalton engraved copper Letter Opener and Salver, and the silver-plated miniature Picture Frame. For further information contact: Millicenty@aol.com Is there anyone who has access to Abstracts of Game Notices in "The Irish Farmer's Journal and Weekly Intelligencer", 1822, 1823? They cover several counties and include the name and location of each person who applied for a Game Certificate, and the names of Gamekeepers of the manor in their respective district. This information can be useful in the absence of other records. From DGS member Rodney Dalton of Utah and Leslie Crunk of OR, we have an account of the tragic shooting at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City in April 1999. This concerns their cousin Jean Ebling Beede, wife of John Beede, daughter of Louise Smith Ebling and granddaughter of Voyla Dalton Smith who was an early member of the DGS. "Jean and John were in the foyer with Nellie Leighton of Oakland, CA and were walking out of the exit door as the shooter came in. They heard a shot and saw Nellie slumped over the desk. John ran back into the building and Jean was shot at twice through the glass door. She ran towards the museum building and yelled at two bus loads of children to get them out of the way. John, who was in the library was shot at three times but was not hit. Jean watched as they brought out three wounded people; the security guard, a library patron and the shooter. Nellie is in the hospital and will recover from a bullet wound in the face." Let's all help Rodney with his latest Dalton project! Rodney has extracted all emigrants to America from available sources and in May he began collecting additional emigrants from readers of the Dalton-L Forum. If you have a Dalton relative who arrived in America between 1620 and 1900, and have not submitted the information to Rodney, please do so. He had collected about 75 emigrants from published sources and has added about 100 more through the cooperation of the Forum readers. When he has finished compiling, he will circulate the data. You may reach Rodney Dalton: rtdalton33@utah-inter.net. |