| Synopsis by Millicent V. Craig In the June 1999 issue of "Daltons in History", Vol. 2, No. 6, John Dalton had just been hired as a teacher in the Unitarian school of Manchester, England. It was named New College. The emerging philosopher was the only Quaker on the staff but was quick to make friends both inside and outside of the Quaker community. He was invited to membership in the prestigious Literary and Philosophical Society where he read his first paper, "Extraordinary Facts Relating to the Vision of Colours". His difficulty in distinguishing colors was first noted as a young boy when he brought a gift to his mother while teaching at the Kendal school. It was a pair of bright red stockings, so unlike the the drab colors of Quaker dress. Another instance was the purchase of a length of bright pink wool for a tailor-made waistcoast to wear to an Oxford ceremony. Distinguishing reds and greens gave him the most trouble and his condition became known as "Daltonism". Dalton's association with the Manchester Society was a long one. At first he was elected to the position of secretary, then to Vice President and then to the position of President in which capacity he served for 27 years. The Society gave him laboratory space for his experiments and teaching space for his private pupils in their building. He had comfortable living quarters with a nearby family. All was going well; he acquired a taste for travel; and met with other scientists at home and abroad. Enrollment in New College began to dwindle and a decision was made to move it to York and to retain it as a theological college. Dalton, who had supplemented his income with private pupils and lectures decided to stay in Manchester. For two years he lectured at the Pine Street School of Medicine where his subject was pharmaceutical chemistry. He turned his attention to theories on air, water, gases, and heat and his papers which were read at the Literary and Philosophical Society meetings brought him attention on the continent, but also brought some disagreements with his theories. In 1835, Dalton gave his first paper to the Literary and Philosophical Society on atomic theory. He had begun the task of assigning the number and weight of all chemical elementary particles which enter into any sort of combination with one another. It was this aspect of chemistry that catapulted Dalton into the limelight albeit at times controversial. His work was even attacked by his friend Gough. He gave series of lectures at the Royal Institution in London on the subject. His name was entered for membership consideration in the Royal Society but Dalton would not present his application in fear that he might be denied membership by one of the dissenters. His publication of "A New System" enhanced his reputation and he was elected a correspondent in the chemistry section of the Academie of Sciences in Paris. It was this honor that prompted the Royal Society in London to make Dalton a Fellow. His visit to Paris in 1822 was one of the highlights of his life where he visited with leading chemists and scientist philosophers, and was exposed to cultural activities such as the theatre and art. Earlier in 1807 he had given a series of lectures in Glasgow and Edinburgh. He became a continuing lecturer in Edinburgh and the Royal Society of Edinburgh made him a member. The University of Edinburh gave him an LL. D. degree in 1834. Oxford University conferred an honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree two years earlier, in 1822. He now was Dr. Dalton. In 1833, Dalton was awarded a civil pension of 150 pounds which was later doubled. The following year, 1834, his brother Jonathan died and he was left the family estate. With his teaching and speaking income, pension and the proceeds from the estate, Dalton now felt he could replace his set of horn spoons with a set of silver ones. He purchased a house, hired a housekeeper and for the first time he was able to entertain in a home of his own. He had been a boarder virtually all of his life. During that same year a bust of Dalton was made by Francis Chantrey, a famous sculptor. He also posed for several paintings. His first paralytic stroke occurred in 1837 and although he partially recovered from it, other strokes followed. Yet he continued to read papers before the Literary and Philosophical Society although he was in noticeable decline. He suffered his final stroke on July 24, 1844. Dalton was accorded honors of a king. Over 40,000 mourners passed by the bier in the Manchester City Hall and the funeral cortege was about a mile long. It was attended by all of the dignitaries of the area, some 1,000 people and over 75 carriages. In the first mourning coaches were Dalton's closest relatives, Hannah Bewley Abbatt and Isabella Bewley Benson who were accompanied by their husbands. All were dressed in Quaker attire. A simple Quaker ceremony was held at the gravesite in Ardwick Cemetery, Manchester. Dalton's Will showed that he left a personal estate worth 8,000 pounds. The six houses that he owned were bequeathed to friends. His money was divided equally among his relatives and to Quaker schools. He left a library of over 700 books and other personal items which were auctioned. Many of his personal papers that were left to the Literary and Philosophical Society were destroyed in the bombing of 1940. Some remain as well as a recent discovery of early instruments that he had made. John Dalton was one of the most prominent of our "Daltons in History". Sources: John Dalton, Atomic Scientist by Elizabeth Patterson, 1970; Dalton Genealogical Society Journals -Vol. 11, Pt. II, p.28-36, "The Funeral of John Dalton"; Vol. 15, p.47, "The Daltons of Baglesfield"; Vol. 16, Pt. II, p. 18, "The Signature of John Dalton"; Vol. 20, Pt. I, p.7, "John Dalton, the Quaker Scientist"; and an important read is the story of "The Dalton Entail", Vol. 27, p.50. |
| When visiting the Imperial War Museum in London you will see a display belonging to an American Veteran of the Vietnam War, Lieutenant Colonel John C. Dalton of Gilmer, Texas. It is the flying clothing of Col. Dalton, a US Air Force bomber pilot. This uniform was actually worn by him in combat where he flew 361 combat sorties during his six tours of duty in Vietnam. Included in the display are examples of cluster type bombs which were used in the missions. He earned many Medals including the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster and Air Medal with 19 Oak Leaf Clusters. Our American Dalton adds another page to "Daltons in History". |
| In the April issue of "Daltons in History", Vol. 2, No. 4, there appeared a story of Col. Dalton's family "Sharecroppers to Professionals". His father was Bennie Booker Dalton who graduated in the first class of Duke University Medical School, 1928. John grew up in Asheboro, NC and graduated from North Carolina State College, Raleigh in 1961 and in May 1961 joined the US Air Force. His marriage to Martha "Marti" Helen Garner, his wife of 38 years ended suddenly this past winter with her sudden demise. In retirement, John takes an avid interest in golfing, fishing, gardening and T-Birding and is the proud owner of a 1957 Inca Gold T-bird. His daughters, Pam Carol Dalton and Linda Ann Dalton Fuss are showing some interest in genealogy. John is still anxious to hear from anyone with knowledge of his great grandfather James Dalton who died during the Civil War and his great grandmother, America James Hundley. John may be reached at: DALTONMAJO@aol.com. |
| When DGS member Robert Dalton of Malagia, CA (Genebow@aol.com) read the list of South African War casualties in the March 1999 issue of "Daltons in History", he was immediately reminded of one of his favorite videos. It is the "Zulus" a story of the War between the tribe and South Africans. The documentary is narrated by Richard Burton and mentions a James Langley Dalton who was deemed a hero and awarded the Victoria Cross. In 1987, the DGS published a short story "James Langley Dalton VC, Rorke's Drift" by Pamela Richards. With the permission of the Society, the following abstract has been made available. Dalton was born in 1832 and while not much is known of his private life, the 85th Regiment gives his birthplace as St. Andrew, Holborn, England and his parents could be Charles Dalton (born 1809) and Hannah Langley. It is also speculated that he may have been born in Ireland. He was 17 (in 1849) when he left his job in a stationer's shop and enlisted in London to join the 85th at Waterford, Ireland. This young, handsome red-haired soldier was well-disciplined and in 1853 sailed to Mauritius. Two years later he had become a Sergeant and was on his way to Cape of Good Hope for his first confrontation with cattle thieves. During the 1860's he spent five years in England, was transferred to the Commissariat Staff Corps and attended the famous school of Musketry at Hythe. From 1868-1871 Dalton did a tour in Canada and claimed his discharge as a 1st Class SSGT. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Long Service Medal for his 22 years in the army, and a full pension. At age 40 he returned to South Africa for a peaceful life but was "roped in" by the British Commander in Chief who was scouring the colony for men with some military know how. In December 1877, Dalton was appointed Acting Assistant Commissary and about six months later he volunteered his services in the Zulu War. A small garrison of 139 men held at bay 4,000 Zulus of whom 400 were killed. The defence had been organized by Dalton. He also saved the life of an officer by shooting a Zulu who was about to kill the officer. Dalton was so badly wounded that he was on sick leave for six months. The Victoria Cross was presented to him by General Clifford in a parade at Fort Napier, Pietermaritzburg. James Langley Dalton In September 1986 Dalton's Victoria Cross was advertised at auction in London. It had been in the private collection of the late Mr. David Spink, presumably owner of the auction house, Spink and Son. It was bought by the Royal Corps of Transport Museum for 62,000 pounds (some $100,000) part of which was raised by subscription. Daltons action in the war inspired at least two artists. Lady Butler's "The Defence of Rorke's Drift" is owned by HM the Queen. A painting by Alphonse de Neuville showing Dalton severely wounded in the right shoulder hangs in the South Wales Borderer's Musem at Brecon. Mr. K. G. Rayson of Chessington, Surrey, England and the Rev. Derek West of Slough, Bucks, England contributed research information for this article. The above engraving of Dalton was found by Rev. West in the Illustrated London News of 6th December 1897. |
| May we remind you to be careful about putting you correct e-mail address on the guest page or it is impossible to reply to you directly. Penny Dalton of Harare, Zimbabwe is trying to help her husband trace his ancestry. Unfortunately Penny's e-mail address was bounced by aol and therefore we ask her to send a letter to the DGS, in England. The address is on the Entitlements page. Please enclose what information you have and whether your husband's ancestors may have been part of an occupation force, etc. We look forward to hearing from you. Robert Dalton of Northumberland, with family from Sheffield your e-mail has been returned. I would like to discuss your photo of the Arch of Triumph. Please contact me; Millicenty@aol.com Beth Ann Wrigley's e-mail address would not work. Beth is looking for information about Horace Orlando Dalton and his wife Nora from Syracuse UT. The DGS has a large body of information on Utah Daltons and needs a means of reaching you. Millicenty@aol.com Bruce Allen Dalton of Hopewell, VA is seeking information on William Allen Dalton born in Akron, OH on June 19, 1927. William's father was Earl Dalton who died about 1929. Contact Bruce at: abdalton@mindspring.com Curtis Paul Douglas of CA was formerly from NH. His father is Harry Jordan Dalton, Sr. and his mother is Blanche Alice Douglas. He has no information on his paternal grandparents and hopes that someone will see his posting and contact him at: Hasselblad@cwix.com DGS member Leroy O. Baker of Midland MI, posed a question about the marriage of a Hannah Dalton to John Sargent on Mar 16, 1717/1718 in Hampton ,NH. The question was whether this Hannah was the daughter of Dorothy Swan and Samuel Dalton who was killed in the Indian massacre of 1708 in Haverhill, MA. Records from the Old Noffolk County court book, which were kept in Salisbury, MA show that a marriage intention was filed by Hannah Dolton and Richard Osgood on 10/14/1710. This Hannah was the daughter of Dorothy and Samuel Dalton. Misspellings often occurred. Our thanks go to Frank Grimes for this information. On December 3, 1998, the space probe, Stardust, was launched. It carried a microchip with 1.1 million names on it. There were ten Daltons on the chip. They are: Daryl Dalton Dakes Jean Dalton New DGS Members. The Dalton Genealogical Society Journal Newsletter |
| Commissioned Officers Under The Duke of Wellington 1851 British Census of Devonshire, Norfolk, and
Warwick. |
| Belvedere Cemetery, continued. |