from Millicent V.Craig The Limehouse section of Stepney, London, England was home to Henry Dalton who left an indelible mark on the history of Mexican California. Henry was one of nine children born to Winnal Travally Dalton and Ann Woolf Dalton, daughter of Thomas and Martha Woolf. Winnal was reportedly a tailor and merchandiser and the family for three generations, lived in a rough area of London, the center of the opium trade. The children of Winnal and Ann Dalton are as follows: 1. Winnal Thomas Dalton, born 14 Nov 1795, St. Ann Parish, Limehouse When Henry Dalton was seventeen years of age, he signed on as a cabin boy on a ship that was destined for Peru. By the time he reached Callao, the port of Lima, he had enough of the sea and settled in Callao where he found work with the English trading company of Gibbs Crawley & Co. He was befriended by the Crawleys, learned accounting and the intracies of trading, but after two years was fired for his impetuous, non-sanctioned trading decisions. With profits of about $3200 from his last venture, he opened his own trading company and purchased his first trading vessel, the Manly in 1827, followed by the Rose and Julia. He owned warehouses, became the unofficial banker for Callao, hired a clerk, Hugo Reid of Scotland, and developed a relationship with a beautiful Callao woman by whom he reportedly had several children (but to this date no documentation has been found). By 1840, after a series of disputes, business losses including two of his ships, and an undisclosed illness, he sailed for Mexico in his ship, the Rose, laden with trade goods bought on credit. Unable to dispose of his cargo because of political conditions, he sailed north and smuggled some $45,000 worth of goods into San Blas and Mazatlan. After a series of misadventures he was in debt, but paid off his creditors in Peru. Dalton leased a ship in Peru and set out for California with cargo, anchoring off San Pedro where Reid's friends rented a storage space to him. He went on to Monterey and San Franciso, establishing contacts. Dalton purchased another trading vessel, the Julia Ann, and became a well-known and respected trader up and down the California coast. Dalton bought property in Los Angeles where he built a store. Although rancheros were not allowed to sell land to foreigners, the rules were bent and he purchased a five-square-league from a ranchero who owed the Mexican government some $1000. This purchase does not seem to be recorded in the California Land Grant patents but it is clear that Dalton owned the acreage known as Rancho Azusa, and he took possession of it in March 1845. Besides having livestock, vineyards, irrigation systems and adobe buildings, Dalton instructed the ranch hands to build a granary, winery, stable, and tannery pits. A capable manager, he experimented with tobacco, cotton and wheat and his properties became know as Dalton Hill. Within three years of arriving in California he had become one of the largest haciendados (landholders) but managed to retain his English citizenship. He eventually owned the entire San Gabriel Valley and his acquisitions are listed below. The first land patents registered to Henry Dalton were on August 9, 1866 for 36 patents on land in Los Angeles County, CA. One year later, May 30, 1867, Dalton had 25 land patents. Then in 1875 there were 46 land patents dated Jan 20, 1885 in Los Angeles County that was accompanied by 5 additional land patents on the same date in San Bernadino County. In May 29, 1876 Dalton held another 11 patents for Los Angeles County and it is said that the grand total of all land procured by Dalton was estimated at some 45,000 acres. Source: Land Patent Records for California. In the battle for independence from Mexico, Dalton took sides against the Americans and bankrolled young Mexican activists to continue the fight to the extent of some $30,000 in supplies and $1200 in cash. It was through one of them, Jose Flores, that he met Flores' young sister-in-law, Maria Guadalupe Zamorana, a descendent of a prominent Spanish family. Dalton was approaching his mid-forties and decided it was time to marry. He was baptized a Catholic as Perfecto Hugo Dalton, and he and Maria were married when she was about fifteen years of age at the San Gabriel Mission on July 14, 1847. In 1850, his brother,George, who had come from England and was living in Ohio, arrived in California with his family to manage Henry's ranch. Maria prefered the social life of Los Angeles and Henry spent more time there than at the ranch. The couple had 13 children, seven of whom survived. In the 1860 Census, Los Angeles County, California, in Azusa Township, the four oldest children were listed with their parents: Winnal Augustus age 10 (b. c. 1850); Anna L., age 8 (b. c. 1852); Goyla K., also written as Soyla, age 6 (b. c. 1854) and Henry A. 7 months old. In the 1880 Census of Azusa Township of Los Angeles Henry is listed as 76 years of age and Guadaloupe (as his wife was known), was then 48 years of age. Listed with them were four children, Henry now age, 19; Ellen, age 16; Valentine age 13; and Joseph age, 10. (More on the children in a later issue of "Daltons in History"). Dalton's life was a series of business and land ventures which continually had him strapped for cash. He began sub dividing his lands into 50 acre parcels but sales lagged. Rancho Santa Anita was sold in its entirety and that is the land on which the Santa Anita race track stands. After the Americans won the war for California, squatters eventually took over much of his land including water rights. His financial affairs became a tangled mess and by 1881 he had lost everything to creditors. At age 78 he had become a pauper and received permission to move his large family into a small adobe house that he had built for a miller. Dalton took on a job as foreman of the neglected Rancho Azusa and the owner deeded him forty acres and a house for his family. He still had the spirit to forge ahead but after two years, he succumbed to illness and died at the age of 80 on January 21, 1884. "Dalton fought statehood and the notorious 'land act' realizing that it would cost him his land and he was proven right". Note: The above quote and excerpts are from "Pioneers of California" by Donovan Lewis and are printed with the permission of Scottwall Associates, Publisher, San Francisco CA. Papers written by Winnal Augustus Dalton, Henry's oldest son, were deposited in the Archives of the California State Historical Library in Sacramento in 1915. DGS member, Mike Dalton of Portland, Oregon has visited the library and extracted important data from the papers which will be published in a forthcoming issue of "Daltons in History" along with the connection to one of America's most famous songstresses. |
The following list of obituaries was compiled by Tom Cook. For additional information on these entries visit his website at: http://www.ihaonline.com/cgi-bin/ihaonline/search.cgi Frequently the relatives of the deceased are mentioned as well as county of origin. Mrs. Anastasia Dalton, d. May 28, 1895, age 51, native of County Kilkenny Baptism Mr. Cook has compiled the records from newspaper obituaries, tombstone inscriptions, parish records of baptisms and marriages and numerous other sources. |
by Millicent Craig Pictured is a classic beauty, Mademoiselle Aimee Irene d'Alton. Her likeness was fashioned and preserved in porcelain by the famed French sculptor, M. Barre. In the Spring 2000 issue of the Dalton Genealogical Society Journal, there is the romantic story of this upper class lady and her secret love of many years, the noted French poet, Alfred de Musset. She remained Mademoiselle X by design until thirty years after her death when her true identity was revealed. Her ancestry is Irish and the male members of this French line were military officers and titled. After translating the book, "Lettres d'Amour a Aimee d'Alton a Alfred de Musset (1810-1857", compiled by Leon Seche and published in 1910, your editor has located the pedigree of Aimee dating back to Ireland in the 16th century, and a descendency of this family to the present day. This will appear in a future issue of the Dalton Genealogical Society Journal. |
Our appreciation is extended to DGS member, Diane Jackman, of Newfoundland for copying these records and for sharing them with readers. Dalton Marriages at the Roman Catholic Basilica, St. John's, Newfoundland, from The Royal Gazette newspaper and from St John's Anglican Church. Part III Feb. 7, 1869 married Michael DALTON & Margaret HOLLAND. Witness: Richard HICKEY & Margaret MURRAY. Jan. 25, 1874 married Patrick DAULTON to Johannah KINSALA. Witness: William DAULTON & Alice DAULTON. Nov. 3, 1861 married William DALTON of Carrick on Suir, to Eleen KNOX. Witness James KENNA & Mary BATES. Nov. 7, 1862 married Michael DALTON of Carrick on Suir to Mary DEVEREAUX of Kilkenny. Witness James DEVEREAUX & Francis SANDERS. June 19, 1877 married James DALTON and Mary Ann CUSHEN. Sept. 2, 1877 married Patrick DALTON, George's Town to Mary O'Gorman of Monkstown Rd. Jan 17, 1882 married Thomas DALTON, Monskstown Rd. to Ellie CANTWELL of Water Street. Feb. 10, 1884 married John DALTON of Monsktown Rd. to Annie SHARON of Barnes Rd. Apr. 24, 1884 married Michael DALTON, Carrick on Suir to Bridget Dixon of Fresh Water Rd., St. John's. Witness Michael DALTON & Mary SMITH. This is the second marriage for Michael and he now lives on Barrens Lane, St. John's. May 12, 1886 married William DALTON, Clancey's Lane, St. John's and Margaret WALSH. Aug. 31, 1887 married Michael DALTON to Bridget COOMS. The following DALTON marriages come from the newspaper "The Royal Gazette". Jan 25, 1848 edition: Married by Rev. Forrestal, Charles Henry TILLMAN, Professor of Music of Halifax, N.S. to Mary DALTON. 3rd daughter of William DALTON of this place. Married by Rev. Forrestal, William TOBIN to Eliza DALTON, eldest daughter of William DALTON of this place. Jan 23, 1849 edition: Married Thurday by Bridge, Frederick LASH to Bridget Ann DALTON, 2nd daughter of William DALTON of this town. May 8, 1860 edition: More DALTON baptisms from the R.C. Basilica, St. John's, Nfld. 1820-1836 Box. #2 (The records are very difficult to read) DALTON, ANNA, pg. 68 baptized Nov. 14, 1821 of JAMES DALTON & ELIZABETH
SHEA. DALTON, BRIDGET pg. 76, baptized Jan. 24, 1822 daughter of PATRICK DALTON
& MARY LONERGAN. DALTON, MARY ANN pg. 138, baptized Aug. 16, 1823 of THOMAS DALTON &
MARY HALLY. DALTON, MICHAEL pg. 219, baptized Oct. 1, 1827 of PATT DALTON & MARY
LONERGAN. DALTON, MARY pg. 267, baptized April 13, 1829 of MICHAEL DALTON & MARY
GOSS. DALTON, JUDY pg. 282, baptized Sept. 29, 1829 daughter of PATT DALTON &
MARY LONERGAN. DALTON, MARY pg. 307, baptized June 21, 1830 of MARTIN DALTON & MARY
WATERS. DALTON, PETER pg. 311, baptized July 27, 1830 of JOHN DALTON & ELIZ.
MURPHY. DALTON, MICHAEL pg. 313, baptized Aug. 3, 1830 of MICHAEL DALTON &
GEANE ROS? DALTON, ELLEN pg. 375, baptized Oct. 31, 1831 daughter of PATT DALTON &
MARY LONERGAN. DALTON, MICHAEL pg. 401, baptized May 13, 1832 son of MARTIN DALTON &
MARY WATERS. DALTON, PATRICK pg. 499, baptized Dec. 19, 1833 of MICHAEL DALTON &
JANE DROHAN. DAULTON, MARY pg. 528 baptized July 19, 1834 of GARRETT DAULTON & MARGARET
GLEESON. DALTON, CATHERINE pg. 633 baptized Feb. 21, 1836 of MICHAEL DALTON &
JANE DROHAN. DALTON, ELLEN pg. 642, baptized Apr. 12, 1836 of JOHN DALTON & CATHERINE
F--? DALTON MARRIAGES R.C. BASILICA 1793-1855 BOX #8 (records very difficult to read) DALTON/MURPHY pg. 110 (page missing from records) Married WILLIAM DALTON, Quring ? Co. Kilkenny to ALICE FITZGERALD of the same place. Present JOHN KENNEDY & JOHANNA MURPHY, June 16, 1822. Married JOHN DAULTON of ?atrish Co. Kilkenny to ALLICE MURPHY alias MADIGAN of Enistague County of Kilkenny. Present JOHN DOYLE & ELIZABETH POWER. May 23, 1823. Married PETER DALTON of the Co. Kilkenny & NANCY MCDANNELL of the City Waterford. Present JOHN WALSH & MARY GORMAN, Nov. 15, 1824. DALTON RECORDS Married LAWRENCE DALTON & SARAH JOY, widow April 8, 1771 Burial - THO'S DALTON, March 17, 1780 Baptisms: SOPHIA daughter of THOMAS DALTON Esq., Merchant by SOPHIA his wife was born on the 7th of Sept. 1809 and christened on the 27th day of Dec. 1815 WILLIAM son of THOMAS DALTON Esq., Merchant by SOPHIA his wife was born on the 9th of March 1813 and christened on the 27th day of Dec. 1815 |