The annual gathering and meeting of members of the Dalton Genealogical Society was held at the Swallow Hotel in Preston, Lancashire England in July 2004. The photos were taken at the annual meeting and dinner by Barbara Craig of California.

Howard J. Dalton, Pamela Lynam, Michael N. Dalton Chairman, John Dalton and Maureen Collins	Mel Irwin and Millicent Craig

David & Pamela Lynam forefront, Lucy Slater (in blue)	Millicent Craig, Derek and Madge Dalton* Croston Cousins

* Upon returning from England, Derek Dalton e-mailed that he had just purchased the grandfather clock that had stood in the home of his great, great grandfather, William Dalton, in 1790. There will be photos of the dinner at Thurnham Hall in the November 2004 issue of "Dalton in History".

From Millicent Craig

The conventional explanation for the matching of different surnames in DNA results is that we are all descended from the same person, that it occurred thousands of years ago and is no help in genealogical research. In Volume 7, No.1, Jan 2004 of this publication, available in Back Issues, there are a number of reasons why this phenomenon can occur within the last three to five hundred years, and within the range of genealogical records. They include: adoptions, starting a new life in a new land, criminals changing their name, illegitimacy and an important one, inheritance and property rights.

Another Reason for Different Surname Matching

The feudal systems of Europe included a class of people known as serfs. This system was brought to Ireland with the Anglo-Norman or Anglo-French occupation. The map below shows the assimilation of the southern part of Ireland by the Anglo Normans from the crowning of Strongbow as King of Leinster in 1171. This southern province included Waterford, a stronghold of the Vikings. The northern section that included Meath was held by Sir Hugh de Lacy. Occupation was followed by the entry of Henry II of England in 1172. As the Irish towns and villages fell under the sieges that followed, Anglo-Normans were rewarded with large sections of the country. Irish kings were defeated and their subjects in many cases were reduced to peasantry. By 1250, the entire southern part of Ireland extending upward through County Clare was ruled by Anglo-Normans.

Ireland in 1171 Ireland in 1250

Anglo-Normans introduced the feudal system from France and many Irish were reduced to serfs of the manorial lords on their own land. During this early period the monastic orders of France began to build a network of monasteries in Ireland some of which remain today. They also brought serfs from France to assist with the building and productivity of the monasteries.

The reason for this short history is to lay a backdrop to our own major Irish Dalton line of Anglo-Norman origins. King Henry II, prior to his entry into Ireland had ceded the lands of Meath to Norman, Sir Hugh de Lacy. This is a matter of record. At a later date that has yet to be discovered, a section of Meath was granted to Sir Walter de Aliton. Although no dates have been unearthed, his wife Princess Jane is reported through legend to have built an abbey and other religious buildings. All that remains of the castle is a small pile of rubble. Over time stone was carted off for building material.

In correspondence from Ciaran Dalton of Kerry we learn that Walter de Lacy, b. ca 1170 in Meath the son of Sir Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath, has a connection to the de Alitons* . Walter died in England and as did some of his descendents. An extraction** from Michael Cayley, DGS Archivist mentions Philbog de Aliton who according to heraldry was a descendent of Walter De Aliton.

If the logic is followed, manorial management was required to maintain the edifices and provide income for the managers as well as for the Crown. So it is unreasonable to assume that the De Alitons broke from a custom that was handed down through generations in Europe. In the Heraldry Office of Dublin, there has been deposited the ancestral charts and heraldry of about 10 branches of Daltons who originated from the core line of Sir Walter de Aliton. As lords of the manors, their income was derived in a similar fashion.

What is not widespread information is that in over five hundreds years of the feudal system, surname identity of many dwellers of Ireland, the serfs, was lost. It was not until the late 1600's that government allowed those who did not have a surname, to take one. In many cases they took the surname of their manorial lord. That was just over 300 years and 12 generations ago.

This is how Dalton manorial management could account for the DNA results of descendents of serfs with a Dalton surname to have DNA that matches other surnames. DNA can reveal the true surname identity of the individual and also his ethnicity. (Vital records for serfs are virtually non-existent).

By the side of the roads in Ireland there are campers or caravans that often provide shelter for large families. We know them as "tinkers". Some may be the remnants of the 18th century serfs. When the market for farm products failed and the economic manorial system collapsed, the serfs were turned out, their windowless hovels burned to the ground and they became wanderers. In America there is a class known as "the travelers". They are quite wealthy and have two enclaves, one in the Carolinas and one in Texas. The men and sometimes the entire family "wander" the U. S. seeking to do carpentry, roofing jobs, etc. In the cold weather they return to their colony where they maintain gypsy-like customs including matchmaking of small children but live as lords of their manors.

Notes: Credit is given to the following reference: http://www.irelandstory.com

From Ciaran Dalton. Bodleian Libary, Oxford. L. S. Rawlinson B 329ff.121-76, ms.159-60r. Walter de Lacy, called Lord of Meath of the priory of Craswell, order of Grandmont in Herefordshire founded in 1225. The author dates the division of Meath into Meath and Westmeath about 1235 and in the same document there is a mention of Philippo de Alleton. A visiting scholar transcribed the surname as D'Alton. Philbog is a variant found in other documents.

Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls, Ireland, XXIII to XXXI years of Edward I, pub HMSO, Dublin 1905

31 July 1299, Meath. Nich. son and heir of Ph. Dalton, attached to answer said Jordan [son of Will. Muck] 12 marks of a debt of his father, comes and acknowledges that he owes 9 marks, which if he do not pay, the Sheriff may levy for. For this Jordan remits the residue of the debt and damages. Nicholas in mercy for unjust detention.

During the month of September 2004, some significant results were reported in the Dalton International DNA Project and we seek more participants to confirm or deny some of the branches. There are 60 Daltons in the study.

1. Samuel Dalton of Mayo, VA. Samuel is perhaps one of the earlier Daltons whose records accord him an estimated birth date of 1699. Because his given name and that of his son Timothy matched those of the NH Daltons who arrived in 1635, some have endeavored to connect him to the family that emigrated from England. On the basis of one NH Dalton DNA sample we now know that it may not be an accurate assumption. However one sample is insufficient and we are searching for another. We are also searching for a descendent of Captain John Dalton of Boston, prominent citizen who first appeared in Boston as a ship's mate about 1712. The only clue to his ethnicity is the fact that he belonged to an Irish Society in Boston.

At the time of writing, the results of the first 12 markers for Samuel Dalton descendent are available and the matching is significant with the DGS members. The 12 markers also show the link to a Dalton member in England. All Americans who have a match have been notified and an update will be printed when the 25 marker results are posted.

2. Standlee V. Dalton, our eldest participant also has some matches although not exactly surprising as shown in his DNA results. His roots with the American "colonial gang" has been assured. To read Standlee's ancestral line as he knows it, click on "Daltons in History" August 2004 Volume 7 Number 8.

3. The first 12 markers for a member who is descended from a branch of John Dalton's family have been posted. John was the atomic scientist who was born in Cumbria and who furthered his scientific career in Manchester, England. The first 12 markers vary considerably from any other English Daltons in this study. So this is a new line that has appeared.

4. A Canadian/Irish member has received the results of his 25 marker DNA test and matches very closely two others - one American/Irish and one Irish. He is also part of a much larger group. We now hope that all of them will meet each other for the first time in Dublin at the DGS gathering on July 30, 31, 2005.

This valuable file of data was contributed by DGS Archivist, Michael Cayley.

Dalton entries include the father's name, place of his origin, name of company and person to whom he served his apprenticeship, many of whom were Daltons. You will recognize some family lines in this data. London apprenticeships were keenly sought and when a term was completed, the apprentice was designated a freeman and sometimes moved to another location or back to his village to apply his skills.

Extractions

Dalton, Edward, son of Andrew, Curbridge (Witney), Oxfordshire, husbandman, to John Skynner, 25 Mar 1643, Armourers' and Braziers' Company
Dalton, Thomas, son of James, Stourbridge, Worcestershire to Thomas Iseted Jan 1649/50, Apothecaries' Company
Dalton, William, son of John, Chatham, Kent, shipwright (deceased), to Robert Taverner, 16 Jan 1650/1, Farriers' Company
Jordan, James, son of Richard, Walthamstow, Essex, carpenter (deceased), to Edward Dalton, 29 Sep 1655, Armourers' and Braziers' Company
Dalton, James, son of James, Stourbridge, Worcestershire, gentleman to Thomas Iseted 28 Mar 1655, Apothecaries' Company
Bate, Henry, son of Humphrey, Kinver, Somerset, yeoman to Thomas Dalton 6 Jul 1658, Apothecaries' Company
Ashton, Thomas, son of Ralph, ', Hartford', Warwickshire, husbandman, to William Dalton, 24 Oct 1660, Farriers' Company
Dalton, John, son of Andrew, Curbridge, Oxfordshire, husbandman, to John Skynner, 9 Oct 1662, Gunmakers' Company
Lloyd, Simon, son of Edward, Oxford, Oxfordshire to Thomas Dalton 1 May 1666, Apothecaries' Company
Birch, John, son of Thomas, Harborne, Somerset, to James Dalton 4 Nov 1662. [6 Oct 1668 turned over to Henry Barker, citizen and apothecary], Apothecaries' Company
Catchpole, John, son of William, London, citizen and salter, to James Dalton 2 Feb 1668/9, Apothecaries' Company
Dalton, Percy, son of Terrill, Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, gentleman, to Henry Whetstone, 29 Oct 1686, Waxchandlers' Company
Laxon, Jonas Cole, son of James, St Olave Southwark, Surrey, tailor, to Andrew Dalton, 29 Apr 1710, Broderers' Company
Dallton, George, son of John, St Giles in the Fields, Middlesex, horsecourser to John Tanner, 3 Oct 1711, Paviors' Company
Pearse, Rowland, son of Thomas, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, tailor, to Thomas Dalton, 29 Jun 1721, Plumbers' Company
Dalton, Abraham, son of John, Wrotham, Kent, yeoman (deceased), to Thomas Baker, 16 Sep 1723, Plaisterers' Company
Dalton, George, 12 Jul 1725, Glaziers' Company
Dalton, Thomas, son of Thomas, Shadwell, Middlesex, labourer, to Isaac Spring, 3 Oct 1728, Pattenmakers' Company
Dennis, Paul, son of David, St Sepulchre, London, dyer (deceased), to John Dalton, 12 Apr 1736, Glovers' Company
Duffin, Charles, son of Thomas, St Sepulchre, tobacconist to Thomas Dalton 6 April 1739, Pattenmakers' Company
Dalton, Jonah, son of Thomas, West Allen Dale, Northumberland, carpenter (deceased), to John Dalton, 3 May 1743, Glovers' Company
Ireland, Edward, son of Thomas, Albrighton, Shropshire, esq., to John Dalton, 28 Apr 1744, Brewers' Company
Dalton, Joseph, son of John, Deptford, Kent, victualler (deceased), to John Dudine, 23 Apr 1751, Plaisterers' Company
Dalton, Stephen, son of George, Houghton le Spring, Durham, to Stephen Preacher, 24 Jun 1751, Bowyers' Company
Dalton, Thomas, son of Prince, Egham, Surrey, farmer to Sunnybank Giles 15 Feb 1753, Coachmakers' and Coach Harness Makers' Company
Dalton, Thomas (14), son of Thomas, Kingston, Surrey, cordwainer (deceased), to Thomas Bothel, 29 Sep 1755, Cooks' Company
Dalton, Thomas, son of Abraham, to his father, 13 Jun 1764, Gardeners' Company
Wacket, William, son of Charles, Deptford, Kent, gardener, to Abraham Dalton, 9 Jan 1765, Gardeners' Company
Hammond John, son of John, Greenwich, Kent, brewer, to Abraham Dalton, 29 May 1765, Gardeners' Company
Dalton Thomas, son of Prince, Egham, Surrey, gamekeeper, to Samuel Butler (Great Queen Street), 8 Jun 1769, Coachmakers' and Coach Harness Makers' Company
Matthew Mark, son of Mark, Greenwich, Kent, carpenter, to Abraham Dalton, 13 Jan 1773, Gardeners' Company
Dalton, William, son of Thomas, Pall Mall, Middlesex, gentleman, to John Wilkinson, 15 Dec 1777, Spectaclemaker's Company
Dalton William, son of William, St Luke, Middlesex, waterman, to John Crawford, 19 Nov 1777, Armourers' and Braziers' Company
Dalton, Abraham, son of Abraham, citizen and gardener, to Martha Cullingworth, widow, 7 Jan 1778, Woolmen's Company
Dalton, William, son of Abraham, to his father, 11 Jul 1781, Gardeners' Company
Dalton, James, son of Joseph, to his father, 1 Oct 1782, Plaisterers' Company
Meek, John, son of John, Hackney, Middlesex, gardener, to Abraham Dalton, 8 Jan 1783, Gardeners' Company
Dalton, Philip, son of ..., Plaistow, Essex, wheelwright(?), to ... Benham . ... 1784, Tinplate Workers' Company
Dalton, Richard Hill, son of William, Smithfield, London, salesman, to Thomas Jeffs, 22 May 1786 [turned over to his father, citizen and innholder], Carmens' Company.

While summering in New York and researching her New York Daltons, DGS member Theckla Constable Ledyard of Washington state hand copied all Dalton references in issues of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1845 -1901. They include marriages, weddings, deaths, property transfers, social activities, legal actions, accidents etc. It is a long file and Part I 1845 to 1880 was printed in September 2004.

Extracts for Part II cover the period 1881 to 1901. This should augment the sparse Brooklyn data that is available for researchers. Our appreciation is extended to Theckla.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle References

Jan 31 1881, George F. Dalton and wife, Carrie of 22 Degraw St., attend St. Peters Catholic Church
Aug 1 1881, Edward Dalton age 40 Communipar (?) May near oil docks. He was married and had a large family.
May 14 1882, Peter F. Dalton is treasurer of Young Men's Catholic Literary Assoc. and in charge of the Reception. Also present was Mary Dalton.
Aug 25 1882, Napoleon Dalton, Saloon keeper of 969 DeKalb was injured seriously
Oct 6 1883, Mrs. Annie Dalton dau of ------Grove, lives at 431 Pacific St. - in will.
May 20 1884, Capt. James Dalton won sparring match in Chicago
May 23 1884, F. Dalton selling carriages at 164 & 177 Atlantic Ave. near Clinton
Aug 7 1884, Frank Dalton of 164 Atlantic St., harness maker - taken by Sheriff on bench warrant
1885, Chris J. Dalton, public school no. 51 - was in play
Mar 25 1885, Capt. James Dalton an old resident of Montague, Mich. died on Sunday from the effects of a cancer similar to that of General Grant
Jul 27 1885, John Dalton - no home - prostrated at Hoyt and Union while walking with brother who lives at 19 40th St. He collapsed again at the Carroll St. bridge - was taken to St. Peter's Hospital.
Dec 14 1885, Mrs. Margaret Dalton, age 88, mother of William Dalton, well known Irish agitator, died at William's residence at 450 Manhattan Ave. last Friday
May 24 1886, J.K. Dalton, a wealthy man of Anna, Union Co. Illinois, was found dead with a bullet in his head. Believed murdered by a tramp.
Jul 6 1886, Andrew Dalton - getting subscriptions for church
Feb 13 1887, Mr. Dalton and Dalton, N. H. - unknown letters
Jul 19 1888, John Dalton attends Flatbush Benevolent Assoc. picnic and is also on the floor committee
Au 12 1898, Marsha Dalton, age 27, of 164 East 109th St. Manhattan, died by suicide, having taken carbolic acid. She said she was the wife of John Dalton a sailor on a U. S. warship. She had buried a child yesterday.
Nov 1888, Miss M. Dalton attended the Alpha reception - wore a low cut dress of white cut velvet, white lace, and white satin and wore pearls
Jan 29 1889, Christy Dalton leads dance march at Calleopian Literary Assoc. Dance. Listed attending were Christy J. Dalton, Minnie Dalton
Mar 5 1889, William Dalton, trustee of Celtic Club
Aug 2 1890, Davis Dalton, American swimmer claims he swam the English Channel on back - some doubt it.
Aug 23 1890, Frank G. Dalton, age 35, died. He was the eldest son of Mrs. A. Dalton.
July 11 1893, John Dalton and John Ledyard are composing the firm of Dalton & Ledyard - Legal Notice of July 8, 1893, Brooklyn, NY. John D. and John L. are fictitious as their first names are not known.
Jan 20 1894, A fighting dog named Lion was sold by J. P. Dalton of San Francisco for $150 - it earned the new $1000 in a fight lasting 2 hours.
July 25 1894, Edward M. Dalton a clerk of the Civil Service Board is removed because of improper action.
Nov 4 1894, William Dalton died suddenly- in his 78th year.
Jul 8 1895, W. Dalton - ring target 65
Mar 30 1897, Mrs. Margaret Dalton of 100 Berry St. owns a house at 102 to 106 Berry St. which burned as did part of her own house.
Jan 2 1897, Florence Dalton, 22 mos., died. Daughter of John J. and Jennie A. Dalton, living at 102 Ryerson St.
Apr 3 1897, Those attending a surprise party were Mr. and Mrs. Dalton, Frederick, Lillian, Augustus, May and Clifford Dalton
Apr 11 1897, Archibold W. and Jennie M. F. Dalton had a son, William, who died at age 13 yrs.
Jun 1, 1897, Maria Dalton died- wife of M. Dalton
Oct 22 1897, Anne E. wife of the late Patrick Dalton, from home 758 Bergen St. - St. Joseph's, Pacific St.
Dec 7 1897, Richard Dalton, brother of John died at 289 Twentieth St.
Mar 16 1899, William Dalton- commissioner of water supply - Judgments of 22.15
June 12, 1899, Archibold W. Dalton, age 31, died. His wife was Jeanette M. F. Van Sauten, his son, William C. was age 13 yrs. 10 mos. Bur, Holy Cross. Archibold's parents were Ann Dalton of 149 Douglass St. and the late William Dalton.
Sep 7 1899, John J. Dalton, age 38, died at home, 758 Bergen St. - St. Joseph's
Oct 7 1899, Mary Dalton, School No. 6, 7th grammar
Aug 7 1901, P. H. Dalton on entertainment committee for Washington Club outing 11th Assembly Dist.

Unknown - Michael Dalton died at home 243 Pacific St. Brooklyn. Born Kilbiggan, County Westmeath, Ireland. Funeral from residence of sister, Catherine Wall of 82 State St. Brooklyn

Pre 1870 Ann Dalton transfers property to Mary Cavin - 5th Ave near cor of 20th street. 20.6x64.9

Three new or expanded files were posted to the Republic of Ireland in the Dalton Data Bank during the month of September 2004. They include the Counties of Donegal, Louth and Kerry. Few Daltons were located in Donegal and Louth but Mike Dalton of Oregon has added a significant amount to the Kerry file.

Mike's ancestral roots are in Kerry and he had commissioned a genealogist in Ireland to extract extra data for him. In addition he used three microfilm sources. In the three files there are approximately 650 surname entries.

Counties Donegal and Louth

Daltons were not commonly found in either Donegal or Louth. Births and deaths are from the IGI and Matthew DaltonsCivil Registry Ectract - 1864 to 1891.

Daltons were not commonly found in County Donegal. DGS member, Mike Dalton of Oregon has extracted the few births and deaths from the IGI and from Matthew William Dalton's Civil Registry Extract - 1864 to 1891.

County Kerry

Records for County Kerry Daltons have expanded a hundred fold since uploading into the outdated file of Ireland. Thanks to the efforts of DGS member Mike Dalton of Oregon, this file now contains 600 surname entries and includes births, marriages, Griffiths Valuations and some miscellaneous data. Please check the Republic of Ireland file.

Edior's note; Mike is trying to complete this new Republic of Ireland file in advance of the AGM in Dublin, July 2005.