We have combined the last sections of this talk by Dr. Lucy J. Slater, Executive Secretary of the DGS, Cambridge, England and will begin a series of another talk by Dr. Slater, Daltons of Cambridgeshire, in the next issue.

Now we come to one of the wildest deeds ever committed, even by such wild men as the Daltons After his return from Crecy, Sir John thought it was time he took a wife. He fancied Margery, wife of Gerard de Lisle. She was said to be one of the most beautiful women in England at the time and was rumored to be the mistress of the King's second son, Lionel who was about 20. She had been married twice before and had inherited a manor near Reading, so she was a rich woman in her own right. On Good Friday, March 31, 1347, John Dalton and six companions attacked the Manor House, killed Margery's uncle and one of her man servants, stole 1000 pounds in gold and other goods, seized her and carried her off to the North. These facts are all recorded in the Court Rolls. One translation of the document says that John Dalton married her that same day. Another version says that "he had his way with her". In any case, Lionel was not pleased and his father issued writs against the seven men to be apprehended and put into the Tower. When they could not be caught, old Sir Robert Dalton was taken and imprisoned in their place, in the Tower where he had once been the Constable. The hue and cry was raised throughout the land, but John and his friends took refuge with friends in Lancashire and were not caught. After a few months, Sir Robert was released.

Six months later, the dreaded Black Death swept through England and the doings of John Dalton were forgotten. Half the population died during the next two years and there were not enough strong men even to bury the dead.

 

Margery died in 1349 and John went on to do such good service in the wars in France, that he petitioned the King who then pardoned him for the ravishment of Margery. His father, Sir Robert, died in 1350 and John returned home to Byspham Hall where he married a daughter of Sir Henry Hussey, had two sons, and died in 1369.

 

The family continued to live at Byspham until 1556. They were staunch Catholics and this fact brought severe penalties on them in the Tudor period. They were often fined as recusants and forced to sell their treasures. Finally they sold Byspham and moved to Thurnham Hall which they also owned. There they lived in reasonable peace until the Civil War raged up and down England. In 1640, Col. Thomas Dalton raised a troop of horsemen from his estates round Thurnham and joined the famous cavalry of Prince Rupert, the second son of Charles I. These were known as the Cavaliers. They went to the first battle of Newbury, where over 1000 men were killed and then to the second battle of Newbury where another 1000 men died and Thomas himself was fatally wounded. Oliver Cromwell's men had muskets with which they shot the horses. The Cavaliers had thigh boots with high heels and large spurs, so, without a horse, they could hardly walk, never mind run away or stand and fight.

 

There were six other Daltons killed in the two battles of Newbury, and another ten male Daltons killed at the battle of Worcester, including a Walter Dalton. He was descended from one of the younger sons of Byspham Hall and he had settled in Oxfordshire. His son, Walter, was too young to go to the battle so he was left behind in the camp. When his father was brought back fatally wounded, young Walter got together his mother and various aunts and uncles and cousins. He loaded them, his dying father, and the army pay chest onto carts and took them away into Wales, where he settled and established the Welsh line of Daltons. From these, a large family of Daltons went to America before 1775. Mark Ardeth Dalton of California has documented them. The main family continued to live at Thurnham, producing more daughters than sons, until finally the last of them Alzira, died in 1983, still Catholic.

 

In 1666, after the Civil War was over and Charles 11 was on the throne, an order was made, known as the Act of Settlement. This ordered every man wandering England after the recent wars, to make his way back to his own village or to settle somewhere else by marrying a local girl. One of these wanderers was John Dalton. He probably came from Croston or Dalton and was trying to make his way home when he found and married Eleanor, the daughter of Thomas Jackson, who owned a coal pit in Oldham. From this union I have traced my own family, over six hundred people who have some Dalton blood in them.

 

They were not Knights or Cavaliers but ordinary working men and women. They had however, some brains and organizing ability. About 1770, three brothers living in West Oldham, got the idea that instead of women spinning wool and cotton in their own homes, they would get the women to work together in a large shed. This would be more profitable for those who sold the cotton and bought the finished yarn. This was the start of the great cotton mills in Oldham. One brother, Robert organized the business, a second John, went to Holland to buy some of the new machines called Dutch Wheels which could spin a dozen threads at once. A third brother, James, went to see the new machines for weaving that Arkwright had patented. Like the earlier Dalton families, my family tended to produce daughters rather than sons.

 

Submitted by Millicent V. Craig, American Secretary, Dalton Genealogical Society, 880 Ames Court, Palo Alto, CA. 94303. Millicenty@aol.com

Re: Reverend Timothy Dalton and Alleged Daughter, Deborah, Married to Jasper Blake

Several queries have been received from viewers asking whether there has been any documentation of the relationship between Deborah and Reverend Timothy. At this point in time the answer is still no. The DGS has spent a considerable amount of time with original records trying to solve this case. In the records at Wimbotsham there are some very early records dating back to the late 1500's. These records have neither been copied nor read. They are so fragile that they could not be readied for copying and in a few years will have totally disintegrated. They have never been read because they are written in Elizabethan English and script. Dr. Lucy J. Slater, the Executive Secretary of the DGS, is attempting to hire an archivist to translate them.

 

The DGS, a non-profit organization, depends on membership fees to defray such costs and we ask interested parties to join us in our Dalton efforts. There are many old records in England that have never been indexed, copied or read.

In the February 1998 issue of "Daltons in History" we presented pictures of portraits that hung in Thurnham Hall in England. Presumably these are Daltons but are not the original paintings which hung in the Manor prior to 1980. The earlier portraits are those of John Dalton (1677-1724), his wife, Mary Powell (1690-1797) and their grandson, William Edward Dalton, (1755-1797). These Daltons belong to the Pembrey, Wales line from whom many Americans are descended.

To those American Daltons who think that they may be descended from the Dalton Gang, may I recommend the book written by Nancy Samuelson, "Dalton Gang Days". Her address is P.O. Box 359, Eastford, CT. 06242.

Your editor offers a word of caution about adopting or copying pedigrees that are undocumented. One such pedigree was printed many years ago, is still circulating and continues to reach my desk. There is absolutely no evidence of a Count Dalton in England at the time of William the Conqueror (11th century), and no linkage to a John Dalton (1458) nor to a Sir William Dalton buried at Yorkminster in 1649. The title, Count, is Austrian. It was conferred on the principal line of Irish D'Altons by Emperor Joseph and Maria Theresa of Austria for their service to that country. If there is sufficient space in the DGS June 1998 Journal, the history and genealogy of this line of Irish D'Altons will be printed.

From Prince Edward Island Sir Charles Dalton was born in Norway, Prince Edward Island, Canada on 9 June 1850. He was donor of the Dalton School, knighted by Pope LeoXIII, appointed Lt. Governor of P. E. I., and died while still in office in 1933. He is buried in Tignish Cemetery. He earned fame for being the first breeder of silver foxes in Canada. The pelts were in high demand in England. All that is known of his ancestry is as follows. James McCarthy emigrated to Canada from County Kerry, Ireland and arrived with children. Daughter Margaret married Patrick Dalton. Patrick's son, Charles Dalton, became the Lt. Governor of P. E. I. and a Knight of St. Gregory. An Elizabeth (Eliza) Dalton may have been a sister to Charles or a niece. Certainly someone has additional information on this prominent family.

 

Halifax, Nova Scotia Marriages 1751-1837.

There are 13 Books and 12 Volumes of Registers for this period. The four entries below are the only Daltons listed.

Vol.12, 1830-1832. Entry No. 127; 20 Mar 1831. Banns; Henry Hawkyard, Elland, Joiner and Jane Dalton, Elland

Vol.14, 1833-1835;Entry No, 436;3 Aug 1834 Banns; John Dalton, Southowram, Bricklayer and Maria Hird, Southowram

Vol.14, 1833-1835;Entry No.674.30 Oct 1834, Licence; Richard Walker, Elland, Machine Maker and Catherine Dalton, Elland, Widow

Vol.15.1835-1836; Entry No.766; 12 Feb 1836, Licence; Henry Dalton, Halifax, Basketmaker and Jemima Tattersall, Halifax.

Courtesy of GOONS, Guild of One Name Studies, England.

Dalton/Godfrey/McCormick. If you have ancestors, Maurice Godfrey or McCormick, you may have roots in Tipperary, Ireland. Maurice emigrated after the turn of the century. The McCormick siblings also emigrated about the same time. They are; Hannie (Anna., Annie or Hannah), Mary (Molly), Kitty (Catherine) Winnie (Winifred after her mother), Henry, Willie (William). The Godfreys and McCormicks are first cousins and thus have common Dalton roots.

Courtesy, Dalton Genealogical Society.

The following is a list of Dalton marriages which took place in Middlesex County, England between 1603 and 1831. The list may not be complete, yet it adds to our knowledge of those who lived in small villages or could not be traced because they married outside of their own parishes. Perhaps someone will spot an elusive ancestor. For this list we are grateful to the GOONS, the Guild of One Name Studies, England.

John Daulton m. Rodie Alhead, 2 May 1603, Enfield Parish

Henry Dalton m. Alice Sunnibank, 1 Sep 1641, Stanwell Parish

Elianor Dalton m. Edward Blacknel, Jul15 1666, Edmonton Parish

Mary Dalton m. Thomas Aldwin (husbandman), 5 Oct 1696, Sunbury Parish

Jane Darton or Dalton, m. John Pierce 19 Feb 1707, Sunbury Parish

Thomas Dalton m. Ruth Greaves, Aug 9 1714, Edmonton, Parish. Licensed: (1713 in another record).

Elizabeth Dalton m. James Kerton, 18 Sep 1720, Tottenham Parish

Hannah Dalton (Kingston) m. Joseph Fisher (Kingston), 25 Feb 1744 in Middlesex in Ye Royal Chapel, Licensed.

John Dolton (HoIwall, Bedford) m. Mary Billings, 14 Jan 1761, Twickenham Parish

Richard Dalton (St. James, Westminster) m. Esther De Huelle, 28 Jun 1764, Tottenham Parish, Licensed

William Dalton m. Mary Thompson, 5 Nov 1770, Monken Hadley Parish, Licensed

James Dalton (Uxbridge) m. Frances (Farney) Spenser (Uxbridge), 12 Nov 1802, Hillingdon Parish

George Dalton m. Elizabeth Burt, 27 Dec 1806, Hillingdon Parish

Mary Dalton (St. John, Hackney) m. Henry Woodward, 8 Aug 1809, Edmonton, Licensed

Ann Dalton m. Richard Norman, 27 Jun 1831, Tottenham Parish.

It is not often that we receive data on Daltons who lived in New York. While DGS member, Theckla Constable Ledyard, was researching her own family, she copied the following information from listings in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth, NY, lot #236, Section H. Some of these Daltons apparently lived in Brooklyn. There have been several queries on NY Daltons so this may help.

George W. Dalton d. 12/16/1900-adult; Maurice F. Dalton d. 9/27/1903 adult.

John Victor Dalton d. 2/5/1940; Sarah Dalton b. 1841, d. 9/4/1908; Delia (?)

Caleb d. 7/19/01; Clara B. Dalton d. 9/16/1969 and was married to John Victor above in 1907.

Sarah Ann Breaston Dalton b. 1817, d. 4/13/1899 wife of Jeremiah K. Dalton 1813-1884; and issue, Sarah J. Dalton b. 1841, d. 9/4/1908, issue, Ruth Kate Dalton Hare 1843-1925;

Also listed is Jeremiah Dalton, Jr. 1845-8/3/1884 and wife Emma. Emma may actually be Emiline Amelia Pearsall 1853 - 2/23/88/ and issue Edith E Dalton Chattaway 1872 - 10/29/1910 married Wm. Edward Chattaway d. either 1918 or 1919, and one issue Wm. M. Chattaway d. 6/21/1891.

Also in this lot are Martha Klotz 7/17/1869, Mabel 11/7/1912; a Mrs. Dalton and at least three other children. In addition there are: James L. Dalton d. 1874, a child; Harriet Dalton d. 1876, a child; Annie H.? Dolan d. 1883, an adult; William L. Dalton d. 1893, 1 child.

It is not clear whether John Breaston Dalton, son of Jeremiah and Sarah Ann are buried at Mt. Olivet. He was born in 1844, married Mary Josephine Darling b. 1853-1877, had two issue Lillian G. born 1873 and Mary J. born 1875,died 1881. John's second wife was Deborah Marshall born 1858 and had issue Florence M. 1890-1896 and Edna May,

1892-1893.

We are grateful to Theckla for providing this information and she can be contacted for comments or burial whereabouts of more recent relatives in this line of Daltons. E-mail: ThecklaLedyard@Comcast.net

In the February issue (Vol.1, No. 2) we discussed the Dalton AGM gathering to be held on 4 July 1998 in Lancashire County, England. It will be held in Rufford at the Rufford Arms Hotel. Nearby are some very interesting and quaint events that you will not want to miss.

 

In the ancient village of Croston there is a procession which will be held in the afternoon of 4 July. Known as Coffee Day in Croston, it is Walking Day in all other parishes. It is the custom for parishioners to walk the boundaries of the parish each year in early summer, greeting residents as they walk. In Croston, the tired walkers ended their procession on the grounds of the village squire's estate where cake and coffee were served. Thus Walking Day became known as Coffee Day.

 

In the forefront of the procession is Cousin Harry Dalton, choir member, who precedes the Reverend Robert Brunswick, pastor of the village church.

 

The gayly decorated lorry belongs to Cousin and DGS Committee member, W. Derek Dalton, who is in charge of the arrangements for the AGM gathering. Sometimes, when Coffee Day falls on the Fourth of July, Cousin Derek decorates the lorry in red, white and blue streamers for the American visitors. In the evening a band concert takes place on the church grounds and it is not uncommon for the band to break into a medley of American songs. Daltons have been in Croston for over 500 years and have left a formidable legacy in this area.