In this March 2000 issue of "Daltons in History", your editor presents the second in a series of thinkpieces or talking points that relate to the work of the genealogist and the family historian.

As the Human Genome Project nears completion, the literature is flooded with information -- too much and too technical for most of us to understand or to put in perspective. This series of monographs will take "small bites" of information and attempt to present some ideas or scenarios as to what impact they will have on our work and records. By looking at this astronomical, scientific development through the eyeglasses of business development, particularly here in Silicon Valley, the commercial/social/legislative changes become harbingers of things to come.

We hope that you enjoy our efforts even though they may be a bit "far out", but remember that we cannot turn back the clock. If you obtain one new idea from the series or can extrapolate it into a useful action, it will have been a worthwhile exercise.

This month's monograph is entitled, Genetic Anthropology. Millicent V. Craig.

Submitted by Marjorie DeLapp, a descendent of Henry.

The following account contains a short biography of Henry J. Dalton and the hardships encountered by a group of young men who heeded the cry of Horace Greeley to "Go West Young Man" and headed west in a wagon train to find their fortune.

Biography

Henry James Dalton was born on June 17, 1842 in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County, New York, the son of John Dalton, born in England in 1800 and of Ellen Waddell, born in Scotland in 1810.
The History of Walworth County, Wisconsin states that he was one of the best known and highly honored pioneers of this locality, who after a long, active, influential and useful life, spent principally in agricultural pursuits, retired in the city of Delevan, WI.

Dalton grew to maturity on the home farm where he assisted with the general work during crop seasons, and he tended the district schools during the winter months. On June 3, 1866, he married Celia Yost, daughter of John and Ester (Hollister) Yost, natives of the state of New York. The Yosts migrated to WI in 1844. John Yost died on July 3, 1890 and his wife died Jan. 16, 1908.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dalton; Maud Frances Dalton who married and moved to Beloit, WI; Erwin Dalton who farmed at East Delevan; Dr. Charles Dalton of Albion, WI and Harold Dalton who was a lawyer and lived in Bowden, ND.

Mr. Dalton was a veteran of the Civil War. Having been in the West when war broke out, he enlisted in Jacksonville, OR in Company A, First Oregon Cavalry on Nov. 27, 1861. He served three years in the West against the hostile Indians of the Pacific Coast, being discharged on Nov. 27, 1864, at Vancouver, WA with the rank of Corporal (at age 19)under Capt. William Rhinehart.

After his discharge, he went to Walla Walla, WA where he had charge of a pack train, freighting to the mines for one year. Then he returned to East Delevan, WI and was married soon after. About this time he purchased a 100 acre farm in Section 35, Delevan Township which he later sold to his son, Erwin.

Henry's Pioneer Days

The following excerpt is from the Beloit Daily News, March 24, 1923 and was sent to Norman A. Delapp by Harold W. Dalton. The article was entitled "Delevan Pioneer Last of Daring Party That Crossed Plains in 1858". It read, H. J. Dalton is the sole survivor of Walworth County men who answered Gold Lure. Memories connected with an oxen trek in covered emigrant wagons overland to California 64 years ago were refreshed today in an interview with Henry J. Dalton, 188 Ninth St., the last survivor of a party of 16 Walworth County men who started from East Delevan on April 11, 1859.

The Party

The lure of California gold and the urge of Horace Greeley to go west and grow up with the country was the motive which gave these young men the courage to attempt the perilous journey, Mr. Dalton declared. They left here boasting to their friends that it was the case of Pike's Peak or Bust. The determination to push on to the Pacific Coast was reached when their number grew through the addition of other travelers as they progressed westward. Those comprising the party from this community were: Henry and George Dalton, sons of John Dalton and Elizabeth Waddell of Milan; Nelson and Lyman Brighman, Zinah Cotton, Amos Johns and Adam Scrafford all of East Delevan; James Jones of Jefferson Prairie; William and James Dunbar of Elkhorn; Anthony Delap, Cyrus and Lige Marble, and Robert Campbell (married to Mary Jane Delap) of Geneva; Isaac Brown of Delevan.

Henry (age 17) and James Dalton drove two teams of oxen hitched to a heavy covered wagon. The Daltons paired off with Adam Scrafford and James Jones, who also had a double team of oxen. Henry Dalton and Scrafford took turns in cooking the meals which were prepared and eaten along the roadside. From the time they left Delevan until their arrival in Yreka, Cisco County, CA six months later, they spent their days and nights out of doors.

Jones and Scrafford had included two cows in their outfits so that the party was able to enjoy something better than the ordinary fare before the animals played out and had to be sacrificed later in the journey.

Going Through Iowa

The Walworth County adventurers headed for Dubuque, IA, where they were ferried across the Mississippi river, landing at Council Bluffs after crossing the state. From here they struck out for Omaha, at that time a settlement of only a few buildings and the outpost of the western wilderness. Leaving Omaha, the party was strictly on its own resources although its number had been augmented by the addition of many emigrants at Council Bluffs and other cities through which they passed. It was slow traveling, the oxen making about ten miles in a good day. Following a route north of the Platte River they made their way to Fort Laramie, WY, harrassed at times by the marauding Pawnee Indians through the Nebraska prairies.

Dalton and others swam the river at Laramie one night to hear Horace Greeley speak. The picturesque editor, limping as a result of being thrown from his mule, was preaching his "Go West!" doctrine and succeeded in sending the youngsters back to their camp on the other side of the river full of new enthusiasm for their project. (Ed. Note. Greeley was a descendent of a prominent colonial family out of Hampton, NH).

They followed the old California route after leaving Laramie, taking what was know as the "sublet cutof" (Sublette) just before reaching Salt Lake Ciity. In this manner they saved themselves a trip through the great American desert.

The Massacre

While following their new trail, they came upon the scene of the Shepherd massacre, near the Humboldt River only three days after the Sioux Indians had killed all but one member of the party. Partly burned wagons, slaughtered animals and other signs of carnage were all about the site. An emigrant train just in advance ot theirs had rescued the sole survivor, Mrs. Shepherd, and had buried the dead.

The Shepherds were Missouri people returning from California where they had acquired wealth. The Sioux, led by unscupulous white outlaws, learned of their treasure and massacred them. Mrs. Shepherd was left for dead by the marauding party. The Sioux had stampeded the herd of the party to which the Walworth youths had attached themselves one night as they were corraled near the Raft River. Fortunately, Capt. William Home of Shyullsbeerg, mounted his horse and circled the herd, driving it back to camp. He was shot at by the Indians as he performed his perilous task.

Two of the Party Killed

Two members of the party were shot and killed as they stood guard over the camp at night. Their bodies are buried along the trail, Dalton declares, as were those of many other pioneers who lost their lives in the California rush. When the party disbanded at Yreka, CA, the Daltons and their friends, Scrafford and Jones, had a single yoke of oxen and the rear half of a wagon left of the four yokes, two milk cows and two wagons with which they left Delevan. They were penniless and hungry. From there they made their way back to Wisconsin.

Editor's note. The April 2000 issue of "Daltons in History" will contain the descendency chart of this line of Daltons. Marjorie DeLapp may be contacted at: delapp@twi.net

Compiled by Millicent V. Craig

In a previous "Daltons in History", there is listed the early births and marriages of the Daltons of County Clare, particularly those who resided at Woodpark in Bunratty. In this issue they are repeated and new information, researched by DGS member, Bernard Dodd, of Concord, NH has been added to give a more comprehensive picture of the Daltons in this community who are linked to the Dodds, Fitzgeralds and Kennedys.

First there is a quotation from a history of Ireland in "The King James Army List' 1689" by John D'Alton. The time frame is the late 1600's and the County Clare branch is described as follows:
"One branch of the D'Altons migrated westward to Deer- Park, County Clare. Of this family was Michael D'Alton of Deer-Park, who, by his first wife, Miss Fitzgerald (see data list below), had one son, Edward and three daughters. The son without issue male; Marcella, the eldest daughter, married John Singleton, grandfather of the present Mr. Singleton of Quinville Abbey, in the County of Clare (one of the sisters of said John Singleton marrying Richard Copley of the County of Limerick, was the grandmother of the present Lord Lyndhurst:) Mary. the second daughter, became the wife of William Butler of Castle-Crine; Jane Eyre D'Alton, the third daughter married John Lysaght (see list below) by whom she had Edward Lysaght, the Barrister, and a daughter, Jane, both before alluded to."

Daltons of Woodpark, County Clare.
The following data was sent to DGS member, Bernard Dodd, Concord NH from Antoinette O'Brien, Clare Heritage Centre with whom Bernard had a contract.
1700, Michael Dalton, son of Dalton, born in Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare.

1727, Michael Dalton married Alicia Bowerman, in Bunratty, Co. Clare.

1728, Michael Dalton/Alicia Bowerma's son, William, born in Woodpark House, Bunratty, Co. Clare.

1730, Michael Dalton/Alicia Bowerman's son, Michael, born in Woodpark House, Bunratty, Co. Clare.

1732, Michael Dalton/Alicia Bowerman's son, Thomas, born in Woodpark House, Bunratty, Co Clare.

1734, Michael Dalton/Alicia Bowerman's son, Edward, born in Woodpark House, Bunratty, Co. Clare.

1736, Michael Dalton/Alicia Bowerman's, dau. ?, born in Woodpark House, Bunratty, Co. Clare.

1760, Thomas Dalton married Elizabeth Leake in Co. Clare.

1762, Michael Dalton/Mary Anne Fitzgerald's son, Michael, was born in Woodpark House, Bunratty, Co. Clare.

1762, Michael Dalton/Mary Anne Fitzgerald's daughter, Alicia, was born in Woodpark House, Bunratty, Co. Clare.

1763, Jane Dalton married John Lysaght, Deer Park, Bunratty, Co. Clare

1766, Michael Dalton/Mary Anne Fitzgerald's son, Edward, born Woodpark House Bunratty, Co. Clare

1768, Michael Dalton/Margaret Minchin's son, Charles Minchin, born in Woodpark House, Co. Clare

1790 Edward Dalton married Elizabeth Barry, Co. Clare

1792, Michael Dalton married Elizabeth Leake, in Woodpark House, Bunratty, Co. Clare

1811, Mary Anne Dalton, born in Ennis, Co Clare, relative; Amy Edgely. (IGI)

The following additional information was supplied by Bernard Dodd.

In 1828, Elizabeth Dalton was holding 37 acres of land at Wood park
In Feb 22, 1832, marriage between Thomas Dodd and Anne Cherry. Michael Dalton and Patrick McInemey were witnesses.

In June 5, 1833, baptism of Thomas Dodd & Anne Cherry's first son, John. Sponsors were Michael & Eliza Dalton.

In April 23, 1835 baptism of Thomas Dodd & Anne Cherry's second son, Michael. Sponsors were Jeremiah and Alice Dalton.

Woodpark, Bunratty.

The name referred to a wooded park and was associated with the families of Dalton, d'Esterre, Kennedy, Liddy. Bunratty was located N of a minor road, 2km NE of Hurler's Cross.

Features:
Woodpark was a delightful, early eighteenth-century, three-storey, five bay, slate weatherboarded, gable-ended house, which faced south-west, with brick chimney stacks in each gable and Venetian windows in the front central bay above a similarly styled fan and side lit doorcase. The central bay was possibly capped by a walltop pediment. There was a ha-ha (?) in front of the house. A yard and utility buildings stood to the rear, and there were walled gardens to the north. The residence, which was situated in a well- wooded parkland of mature trees, was approached by drives from the south-west and north. The farm at one time consisted of some one hundred acres.

History of Woodpark
The Anglo-Norman d'Altons, or Daltons, were recorded as being in this area as early as 1595. In 1761 Michael Dalton Esq. of Woodpark, married Mary Anne Fitzgerald, spinster of Castlekeale. Bondsman was the Reverend John Molony of Sixmilebridge. According to the Clare Heritage Center, Elizabeth Dalton leased 37 acres of the 184 total acres. M. Dalton Esq. was living there in 1837, but he must have died prior to 1855, for during that year his representatives leased the house and fifty two acres of land to John Kennedy. In 1876, a Mrs. Dalton of Stephen's Green, Dublin owned 280 acres in County Clare with a valuation of 137 pounds.The house was in ruins before 1911, and was completely demolished in the late 20th century. A new bungalow now stands near the site.

Additional Data

In the Index to Prerogative Wills of Ireland, there are three listings of County Clare Daltons: 1750, Edward Dalton, Esq of Deer Park; 1793, Edward Dalton, Esq. of Wood Park; and 1796, Michael Dalton, Esq. of Wood Park. The rather long will of 1796 will be printed in the April 2000 issue of "Daltons in History".

By the time of Griffiths Valuation of Ireland, 1846-1868, there were only three Daltons listed in County Clare and two of them, Patrick and Michael were in the Parish of Kilfinaghta in the Townland of Sixmilebridge. The third person, William Dalton, was located in the Parish of Kilrush, Townland of Carrowcalla South. Prior to the Evaluation, there undoubtedly were other Daltons living in County Clare but the records are sparse and if a reader can contribute ancestral records, they will be added to the data and printed.

It is evident that the Daltons had moved away, some to Dublin and perhaps some to America, England or Australia. The 1881 Census of Great Britain lists one Ellen Dalton, 20 years of age from County Clare and working as a servant in Lancashire, County. Today, according to the telephone directory there is at least one Dalton living at Woodpark. (Because the Data Protection Act has been invoked in Ireland, EIRCOM, the Irish telephone company has suspended the Irish web telephone directory, goldenpages, and it appears to be permanent). We welcome additional data from readers and any volunteers to do look-ups so that we can continue to expand the Irish data. Millicenty@aol.com.

Compiled by Millicent V. Craig

Keep posting your family information on the Guest page because there is a good chance that a relative may see it. Several connections have been made since the first of the year.

Connections

For several months we have tried unsuccesfully to locate information on Emmet Dalton, Irish patriot. His great nephew, Chris Dalton, in Hungary signed the DGS Guest Page and correspondence led the trail back to America and Emmet's daughter who is now providing the ancestral information for one of Ireland's notable freedom fighters.

The following request comes from Kevin Pitman, a grandson of Oshie Dalton Lindley who did seventy years of research on her Dalton line. Kevin has research documents including photos, birth/death certificates, etc. Kevin is interested in selling the information for continuing research or for book publication. The beginning of this line was mentioned in the Horton book. You may reach Kevin at: kevin.pitman@gte.net

Queries

Anthea Dalton of Townsville, writes that her father, Laurence Haworth Dalton was born in 1922 on King Island, Bass Strait and grew up in Melbourne, Victoria. His father was William Dalton, possibly of Irish descent and may have been adopted. William was twice married and had five children from each marriage. Laurie was the eldest child of the second marriage and his siblings were Moira, Florence, Alice and Clyde. Their mother's maiden name was Haworth. She knows that there are a heap of cousins and would lke to her from you. antdalton@bigpond.com

Beverly Clark of El Paso, TX is looking for descendents of the children of Reuben Dalton, b. 1752, d. 27 Jan. 1822, m. 1789 Elizabeth Shockley b. 1757. John F. Dalton b. 1754, d. 3 Apr. 1833, m. 1772 Mary Ann Flannagan b. 11 Nov. 1753, d. 1820-1830. Beverly is looking for Jesse William Dalton and descendency. Contact Beverly at: rclark5@elp.rr.com

Lois Dalton Ponder of Ohio states that her father was William P. Dalton, born 1890 in Andrew County, MO. His father, George Washington Dalton, married Ida Mae Shewmaker. She died in 1892 and Lois is attempting to find her place of burial. She is also looking for her Dad's first wife, marriage and death. Her name was Maggie. Beverly's great grandfather was Daniel about whom she knows nothing. Lois would like to fill these gaps. E-mail her at: lois@bealenet.com

Sarah Marie Dalton is the daughter of Ronnie and Diane Dalton, and the granddaughter of Delmar and Eurma Jean Dalton. She knows little about her family and would like to hear from anyone who does. Sariem224@hotmail.com

Toby Dalton is looking for family members of Raymond Dalton in Zanesville, OH. Contact: tlowe@jadeinc.com

Eugenia Righter needs to learn the maiden name of her ancestor Ellen Dalton. She was the second wife of Michael Dalton. He is listed in the 1850 Census of Lowell, MA as living alone. In the 1860 Census Michael is age 40, a cordwainer born in Ireland. Ellen, his wife, age 33 was also born in Ireland. There were three children all born in MA: John age 7; Ellen age 5; and Kate age 4. At the 1870 Census Michael is listed along with Jane Dalton, age 50 (keeping house) and born in Ireland. Ellen and Catherine, ages 14 and 12 are working in the cotton mill, and James age 10 is in school. If anyone recognizes this family, please e-mail: RBRighter@email.msn.com

Hersh Dalton states that his great grandfather, Henry Clay Dalton, was a brother to Lewis Dalton, the father of Bob, Grat and Emmet, the outlaws. According to legend, Henry Clay sailed from Liverpool England when he was 16 years of age. He was a Texas ranger and gunfighter. Hersh's grandfather was Oscar Noah Dalton who married Maggie Perkins. Hersh's parents are John Dalton and Ethel Hise Dalton. Tex-dalton@juno.com

Eastridge claims that he is related to the Daltons. His great grandfather was Mack Dalton married to Minnie Sanders. They lived in Fork Ridge Tennessee and had nine children; Louie, George, Harlan, Frank, Joe, Hattie Kelly, Jessie Tollett, Mathy Pop and Lizzie Raines. It was told that Mack left Minnie in about 1916 or earlier to return to the hills of North Carolina and that he was Cherokee. Minnie died in 1940 in Middlesboro, KY. Email: Aeastr9387@aol.com

Char is looking for information on Julia Dalton and John McGee of Boulder, CO. The children were Thelma McGee Griffith, b. 1909, Dove McGee Imel, Maybelle, Delia, Kathern, Sam 1907, William 1908 and George 1910. If any of these names fit into your genealogy research please contact. cgriff1055@aol.com

Ciara Dalton is from Dublin and all of her family members are from Dublin and Carlow Some now live in San Francisco. She would like to hear from any Irish who might be related. ciaradalton@hotmail.com

Deana Marie Stegall married Robert Keith Dalton in 1990 and lives in Hueytown AL. Keith's father, John Hershel Dalton married Mildred Kathleen Sanders. John Hershel's parents were Robert (?) and Annie Lou Dalton. John Hershel's siblings were: Bettie Dalton Rigsby; Donnie, Mickey and Charles Dalton; and Rachel Dalton Shelton. Most, if not all were from Tennessee. Contact Deana at: Deana.DaltonCZZW@StateFarm.com

Raynor Lewis of Wales can use some assistance. His grandmother, Margaret Anne (Annie) was born 13 May 1920 and lived at 11 Emerson St., Londonderry, Ireland. Her father was Eugene Dalton (b. unknown) who married Mary Anne Duddy (b. around 1876). He believes that both were from Derry. Eugene's father, John Dalton originated in County Kilkenny and his wife's name may have been Cullen. raynor@cwcom.net