| by Dr. Lucy Joan Slater There are many variants of the Dalton Coat of Arms which have been used by various branches of the Dalton family. One of these you can see at the head of this newsletter. A Coat of Arms came into use in the days when men could not read but had to identify their leader when even his face was fully covered in armour. At first, it was a simple pattern put on his shield. As time went on, these patterns became more formalised and were recorded by men called Heralds to make sure that there was no mistake in the use of such shields. Imagine the chaos which could result in two leaders on different sides in the battle, using the same coat of arms! The Heralds formalised these patterns, naming and recording the parts of the design and the colours used. Our Coat of Arms has two parts, a Shield and a Crest. The earliest recorded Dalton shield was a blue painted shield with a
silver lion standing on its hind legs with its claws out ready to attack
you. This is described in the language of Heraldry as “A shield
azure propre with a lion argent rampant guardant”. Such a shield
was carried in the battle of Borroughbridge in 1322 by Sir Robert Dalton
of Pickering Castle, Yorkshire and later at the battle of Crecy. (See
DGSJ Vol. 5 p. 22 and Joseph Foster’s Feudal Coats of Arms, p. 62.) In the reign of Henry VIII, (see The Ancestor, Vol. XI, No. 17) we find that “Dalton beareth as his crest, a dragon vert, langued geules or, gourged ermine”. This means a green dragon’s head, with open golden wings and a coller of ermine”. Legend has it that Sir Richard Dalton of Byspam, who was a Crusader in 1187, killed a Saracen in the Holy Land, and so he took the green griffin as his crest. Our griffin is sometimes called a dragon or a wyvern. A man’s sons had to have shields which were similar to their father’s but with slight differences to show which son was carrying the shield. Thus the concept of differencing came into use. The main Dalton difference was gold crosslets on the shield, for the eldest son. This pattern is used on our Dalton Society shield, and shows that the man who founded the Lancashire branch of the Dalton family was probably the eldest son of Sir Robert of Pickering. Another difference was to have groups of three golden feathers in place of the crosslets. This form of the shield was used by the Irish branch of the family. Our Society was granted the right to use this shield, by the Royal College of Arms (See DGSJ Vol. 1, p.5, & Vol. 5, p.20.) as our main aim in the first place was to study all descendants of the Lancashire branch of the family. (Lucy may be contacted by e-mail: LJSWardle@aol.com). |
| from Michael Cayley, DGS Archivist Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, James I, 1603-6, pub London 1872 1604 Catalogue of certain ecclesiastical livings in diocese of Meath: Petition by leading inhabitants of the English Pale protesting their loyalty, signed by among many others John Dalton of Westmeath, received in England 19 Dec 1605. 1606 List of Irish officers and pensioners in the service of Spain: Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, James I, 1606-8, pub London 1874 1606-7 Crown lands and tithes now in lease from the King in Ireland include: Calendar of State Papers relating to Ireland, James I, 1611-4, pub London 1877 Abstract of the Inquisitions taken AD 1611, concerning the present state
of the lands undertaken in Munster includes: Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, Charles I, 1625-32, pub HMSO 1900 1 July 1628, Serjeant’s Inn. Report of the Irish Commissioners
on the case of Richard Osborne esq, of Cappagh, co Waterford, petitioner. 31 Dec 1629, Dublin Castle. The Lords Justices and Council of Lord Falkland,
concerning Captain Patrick Barnwell. Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, Charles I, 1633-47, pub HMSO 1901 15 May 1647, Kilkenny. Nettervill, Brian and Dowdall to - . We had no quarters to pay for Sir James Dillon’s troop, and we induced to put them on the six weeks’ mean directed to be levied in Westmeath and King’s Co. We have directed James Dalton of Mullyinmeahan, Charles Molloy of Coolerane, and Bryan Geoghegan, gent, or any two of them, to muster his soldiers. On receiving the muster, you shall pay half of them a fortnight’s means. Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, Charles II, 1660-2, pub HMSO 1905 1660 Abstract of some forged recognizances and other deeds amongs the
records of His Majesty’s Court of Common Pleas in Ireland, discovered
and vacated by the said Court. Includes: 1661 List of the inhabitants of Wexford who were captains at sea, owners and adventurers in the frigates employed in the King’s service in Brittany and Biscay since 1651. Includes Major James Dalton. 25 Aug 1662, Whitehall. The King to the Lord Lieutenant for Sir James Shaen. Sir James petitions asking that certain sums, about £700, which were in charge in our Exchequer of Ireland on 10 June 1660, against him and his partners (Sir Francis Willoughby, deceased, David Shorne, Francis Shaen, Robt. Meredith, Wm. Lestrange and Edmond Dalton) in respect of certain charges imposed by the late usurper, be remitted. These charges were remitted by the Act of Indemnity in England the benefit of which, by our letters of 7 February 1660-[1], we extended to him in Ireland…. Calendar of the State Papers of Ireland, Charles II, 1663-5, pub HMSO 1907 3 June 1663 List of claims in Ireland includes Mary Dalton, adjudged innocent 17 July 1663 The King to the Commissioners of Settlement for Captain Daniel O’Keife and others. Includes reference to possible claim by Oliver Dalton Calendar of State Papers of Ireland, Charles II, 1669-70, with addenda 1625-70, pub HMSO 1910 14 Nov 1669, Dublin. Henry Whitehead to Joseph Williamson. ….. PS. I believe you forget me, only I remember you employed me to sue out your cousin Mungo D’Alton’s petition. Part III of Irish Calendars will be printed in the January 2002 issue of "Daltons in History". Michael Cayley may be reached at: cayley@lineone.net |
| from DGS member, Mike Dalton The following is a listing of naturalized voters who provided proof of their citizenship to the San Francisco Court after the loss of Public records during the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. Cornelius Dalton, 405 Duncan, b. Ireland, nat. July 19, 1904, San Francisco,
CA John Joseph Dalton, 3261 21st St., b. Ireland, nat June 13, 1913, San
Francisco, CA Patrick Dalton, 402 San Jose Ave, b. Ireland, nat. June 18 1902, San
Francisco, CA Source: Book of Election Returns: 1906 to 1923. Our appreciation is extended to Mike Dalton who may be reached at e-mail address: mikedirp@teleport.com |
| Holiday Greetings To Liz and Mary Louise who manage the web sites we are deeply grateful. We are pleased to be serving such a large family of Daltons and with the help of our Archivist, Michael Cayley, service will only improve. Your membership support is needed for the projects that lie ahead. May all Daltons everywhere have a wonderful Holiday Season and may 2002 be the year for the breakthroughs in your family research. News from Croston Derek, an antiquarian, came across volumes of old clippings that related to the people and events in Croston. He has donated the scrapbooks to the town museum that is now housed in the old parish school. In a future issue of "Daltons in History" we will print a history of Croston that has been submitted by Derek. The following poem was gleaned from the old church bulletins and written by a parishioner, Thomas Culshaw. The Bells of Croston Croston bells are ringing gaily, When the flowers of spring are blooming, Many a mighty hand has withered, Long, from out their windy tower, When the twilight shadows gather, Editor's note: The Parish Church, St. Michael's and All Angels, at one time served not only Croston village but Bretherton, Ulnes Walton, Mawdesley, Bispham and other nearby villages. Thomas Culshaw was a farmer who lived in Mawdesley and attended Croston Church. No doubt while he was tilling his fields he could hear the the bells from across the moor. |