The following is a report by Michael Neale Dalton Chairman of the Dalton Genealogical Society who attended the 25th Anniversary Conference of the Guild of One Name Studies.

The event was held at Wyboston Lakes conference Centre, Bedfordshire on April 2-4 2004.

Background
The Guild of One Name Studies was formed in 1979 following a series of events which commenced in 1977 with a meeting of one-namers convened by Col Iain Swinnerton and attended by myself. In 1974, the Federation of Family History Societies had been formed with membership drawn from both regional (county) societies and from one-name societies then in existence, including the Dalton Genealogical Society. It was felt that the one-name societies, and more generally those engaged in one-name studies, needed to be represented separately and this provided the impetus for the formation of the Guild. Informal discussions had taken place as early as the summer of 1975 at the first ever English Genealogical Congress held in Cambridge. In 1978, a One Name Conference was held in Leicester and this hatched the formation of the Guild. The Dalton Genealogical Society featured prominently at Leicester with a display stand and, as one of the first one-name societies to be formed, set a standard for One Name Societies.

25 years on, the Guild has gone from strength to strength and now has nearly 2,000 members. It was with great pride that I attended the 25th Anniversary Conference as a founder member of the Guild, and as someone who had been intimately associated with its foundation. As a mark of this 25 year association with and membership of the Guild, I set up a display stand at Wyboston to demonstrate the progress that the DGS has made over that 25 year period.

The Conference
Delegates, numbering about 120 in total, arrived during the course of the Friday afternoon and found a superb purpose built conference centre, together with a warm welcome from the GOONS organising committee. This friendliness was to be a feature of the weekend – one-namers are undoubtedly distinguished by their fellowship and their dedication to the pursuit of family history.

On the Friday evening, after an excellent buffet dinner, there was an informal quiz and I was seconded into the “Golden Oldies” team, seven original one-name stalwarts who had met up in Cambridge back in 1975. Well, I have to report that, after a closely fought contest, the Golden Oldies were declared the winners of the quiz and, as a consequence, we were presented with two bottles of champagne. This provided the perfect excuse for retiring to a comfortable sitting room, armed with ice bucket and glasses, and imbibing into the small hours, catching up with each others news. The group included Iain Swinnerton and Pauline Saul (now Pedersen), last seen by me in Sydney, Australia in 1988; Derek Palgrave, President of the Guild for many years, with his wife, Pamela; Mary Griffiths, to whom I used to send journal abstracts for Family History News and Digest; and Pauline Litton, a Yorkshire family historian.

On Saturday morning the Conference, with the theme of the Guild – past, present and future, was officially opened by Derek Palgrave, in his capacity as President of the Guild, and the Annual General Meeting took place. We were then treated to a walk down memory lane as Derek Palgrave recounted the history and development of the Guild over its 25 years. This was followed by two experts, talking about overcoming problems in a one-name study. Jan Cloud from Santa Barbara, California and Janet Heskins from Surrey shared a myriad of suggestions for sources of information. At the end of the morning session, presentations of Certificates of Appreciation were made to the 14 founder members of the Guild present at the Conference. I was proud to be numbered amongst this special group and we all appreciated the recognition from the Guild.

The Conference continued on Saturday afternoon with a session by Paul Millington, the Guild’s website manager, about recent website developments. These included the launch of the Guild Archive, an electronic repository for members’ one-name records, which has enormous potential as a tool for all one-name groups. There was also an update on the growing Guild Marriage Index, which is building up a record of all marriages in the GRO Indexes between 1837 and 1911. This is another very valuable tool and the DGS will want to consider becoming involved in both these projects. After a break for tea, Roy Stockdill, Editor of the Journal of One Name Studies, and Maurice Hemingway, who publishes a regular Hemingway newsletter, gave interesting advice and guidance on publishing a one-name periodical.

Michael Neale Dalton and the Dalton Genealogical Society Display

During the coffee, lunch and tea intervals, various bookstalls and displays, including the DGS one, were open. The DGS display attracted considerable interest as a result of the Society’s International DNA Project, and also the DGS website. On the Saturday evening there was a most enjoyable Anniversary Dinner at which all conference delegates wined and dined in style and enjoyed each other’s company.

The programme on Sunday included sessions on developing one-name websites and organising one-name gatherings. Again the speakers were entertaining and provided food for thought, even for those, such as the DGS, with much experience in these areas. After Sunday lunch the conference concluded with a session entitled “Back to the Future”. Two committee members, Jeanne Bunting and John Hanson, suitably attired in futuristic space age outfits, “came back” from the Guild’s 50th Anniversary Conference in 2029 and entertained delegates with a very amusing “send up” of how computers have been used in family history research to date, and a “preview” of things to come in the next 25 years. This was a fitting end to a highly successful weekend and the conference organisers, Roger and Lynda Goacher, Maurice and Pamela Hemingway, Janet Heskins and Barbara Harvey are to be congratulated on providing a stimulating and entertaining programme focussing on the practical aspects of a one name study. Everyone who attended, however experienced, will agree that they learnt something new from the formal sessions and, of course, also benefited enormously from the opportunity to interact with so many like minded one name research enthusiasts.

Michael N Dalton
Chairman & Honorary Life President
The Dalton Genealogical Society
12 April 2004

Members who attend the AGM of the Dalton Genealogical Society in Lancashire on July 10-11, 2004 will have the memorable experience of visiting Towneley Hall, the residential home of the Towneley family who lived there from the 13th Century until 1902.

During the centuries, additions and restorations were continually made culminating in a 1million pound project that was completed in 2002. (A lift was also installed).

Today the Hall is an Art Gallery and Museum that houses not only the period furnishings of the family but a large collection of oil paintings, early watercolours, archaeology, natural history and Regiment memorabilia. After the dissolution of the monasteries, vestments from Whalley Abbey were brought to Towneley for safe keeping and date from the 14th C. A priest's hiding hole and hint of a white lady ghost capture one's imagination.

The Towneley's, a Catholic family, resisted the Protestant religion and John Towneley was termed a recusant, subjected to heavy fines and imprisoned in 1564. Towneley Hall ownership reverted to London bankers when the Royalists were defeated and lands were confiscated in 1644. In 1661 the family was able to re-purchase the property. In the 18th Century several members of the family were implicated in the Jacobite rebellion and one was executed. The Hall remained in the family, was continually expanded, but costly to maintain. In 1895 it was offered to the Burnley Corporation and the Burnley Borough Council now upgrades and maintains it.

When examining the pedigree charts of some of the early Lancashire families many links can be made between theses families and the Bispham/Thurnham Daltons. One connection was through the marriage of Sir John Towneley and Isabella Pilkington. About 1842 a daughter Jane was born who married William son of Robert Dalton. Cecilia Standish, Lady of the Manor of Duxbury Hall married William Towneley in mid 18th C. Her ancestral chart shows the links to the families of Fleming, Molyneux and others who were connected to Daltons.

If you have not already made your reservation for this marvelous week-end of July 10-11 2004, please do so by contacting John Dalton at: JohnDalton78@hotmail.com

Dalton Days, Meade Kansas

Wherever your interests lie ... whether it is paleontology, Native Americans, railroads, farming and ranching, law and order or pioneer history, you will find something of interest in Meade and the County Historical Museum. The Meade County new papers from 1886 are available on microfilm and there is access to internet sites for genealogical research. Naturally one of the important sites of interest is the Dalton Gang Hideout. So join the hundreds who visit Meade for Dalton Days.

Dalton Days, Meade, KS June 4-5, 2004

Dalton Days 2004 is taking on a whole new look – or rather it is reflecting the very best of what made it a wonderful community event in years gone by. June 5 and 6 are the dates and the following is a list of currently scheduled activities:

Saturday - June 5, 2004

*Early Saturday morning there will be 3 “runs”; a 10K for the very serious, a 2 mile and also a 1 mile “walk/run”

* 9:00 AM the Cowboy Heritage fun begins on the Dalton Gang Hideout grounds and features such great enticements as Victor Erickson and his working sawmill, wild west outlaws and devoted posse members, western music and cowboy poetry, an ice cream crank-off, old-fashioned photos, artisans and crafters, Wild Women of the Frontier, horses, kid’s games, and free tours of the Hideout.

* PM In the afternoon, the Meade County Historical Museum will hold a reception celebrating its 30th anniversary and recognizing those families who envisioned and built the museum.

6:00 PM “Ridin’ Wild in Meade County” is the theme of the parade, which starts at 6pm from the fairgrounds. Once again watermelon will be offered free to spectators. Mayors from all three cities in Meade County will ride together as the 2004 Grand Marshals.

Trophies for parade entries will be awarded in 4 categories; Best of Plains, Best of Meade and Best of Fowler. A Best of County Trophy will go to the winning town to be on display for the year.

* PM At the fairgrounds, after the parade, there will be a Cowboy Campfire with stories and poetry by Travis Loewen plus other celebrities and local poets, a Chuck wagon supper and a Team Roping in the Arena.

*9:00 PM A live band will be playing for the annual dance beginning at 9: 00 PM in Building B.

Admission to all the events and parade entries will be free with the purchase of a $5.00 Dalton Days 2004 Commemorative Button. They will be available at merchants throughout the county. The button will also get you freebies and discounts from retailers, restaurants and attractions from Dodge to Liberal. Numbers on the button may match one of many prizes.

Sunday - June 5, 2004

8 AM The event ends on Sunday morning with Cowboy Church and Chuck wagon breakfast at the Hideout.

Join the Dalton Gang, Meade Posse, or one of the many committees and have fun planning the 2004 event. Or make this a fun family weekend. Call for your buttons or more information. Contact Susen Foster at 620-873-2008.

The Dalton Gang Hideout in Meade

Early in 1887, a handsome young woman named Eva Dalton arrived in Meade, KS from the Coffeyville area to establish a shop where she made and sold ladies hats. She soon fell in love with John N. Whipple, a merchant and respected citizen of this new prairie community.

The two married Oct 25, 1887. Eva's brother, Emmett Dalton is said to have attended the wedding while other brothers arrived later.

The Dalton Gang was an undetected presence in the years that followed. Horses were stolen and trains were robbed as nearby as Cimarron 40 miles north of Meade. News of the outlaw gang's far reaching criminal episodes astounded local citizens. Speculation concerning Eva's guilt or innocence in connection with her brothers' activities made it impossible to remain in Meade so in 1892, they slipped quietly out of Meade County, abandoning their home.

Built in 1887 by J. N. Whipple for his bride, this tiny two-level home was set atop a hill that sloped toward a creek in what was then a rural area south of the town of Meade. A crude tunnel of dirt and beams was discovered after the Whipple's left town. It lead from the barn to the house allowing Eva's outlaw brothers to come and go undetected by the prying eyes of the neighbors and the law. The home has been restored and the 95-foot long-tunnel reconstructed to make it passable for the average person. At the south end of the tunnel the barn houses a museum. DGS member Bill Dalton Phillips who is a descendent of this family, has contributed many pieces of memorabilia to the museum. There is also a gift shop.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Gang's activities during Eva's residence in Meade, the group was comprised of Emmett, Bob and Grat Dalton and various other criminal types who joined them. Before they began their short lived crime spree, the brothers all served on a posse and for a time Bob and Grat along with older brother Frank were Deputy Marshals out of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Frank Dalton was killed chasing whiskey runners in Indian Territory. About the same time, the other brothers were accused of horse stealing and headed for California where in February of 1891 they robbed their first train in Alila, CA (More about their stay in CA below). Later they attempted a hold-up of two banks in Coffeyville, KS but the town was ready for them and all the gang members were killed save Emmett who was badly injured. He served 14 years of a life sentence and left for Hollywood where he made movie shorts, wrote two books, and engaged in building construction.

When the Daltons Rode on the Estrella

Bill Norin, genealogist of Claremont, CA has assembled an inordinate amount of information related to the presence of the Dalton family in Estrella in San Louis Obispo County, CA between 1887 and 1891. It is likely the most detailed of any of the numerous writings on this phase of the Dalton brother's life.

Bill has drawn upon the recollections of his grandfather Laughlin Mc Donald and brother Michael who were neighbors of the Daltons and from other friends and relatives. We have extracted a few under reported glimpses into the social life of the Daltons during this time frame and suggest that you visit Bill's web site and read the article in its entirety. http://www.geocities.com/norins/Daltons.html/ Some statements may differ from previous printed material or may expand a previously printed concept.

Extracts

*In 1887, William, then 26 rented the Cotton Ranch, 500 acres owned by Judge Cotton of San Francisco and directly across the Estrella River from the McDonalds. It was also a quarter mile from his brother-in law, Clark Blivens. Bill was married, law-abiding, had entered politics and became embroiled in a Populist fight against

the railroad backed political machine.

* Aunt Tessie recalled that when she was about 11, the Dalton brothers Bob, Grat and Emmett moved in with Bill. Cousin Marcia Linstrum recalled Aunt Kitty telling how grandma used to exchange pies with Mrs. Dalton, Jane Bliven who originally came from Livingston in the San Joaquin Valley. Aunt Tessie mentioned that when she was a little older, young Emmett, a polite young man asker her to dance at one of the socials.

On Saturday night the neighbors would gather for a dance and box supper at the schoolhouse. They danced waltzes to the strains of a tinny old piano - the two-step was just coming into vogue.

*At the first annual grand ball at the San Miguel Athletic Club on Christmas Eve 1889, it was evident that another Dalton liked to dance. It may have been Bill or Littleton. Lit had a saloon in San Miguel. One of them signed the name "Dalton" on the dance card of Bell Courier that night.

*According to Mrs. McCane, Emmett was the most civilized and when her uncle died at home in Estrella, Emmett "went with a horse and buggy to take my mother to the Platt place".

* But all was not quiet and social on the Estrella. The Daltons were noted for their fighting, drinking, gambling, irregular work habits, target practice that consumed rounds and rounds of costly ammunition and aroused the suspicions of neighbors.

Until Bob, Grat and Emmett moved in with Bill, he had been a respected member of the community. Norin documents the changes that took place prior to the train robbery at Alila and the influence that the coming of the railroad may have had on the lives of California pioneers, including Bill. He also follows through with details of the trials, escape, hiding out and return to Oklahoma. Be sure to read this interesting account.

Latest Articles on the Gang

DGS member Nancy Samuelson who has written extensively about the Gang has published an article on Bill Dalton, The Most Mysterious of the Outlaw Brothers. It will appear in the June issue of Wild West Magazine.

Nancy debunks many of the newspaper articles about the Gang and raises questions as to whether Bill was involved in the Longview, Texas bank robbery.

Nancy is the author of Dalton Gang Story; Lawmen to Outlaws; Shoot from the Lip; The Lives, Legends and Lies of the Three Guardsmen of Oklahoma and U. S. Marshall Nix. Nancy is currently working on an article related to the Dalton DNA Projects that are now in progress and it will appear in a forthcoming issue of the "Outlaw" Newsletter.

DGS member Robert A. Dalton has prepared a story on Emmett Dalton, Bill's brother entitled Beyond the Law with Emmett Dalton. It was scheduled to appear on the Historynet beginning the week of April 26, 2004. It can be viewed at: http://www.the historynet.com/ Stop by and read the latest about Emmett.

The DGS as previously reported has obtained the DNA of a last living descendent of the Gang and it is available for matching in the Dalton International DNA Project. Contact Project Coordinator, Millicent Craig at: Millicenty@aol.com

From Millicent Craig

For the past 34 years, the goal of the Dalton Genealogical Society has been to link Daltons to Daltons firstly through its Journals. Since 1974, connecting people has been a major aspect of the annual gathering and meeting of Daltons. As internet technology advanced, it increased the Society's ability to reach Daltons round the world through its web sites and to offer an opportunity to post their ancestral information and receive responses to their questions.

Once again the DGS is in the forefront of the latest genealogical research revolution. Through the advancements in forensic sciences and outgrowth of DNA testing to aid genealogists, it has now become possible to take a giant leap forward in linking people to people. There is no experience comparable to the excitement of finding a genetic cousin and proceeding in a new research direction.

Latest Results - Linking People to People

For those readers who have been following the developments of the Dalton International DNA Project, the theory that Daltons had numerous founding fathers is being born out by the results of the testing. Thus far six and possibly seven clusters have emerged with several more participants waiting to find a match. And for those who do not yet have a match do not be discouraged, for I am certain that we have only scratched the surface of the potential. Here is a listing of the clusters as of February 1, 2004. Several more will be added at a later date.

1. The Junior Dalton Line out of England. The DNA of an American is the fourth match to this line.

2. The Thurnham/Croston line. (England) . There are two matches and a search is on for other descendents of this line.

3. English Group III. Matches occurred between two Daltons whose ancestors worked in the textile mills of Manchester. We hope to add to this through those Daltons who emigrated to the U. S. during or after the U. S. Civil War when the English mills shut down due to lack of cotton imports.

4. Irish Group I. This group now has six matches, none of whom had previously known each other. It spans three continents, linking an Australian, four Americans and an Irish member. The ancestors of these members seem to be concentrated in mid south Ireland and we now know that two were in adjoining parishes. (A meeting of several members of this group will be held in Palo Alto, CA on Apr 2, 2004).

5. Irish Group II. The DNA of this group differs from that of Group I and suggests that they had a different founding father. We would like our Canadian Daltons to consider testing and linking to others from their lines.

6. The Dalton Gang of America. As announced in the DGS Journal, the DNA of the only living male descendent of the Gang was deposited in the Project in September 2003. The DNA of two DGS members match that of the participant and more matches are expected. Unfortunately some who believe that they are related to the Gang may find otherwise but may find a new and unexpected family in the diverse lines that are being developed.

7. mtDNA Test. Three of our female members who are or may be descended from the Hampton NH Blake/Dalton line have agreed to take the test.

8. Multiple Lines. As of this date there are many English, Irish and American participants in the DNA project who do not yet have a match and because of aberrations in their records some may never have a match. But there are others who should and will have a match. We are actively seeking more male Dalton descendents of Hampton, NH or Newburyport, MA, Kansas, Georgia, Utah, Kentucky, Virginia, and in fact from all states.

A Status Report of the project appeared in the latest DGS Journal and more members in England are beginning to seek participation. We hope to hear from more Americans, Canadians and Australians as well.

Note: If you would like to participate in this international project, please be in contact with your Coordinator, Millicent Craig, e-mail: Millicenty@aol.com

Mike Dalton's ancestors were from County Kerry, Ireland. Daltons were latecomers to Kerry, late 17th C, early 18th C. They had migrated from eastern Ireland. Mike believes that his link may be County Cork. Kerry Daltons migrated to Canada, (PEI) to Maine, Ohio and perhaps other places in North Am. and likely to Australia. They may have even returned to Cork from Kerry. Mike's DNA is unique among the Irish Dalton participants in the Dalton International DNA Project. It has some significant features that may be the key to unlocking the link to England. Needed are other Kerry Daltons to participate. Mike has commissioned a consultant in Ireland to extract Kerry parish records in the vicinity of Ballyheigue his parish, and the Tarbert area with the hope of finding genetic cousins and helping others. If your ancestors were from this general area or across the line in Brosna or Abbyfeale please be in contact. Mikedirp@teleport.com

A new cluster of three DGS members of Irish descent has emerged in the Dalton International DNA Project. The earliest known date of the three is about 1800 in Westmeath. When the Daltons were dispossessed of their lands in Meath, some were granted land in what is now Westmeath. Others migrated to various counties. The other matches are DGS members whose last know residences were in County Leitrim and in County Kilkenny. Two of the participants are Americans and the third is an Australian. This is the second tri-continent cluster with Irish roots in this study and the DNA differs markedly from the first cluster. If your ancestry was from any of the above counties, including County Cork, please be in touch. Contact: Millicenty@aol.com

Seeking Daltons from the Slievenamon area where Counties Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford meet near the River Suir. In the 14th century, this region was populated by D'Altons from Meath. When the descendents of these Dalton families migrated to the United States in the 19th century, they settled in New York, Detroit, Cincinnati, Chicago and San Francisco. If your ancestors were from Knocktopher, Kildalton, Piltown/Owning, Villierstown, Newcastle, Marlfield, Clonmel, Lisronagh, Kilcash/Kilsheelan, Killurney, Ballyvaughan, Ballyknockane, Ballymackey, Temple-etney, Ninemilehouse and Mullinahone please contact K. T. Mapstone.

Searching for any descendents of Patrick and Anna Dalton. Patrick Dalton was enumerated in the Arizona/New Mexico Territorial Census late 1800's and listed as age 24 with properties in Westmeath. A Patrick Dalton appears in the 1920 Census of Arizona, Cochise County, Lowell Precinct. He is 50 years of age, born Ireland and his wife Anna is 48 years of age and born in Michigan. He applied for citizenship in 1894 was naturalized in 1899. Patrick Dalton's occupation was blacksmith at a copper mine. Contact: Millicenty@aol.com

DGS member, Dave Edwards of New York is searching for his Dalton roots in Ireland. His great grandfather, Michael Dalton of Kerry was b. about 1840 in Ireland and married Katherine Stack. (He recently learned that Katherine's maiden name may have been Stack). They had four daughters and a son. Anna Marie b. /1873/1874 ( Dave's grandmother) married Michael J. Dillon and d. in the U. S. in 1960. They lived in upstate NY at Little Falls. The other children of Michael and Katherine were Kate, Mary, Ellen and John, all b. in Ireland. Mary married a Barrow and lived in Yeadon near Philadelphia. Dave's mother Agnes Dillon married William R. Edwards.

Dave recalls that his grandmother frequently mentioned the Stack Mountains and McGillicuddy Reeks that are located in the Abbyfeale neighborhood on the Limerick and Kerry border. He believes that the Daltons were either from Abbyfeale or from Abeyfield ( a small crossroads in Galway that no longer exists). Dave has exhausted parish records. Perhaps there is a reader who can provide some additional information. Contact Dave at: daveedwards@catskill.net

During the month of April, three files were added to the DDB. They are Channel Islands in the U. K. a very short file, and the complete 1871 Census of Daltons in London/ Middlesex. In addition the file for New Mexico, U. S. has also been added.

Quite a few visitors are posting their ancestral information in the Data Bank Guest Book. We are pleased to announce that in the future DGS member Wendy Fleming of Australia will be assisting the Australian Secretary Maureen Collins in responding to postings from Australians and New Zealanders.

Channel Islands, U. K.

The Dalton population of the Channel Islands was about 10 during each Census of 1871, 1881 and 1891. It never increased. A lack of birth records can be compensated for by the birthplaces of the Dalton individuals in the Censuses. Browse this short file.

London/Middlesex, U. K.

1871 Census

There are over 900 Daltons listed in this Census. Efforts were made to add members of the households, to correct some of the erroneous transcriptions and to place the Daltons in the proper Civil and Ecclesiastical Parishes. There may still be some errors but this data is worth browsing as one of the earliest complete records of Daltons in London/Middlesex. Bill Dalton of Washington state has completed Marriages for London and this file will be in place in a few months.

New Mexico, U. S.

The Dalton population in New Mexico remained small through the early 20th Century. It rose somewhat after the 1930's perhaps because of climate. The in-migration can be gleaned from the Social Security Death Index. Available birth and marriage data is sparse and may be supplemented by the copyright contributions on Rootsweb. This file contains 175 surname entries and should be browsed. Given name entries in the SSDI are likely to be more accurate than some entries in the Census Indexes that are either shortened versions or difficult to read.