from K. T. Mapstone

DGS member, Ciaran Dalton of County Kerry, Ireland  recently shared some of his research on the D'Alton's of Westmeath, in particular, the Ballymore Castle. Those present at the 2005 AGM in Ireland, who had the pleasure of attending the Mt. Dalton program will recall that it, too, is located in Ballymore. 

Source:  Cooper's Ireland (Ed.) Peter Harbison, O'Brien Press 2000. Extracted by Ciaran Dalton, Fenit, County Kerry 

This is the description of Ballymore, County Westmeath, by the Reverend George Story, regimental chaplain, in his “An Impartial History of the Wars of Ireland” (published in London in 1693), which gave details of the Williamite campaign in Ireland in 1690-1691. 

“...considerable improvement had been made in the hundred years since Story's account.  A further two centuries on, Mr. Story would scarcely recognizes the village. Standing about a hundred yards to the south of the village street is a stout, round castle which, from a distance could easily be mistaken for a windmill.  It is only when you peep inside that you realize that this is not for a Don Quixote, but a real-life fortification with walls up to 8ft thick.  The door - now not so well preserved as in Cooper's day - leads into a round room with stone-domed ceiling, and stairs ascending in a slow spiral within the thickness of the wall.

Ballymore Castle Round Tower

The castle is said to have been built by a Norman family, the de Lacys, in 1309.  The date may be roughly right but, though the de Lacys had earlier owned the land on which it stands, it is more likely that the castle was built by the D'Altons.  However, it subsequently changed hands many times before it was abandoned."

Note: Armed with this new information, the search began in July 2005 and I will soon reveal the results of my castle quest. K.T. Mapstone.

This file was extracted by Michael F. Cayley, DGS Archivist and includes a number of cemeteries in Christchurch.

Dalton, stillborn child, d. Sun 20 June 1948, buried Bromley Cemetery Tues 22 June 1948, block 0 plot 0, address Methvan

Dalton, stillborn of Diane, Wed 27 July 1977, buried Linwood Cemetery Friday, 29 July 1977

Alise Sidney Cordetta Dalton, d. Sun 29 Sep 1940, buried Bromley Cemetery Wed 2 Oct 1940, block 17 plot 389, age 76, of 634 Gloucester St, Christchurch, married, born in Auckland, NZ

Arthur Augustine Dalton, d. Wed 13 July 1977, buried Waimairi Cemetery Fri 15 July 1977, block - Lawn, plot 640, age 74

Beatrice Caroline Dalton, d. Tues 5 October 1965, buried Waimairi Cemetery Thurs 7 October 1965, block PR31, plot 23, born in Upton Downs, Seddon, NZ

Catherine Theresa Dalton, d. Fri 8 August 1919, buried Linwood Cemetery Mon 11 August 1919, block 44, plot 159, age69, of 38 Percy St, Christchurch, born in Ireland

Charles Dalton, d. Mon 25 July 1892, buried Addington Cemetery Monday, 25 July 1892, block 0, plot 381B, age 4 days

Edwin Dalton, d. Sat 15 May 1965, buried Bromley Cemetery Tues 18 May 1965, block 35, plot 245, age 85, retired builder, born in Leeds, England, 56 years in New Zealand

Eileen Mildred Dalton, d. Mon 10 December 1945, buried Ruru Lawn Cemetery Tues 11 Dec 1945, block 7 plot 108, age 41, lived in Ashburton, spinster, born in Timaru, lived in NZ all her life

Elizabeth Dalton, d. Fri 4 September 1931, buried Bromley Cemetery Sat 5 September 1931, block 24 plot 2, age 62, of 297 Bealey Ave, Christchurch, married, born in Dunedin, lived in NZ all her life

Emily Blanche Dalton, d. Wed 12 June 1940, buried Bromley Cemetery Fri 14 June 1940, block 19 plot 179, age 75, of15 Osborne Terrace, Christchurch, married, born in Christchurch, NZ, 75 years in New Zealand

Emily Magdeline Dalton, d. Wed 23 September 1931, buried Bromley Cemetery Thurs 24 Sep 1931, block 3 plot 367, age 56, of Dunedin, married, born in Ohoka, lived in NZ all her life

Ernest Douglas Dalton, d. Fri 11 Nov 1983, buried Waimairi Cemetery Mon 14 November 1983, block Lawn plot 640, age 78, retired labourer, 0 years in New Zealand

Florence Anne Dalton, d. Mon 29 Oct 1956, buried Bromley Cemetery Wed 31 Oct 1956, block 35 plot 245, age 76, married, born in Leeds, England, 47 years in New Zealand

George Edward Dalton, d. Sun 15 Aug 1920, buried Waimairi Cemetery Thurs 19 Aug 1920, block AN1 plot 6, age 64, of 161 Burnside Road, Christchurch

Gerald Francis Dalton, d. Sun 9 Feb 1964, buried Waimairi Cemetery Tues 11 February 1964, block RC44 plot 20, age 21

Harry Dalton, d. Wed 22 Sep 1954, buried Linwood Cemetery Fri 24 Sep 1954, block 36A plot 171A, age 92, of 278 Woodham Road, Christchurch, retired bootmaker, born in Leeds, England, 45 years in New Zealand

Henry Michael Thomas Dalton, d. Mon 27 Aug 1945, buried Bromley Cemetery Wed 29 Aug 1945, block 19 plot 179, age 81 of 15 Osborne Terrace, Christchurch, born in Christchurch, NZ

James Dalton, d. Fri 22 Oct 1886, buried Addington Cemetery Fri 22 Oct 1886, block 0 plot 1423B, age 60

John Dalton, d. Fri 29 Oct 1948, buried Ruru Lawn Cemetery Sat 30 Oct 1948, block 6 plot 167, age 77, of 20 Avonside Drive, Christchurch, born in Christchurch

John Joseph Dalton, d. Thurs 3 June 1937, buried Bromley Cemetery Sat 5 June 1937, block 18 plot 207, age 60, of 18 Clarence Road, Christchurch, storeman, born in Ireland, 40 years in New Zealand

John Wallace Dalton, d. Mon 20 May 1991, buried Avonhead Park Cemetery Thurs 23 May 1991, block Lawn plot 56, age 82, retired watersider

John William Dalton, d. Mon 27 Feb 1961, buried Bromley Cemetery Wed 1 Mar 1961, block 24 plot 3, age 60, accountant, born in Christchurch, NZ

Leila Rita Dalton, d. Sun 17 Sep 1989, buried Ruru Lawn Cemetery Tues 19 Sep 1989, block 9 plot 348, age 92, widow, born in Christchurch, NZ

Leonard Dalton, d. Sat 10 Oct 1942, buried Bromley Cemetery Mon 12 Oct 1942, block 24 plot 3, age 86, of 41 Jacob St, Christchurch, stone mason, born in London, England, 50 years in New Zealand

Leonard Joseph Dalton, d. Mon 25 Oct 1971, buried Ruru Lawn Cemetery Wed 27 Oct 1971, block 9 plot 348, age 75, retired tally clerk, born in Christchurch, NZ

Margaret Dalton, d. Thurs 23 May 1940, buried Linwood Cemetery Sat 25 May 1940, block 36A plot 171A, age 73, of 278 Woodham Road, Christchurch, married, born in England, 30 years in New Zealand

Mary Dalton, d. Fri 7 Apr 1967, buried Ruru Lawn Cemetery Mon 10 Apr 1967, block 6 plot 167, age 84, widow, born in Okains Bay, NZ

Mary Dalton, d. Tues 25 Feb 1997, buried Waimairi Cemetery Thurs 27 Feb 1997, block RC44 plot 19, age 86, widow, born in Ashburton, NZ

Mary Ann Dalton, d. Thurs 9 Dec 1948, buried Bromley Cemetery Sat 11 Dec 1948, block 18 plot 207, age 72, of 526 Barbadoes St, Christchurch, widow, born in Hornby, Christchurch, NZ

Nora Margaret Dalton, d. Mon 7 Aug 1967, buried Ruru Lawn Cemetery Wed 9 Aug 1967, block 7 plot 108, age 72, spinster, born in Timaru, NZ

Rachael Dalton, d. Fri 13 Apr 1923, buried Linwood Cemetery Sat 14 Apr 1923, block 21 plot 170, age 76, of Jubilee Home, Christchurch, widow, born in Christchurch, NZ

Randall Hughs Dalton, d. Fri 13 Nov 1987, buried Bromley Cemetery Wed 18 Nov 1987, block 35 plot 245, age 83, retired seaman, born in Leeds, England, 70 years in New Zealand

Richard Murray Dalton, d. Sun 31 Oct 2004, buried Ruru Lawn Cemetery Mon 8 Nov 2004, block 15 plot 296, age 26, beneficiary, born in Christchurch, NZ

Roland Patrick Dalton, d. Thurs 14 July 1988, buried Waimairi Cemetery Mon 18 July 1988, block RC44 plot 19, age 81, retired electrician

Rose Margaret Dalton, d. Tues 22 Jan 1895, buried Linwood Cemetery Thurs 24 Jan 1895, block 31A plot 35NEC, age 7 months, of 99 East Belt, born in Christchurch, NZ

Sheree Tracy Dalton, d. Sun 17 July 1983, buried Waimairi Cemetery Tues 19 July 1983, block Lawn plot 1051/1, age 16, student

Thomas Henry Dalton, d. Fri 27 Aug 1943, buried Bromley Cemetery Tuesday, 31 Aug 1943, block 3 plot 367, age 76, of 32 Bangor Terrace, Christchurch, born in NZ.

Once again a large number of queries were posted on the Guest Books of the Dalton Genealogical Society and on the Dalton Data Bank to say nothing of the mail bag. In this issue there is an international cross section of some that have been received and responses that were made.  Perhaps you will be able to respond to one of them and to make a connection.

Lynn Grant of Lancashire, England had Daltons who lived in Salford. Her grandfather Harry Dalton married Annie Farrell of County Mayo, Ireland.  His father was also Harry, a farmer. Since there were few farmers in Salford, Lynn thinks that he too may have come from Ireland and asks for any suggestions.  The given name of Harry was quite rare in Ireland and suggests that your grandfather may have been English.  You might want to try the Dalton Data Bank at http://daltondata.0pi.com/  Click on England and then Lancashire.  Keyword Harry and check the references.  You will also note three Dalton children, including a Harry were living with an uncle in Salford – 1881 Census, Part II.  Contact Lynn at: lynngrantmc@aol.com

Wayne Dalton of Ajax, Ontario, Canada is searching for family updates from the Peterborough, Ontario area.  Contact Wayne at: mailto:dalton7864@gmail.com/

Tom Eversden of Omaha, Nebraska writes that his grandmother was Mary Agnes D’Alton of Toldeo, Ohio.  Her father was Austin Loftus D’Alton of Toledo.  According to Tom, one of his brothers was Joseph P. Dalton the father of John Cardinal Francis D’Alton of Ireland.  Another  brother to Austin may have been Monsignor Edward A.D’Alton, an Irish historian.  Tom can be reached at teversden@yahoo.com/ 

This family was researched several years ago by your American secretary and a biography of the Cardinal was published in "Daltons in History". There is evidence that Joseph and Edward were brothers and that there was another brother, Peter. The given name of Austin (D’Alton) does not appear among the thousands of Irish Daltons listed in the Dalton Data Bank under the Republic of Ireland.  The 1910 Census of Ohio shows that Austin L. D’Alton was English and that both of his parents were English.  We sent a copy of the Cardinal’s biography to Tom and suggested that he keyword the name Austin into the England counties of the Dalton Data Bank. There were few English D’Altons in the late 1800’s.  Austin was born about 1843 and his birth may appear in the records.

Note:  See the short biography in the next article for further information on John Cardinal D’Alton and his family.

DGS member Virginia Higgins of Sydney, Australia is researching Daltons in Manchester, Fallsworth, Newton Heath in Lancashire England.  If anyone else is researching these Daltons please send a message to Virginia via the DGS Australian secretary, Maureen M. Collins at: mmcollins@ozemail.com.au/

Anthony Charles D’Alton of London is interested in the family of J. E. D’Alton, farmer and Justice of the Peace of Ballygriffin, Golden, County Tipperary.  In the Dalton Data Bank, Bassetts Directory of 1889 lists John E. D’Alton as a Magistrate and an Ex Officio Guardian.  On this same list there are three other D’Altons who may be related to John.  If you are a descendent of John, Michael, James or related to Rev. Br. J. P. Dalton, Christian Brothers School (Tipperary Superior) please be in touch with Anthony at:  tonydalton@urban-fox.freeserve.co.uk/.

from Millicent V. Craig.

John Francis Dalton is one of the most famous of contemporary Irish D'Altons yet no biography exists for him.  Thus we are grateful to the following who sent biographical material or documentation that allows us to piece together this account:  Reverend Martin Gleeson, St. Colman's Parish, Claremorris, County Mayo; Dean Farragher, Blackrock College, Blackrock,  County Dublin; Chief Archivist, Bro. Dermott Mc Dermott, Archdiocese of Armagh, County Armagh, and other sources. This account highlights a few of his lifetime achievements on the path to becoming the Primate of all Ireland. 

John Francis D'Alton or Jackie as he was known was born in Claremorris, County Mayo on October 11th 1882.  He was baptized at St. Colman's Church on October 15th 1882.  His father was Joseph P. D'Alton and his mother was Mary Brennan.  Joseph and Mary were married in Claremorris at St. Colman's Church on November 3, 1881.  The witnesses were Peter D'Alton and Julia Brennan.  (Dr. P. J. Dalton of Oranmore is identified as an uncle of John Francis as is

Monsignor Edward A. D'Alton, a noted historian and antiquarian, and Dean of Tuam).  The sponsors at the christening of John Francis were Michael J. Brennan and May Brennan.  This was the second marriage for Mary Brennan D'Alton who had a daughter, Mollie Brennan, by her previous marriage. John Francis was the only child of this couple and Mollie Brennan was his older half-sister.

John Francis was born on Church Street on the site where "Tommy Higgins built the D'Alton Hotel".  The street was later re-named D'Alton Street after the Cardinal.  Prior to his birth, his father Joseph spent time in Kilmainham prison.  He was confined for being a feinem (one who allegedly plotted to overthrow the British Government).  His health was broken and he died on April 1st, 1883 at his home.  John Francis was 5 months old.  The family operated a pub and grocery store at the hotel and Mary Brennan continued to do so after Joseph passed away.  She married a third time to Terence McElroy but had no other children.  The McElroys continued to maintain the shop at the hotel.

Jackie received his early education in Claremorris at the local Convent of Mercy and later in the boy's national school in Church Street.  At age 13, in 1895, he entered Blackrock College where he met his life long friend, Eamon de Valera, future president of Ireland.  Jackie excelled in the Classics and won exhibitions in all grades.  From there he went to Dublin and the Holy Cross College; in 1903 to the Royal University and took his B.A. degree with the first class honors in Mental and Moral Science.  He finished his theological course at the Irish College, Rome, and in 1908 spent a year at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.  In 1910 he took his M. A. degree at the National University and then was Lecturer in Classics at Maynooth College.  He was appointed to the Latin Chair and was professor of Greek until 1936 while being President of the College.

In 1938 he was appointed a Domestic Prelate to the Pope and in 1943 Dr. D'Alton became Bishop of Meath.  The honor of Archbishop of Armagh was conferred upon him in 1946 and in November 1952, this distinguished Archbishop was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Pius XII.  Prior to this time he had other degrees conferred upon him, such as Doctor of Letters and Doctor of Law.  His classical works included:  Horace and His Age, 1917; Roman Literary Theory and Criticism published in 1931;  and Selections from St. John Chrysostom, 1940.  His Archdiocese of Armagh was partitioned down the middle and then as in his earlier life, he advocated the elimination of partition in Ireland.

As primate, he traveled to many parts of the world.  Twice he visited the United States; once to New York and later to St; Louis in1956 to officiate at the dedication of the Cardinal Lennon Memorial Hospital for Children.  He died in Dublin on February 2, 1963 and was buried on a snow-covered slope on the grounds of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh.  Despite the weather he was accorded a funeral befitting a Prince of the Church.

From Millicent Craig

The response to the request for additional DNA testing by participants in the Dalton International DNA Project has been most encouraging.  Several extended their markers to 37 and added haplogroup and SNP tests.  The results are being forwarded to the DGS DNA consultant, Chris Pomery in England who will include this latest information in his analysis of the DGS project.

Many participants in the Dalton International DNA Project have a brick wall that has defied locating their roots outside of the U. S.  The Dalton Genealogical Society is most cognizant of this dilemma.  As we move forward in this project, the chances of unlocking their secret are less likely to occur by increasing the number of related participants with the same backgrounds.  It is more likely to occur as we increase the number of native Irish and English in the project.  Toward this end, The Dalton Genealogical Society is identifying lines abroad that may prove to be the most helpful. This all takes time but we know that genealogical sources have been exhausted for many and a breakthrough can only occur through the genetic connections of our growing international membership.

Our mail continues to contain requests for DNA testing from those who have Daltons in their ancestry but who have a different surname.  Our response is that this project accepts only those males with a Dalton surname.  We have encouraged requestors to locate a male relative with the Dalton surname.  If you have an interest please be in contact. Coordinator, Millicent V. Craig.  mailto:Millicenty@aol.com/    Also please check the project news on the home page of this issue.

Recently a query arrived from the Coordinator of the O’Neill DNA Project.  One of the testees had markers that were similar to those of a Dalton in the DGS project. What could we tell about the relationship between the two surnames? Ordinarily, I would have repeated the oft quoted phase that the relationship occurred more than a thousand years ago, before the adoption of surnames.

However, those of us who attended the DGS AGM in Dublin last July were privy to additional information on the matching of different surnames.  Mr. Patrick Guinness presented the results of Clan DNA research as developed by Trinity College, Dublin.  One of the conclusions of the research showed that Clans that had migrated to the same area/region of Ireland tended to have similar DNA.

Thus a search for the location of the O’Neill (Niall) Clan showed that for several hundred years before the Norman invasion of 1135, the O’Neill Clan occupied the lands known as Teffia in Meath.  In the battles that followed the invasion, the O’Neills lost their property and most

of them dispersed to other areas of Ireland although a few remained.  The Daltons were granted the land of the O’Neills.

We know little of Sir Walter de Aliton, (later Dalton), who became a governor of Meath nor where he actually lived.  All we know is that after the invasion he was granted properties in the “land called Teffia”. There is another area of Ireland near Longford in Westmeath named Teffia, but DNA now suggests that the Dalton land was that of the O’Neill Clan. While the matching may be coincidental, DNA/anthropological research is breaking barriers and changing the norms. Bit by bit pieces of information keep emerging and the matching of different Clan surnames may tell more than first suspected.  Our English member may now find that his ancestry had a long-standing presence in Ireland.

All members should have received their Winter 2006 Journal.  Separate mailings were made to those new members who joined after the postal list was prepared.  If you have not received your copy of the Journal, please inform your local secretary.  All changes of address should also be sent to your local secretary.

The DGS annual meeting will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2006 at the home of Geoffrey and Jane Dalton in Catherington, England.  All Daltons are invited to attend but be sure to e-mail Geoffrey in advance. An invitation and program was enclosed in the Winter Journal and in the January 2006 issue of "Daltons in History". See Back Issues on the home page. Geoffrey’s e-mail address is:  Daltons@screaming.net/

Mary Lou Elias, the DGS web master will be in Palo Alto, CA for three days at the end of the March.  If you have data that can be added to the Bank, please send it by March 20 so that it can be put in a queue, formatted and uploaded.  We are particularly interested in early Irish and English Dalton vital statistics, but all new data is accepted  Be sure to check the Data Bank files before sending.  http://daltondata.0pi.com/ This body of data has been most helpful to Daltons the world over who have been putting their ancestry together.

The goal of "Daltons in History" is to present Dalton information either in the form of data or articles that is not readily available elsewhere.  Many of our members and readers are uncovering pieces of Dalton-related information that could be shared with our readers on the web or in the Journals. Some of our readers are history–oriented and can contribute valuable bits that can help to fill gaps as genealogical resources are exhausted.  Michael F. Cayley, DGS Archivist and Journal Editor awaits your ancestral charts and the stories related to your ancestors.  The Journals are avidly read by all waiting to make that important connection, and many do.

Your American secretary has been indisposed for over a month but assures you that she will eventually respond to your-emails.  Two hundred piled up on both e-mail addresses and have now been whittled down to about 75.  Thank you for your patience.