Introduction

Welcome to the April 2008 issue of “Daltons in History”. Another month has passed by and our 2008 events are drawing closer with the AGM just two months away at the beginning of June, and the Annual Gathering two months after that at the beginning of August. Notes about both will be found below with some other items as well.

2008 Annual General Meeting

The Society’s 2008 Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 7th June 2008 at the Royal Logistics Corps Museum in Camberley, Surrey, England. This venue has been chosen to give the opportunity to view the original of the Victoria Cross medal awarded in 1879 to James Langley Dalton for his gallantry at Rorke’s Drift in the Zulu War. The day will commence at 11.00 am with a tour of the medal collection, including the James Langley Dalton VC, hosted by Colonel Owen. This will be followed by a buffet lunch, after which we will have our DGS AGM. Those attending will then be free to tour the Museum which contains many interesting displays. The programme for the day together with the registration form will be found in the “Forthcoming Gatherings” section of this website, and they were also distributed to all DGS members with Volume 47 of the DGS Journal. A number of you are already registered and it is important to return completed registration forms to me by 1st May at the latest. We look forward to welcoming you to this event.

2008 Gathering in Ireland

Friday 1st to Monday 4th August 2008 are the dates when our 2008 Gathering will take place in Birr, Co Offaly, Ireland. This is a double event – it is the Annual Gathering of the Dalton Genealogical Society and it is also the first official meeting of Clan Dalton. Dooly’s Hotel is the venue, with its excellent conference facilities for our meetings and the annual dinner. Delegates will be able to stay at Dooly’s and we have also arranged additional accommodation at three nearby places offering bed and breakfast. Birr is located in the heart of mid-Ireland about two hours drive west of Dublin, and a similar distance east of Shannon. It is a beautiful old Georgian town with an impressive castle and much of interest to the visitor. It is also well situated to enable us to make a number of visits to places with Dalton connections.

Since the initial details were published last October considerable interest has been shown in the Birr Gathering and the accommodation in Dooly’s Hotel is nearly full. It is still not too late to book and if you have not already done so, you are urged to contact myself (email: michaelndalton@aol.com), and our Irish Secretary and Clan Dalton Chieftain, Ciaran Dalton (ciaran_dalton@hotmail.com) at the earliest opportunity to register your interest in attending. The full programme for the weekend, together with the official registration form are to be found in the “Forthcoming Gatherings” section of this website, and they were also mailed out to all DGS members with Volume 47 of the DGS Journal.

It is important that anyone who pre-registered and has yet to confirm their registration does so immediately by completing the form and sending it to me or one of the overseas secretaries with their deposit. Full details and instructions for this accompany the registration form.

If, in the meantime, you have any questions about our plans for the Gathering or need help with making your travel arrangements, please contact either Ciaran or myself. Many delegates are planning to tour in Ireland before and/or after the event.

The Dalton International DNA Project (DIDP)

Issue 2 of the DIDP Progress Report dated December 2007 was distributed by email to all project participants during January. The publication of the report has generated a considerable amount of discussion, and I want to thank all those who have been in contact following reading and digesting the report. I am endeavouring to deal with your responses as quickly as I can.

Participants will be aware that the DGS retains the services of Chris Pomery as our project consultant. I have arranged a review meeting with Chris to take place in mid-May and, following that, I hope to publish a further update on the website. In the meantime please look at the “Dalton DNA Project” section of the website for further information, and do please contact me by email if you have any questions which you may wish me to raise with Chris.

Back issues of the DGS Journal

Back issues of the DGS Journal continue to be available. On this website you can access the DGS Journal Index from the homepage. Here you will find a full synopsis of the contents of the Journal of the Dalton Genealogical Society commencing with Volume 1 published back in 1970 through to Volume 41 published in December 2004. Lists of contents are available for Volumes 42 to 47 and the full synopses will be available shortly. Copies of all back numbers are available for purchase and these can be obtained from DGS member, Mrs Pat Robinson (address: Mallards, 3 High Street, The Green, Barrington, Cambridge CB2 5QX, UK email: gandprobinson@waitrose.com. Details of prices, including postage and packing, will be found with the index.

Conclusion

Enjoy this month’s issue of “Daltons in History”, your regular monthly update on everything that is happening in the world of Dalton family history. We will be back again in May.

Thank you for your attention and best wishes to you all.

Yours very sincerely

Michael Neale Dalton

Chairman and Honorary Life President of the Dalton Genealogical Society

From Ciaran Dalton

The subject of this brief extract John Paul Dalton, was a gifted writer and more. He was born in Cork in 1865. The name Dalton is not generally associated with the Cork area, but this gentleman was a noteworthy bearer of our family name. Not to be confused with the great historian John D’Alton of Westmeath, John P. (as he signed himself) was the fifth son of Garrett Dalton, businessman, of 63 Grand Parade, Cork. Here he was engaged in the family’s silver and antiques trade. Showing great industry and interest in this work, in time he became known as quite an art expert. Fond of travel, he visited London and The Low Countries, learning Norwegian and translating some of their poetry. Apart from his many writings, he played a pivotal role in the setting up of Cork’s Municipal Museum, becoming their first Curator. In the early 1890’s he acted as Joint Hon. Secretary with J. O. Mahony to the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society (J.C.H.A.S). To this journal he contributed many articles, reviews, poems and musings.

Among his essays were: “With Pen and Pencil Round Cork” (jottings on Cork history with illustrations by J. Holland): “A Celebrated Citizen of Cork” (Dean Swift): “A History of the Stawell Family”. He wrote also for the “New Ireland Review”. In 1894 he was elected a member of The Cork School of Music and Art and belonged to the Cork Literary and Scientific Society. No mean poet either, he printed in the first volume of the J.C.H.A.S his poem on Kilcrea Abbey. In 1895, he published “Poems - Original and Translated” consisting of thirty-six effusions including translations from French and German. Mellifluous with words, he addressed the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland in 1893, singing the praises of his native Cork:

You are now within the sound of those bells* whose music
will ring out forever in the verse to which Fr. Prout has
wedded them and advancing a little further, you come
within the influence and all attractive atmosphere of
Blarney and its stone of wondrous power

This illustrious member of the Dalton Clan, died in 1912 and is buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery where we are told, he sleeps in the company of a number of his fellow Cork poets.

Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, No. 97-100, Vol. 13, 1919.
Some Irish Poets and Musicians, by J. F. Conlon.

*The famous Bells of Shandon of Cork.

From Maureen Collins, Australian/New Zealand Secretary

A successful meeting of the Australian branch of the DGS was held in Melbourne on Saturday, 16 February 2008 at the home of John and Lyn D’Alton. Maureen Collins welcomed everyone on a hot afternoon and it was a good opportunity to renew acquaintance with other members.

The above photograph was taken by Laina D’Alton on Wendy Fleming’s camera and shows the following: L to R Back Row: Rod Hilbert, John Prytherch, June Self, Catherine Self, John and Lyn D’Alton L to R Front Row: Dorothy Hilbert, Wendy Fleming and Maureen Collins

Members gave some details about their earliest known Dalton forebears and this ranged from Walter Dalton who lived circa 1552–1619 in Witney, Oxfordshire, England. His son was also named Walter and then there was Walter Dalton III and his descendant, John Prytherch, told an enthralling tale of Walter’s involvement in the Battle of Worcester in 1651 when he fought with the Royalists and Prince Charles. When Oliver Cromwell and his supporters won the battle and England became a Commonwealth, Walter, the only survivor of several brothers fighting on the side of the Royalists, fled to South Wales. He married into a Welsh family and settled there

Wendy Fleming’s Dalton family originated in Limerick, Ireland before emigrating to Australia and John D’Alton’s earliest Irish Dalton travelled to Philadelphia, USA, before returning to marry his bride before arrival in Australia. June Self and her daughter Catherine traced their Dalton family to Tipperary, Ireland, before emigrating to Australia. Maureen spoke of her own earliest Dalton ancestor, William Dalton, born about 1766 in Norfolk, England and of how she had found long lost cousin Dorothy (nee Dalton) Hilbert and her husband Rod via the DGS website.

John Prytherch proposed a vote of thanks to Maureen, Wendy and to Gerry Dalton for their work as representatives of Australian and New Zealand Daltons.

We certainly all enjoyed ourselves and Maureen thanked John and Lyn for their hospitality in allowing DGS members to meet in their home in its delightful bushland setting with a background chorus of bell birds.

As an extra, we also include a photograph from Helen Smith of one of our New Zealand members, who visited Sydney in March this year with his wife Noelene and they had lunch in Manly. We look forward to learning more of Peter's remarkable story.

Helen Smith (Left) and Maureen Collins meeting Peter Dalton, a New Zealand member visiting Sydney in March 2008

From our roving Australian Reporter, Gerry Wood

This is one of Gerry's relatives who was in Parliament in New South Wales, Australia during the middle of the 20th Century.

Former member of NSW Parliament
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/Archives_MemberPage

Date of Birth: 27/11/1896 Place of Birth: Teeyarra, New South Wales, Australia Date of Death: 15/05/1975 Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Notes

A Member of the indirectly elected Council 1934 - 1978. Date of Election 20 July 1943, 14 March 1946 and 21 November 1957. A Member before reconstitution. Casual vacancy - elected for balance of term of service of Hon. E. Graylander, deceased. Granted retention of title of 'Honourable' for life.

Political Party Activity

Australian Labor Party (ALP). Member of Central Executive from 1941 until 1943.

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Railway worker and union official. Educated at Christian Brothers College, West Maitland; bush worker; employed in Railways Department, active in Railway Workers and General Labourers Association before amalgamation with Australian Workers Union, then in City Construction and Permanent Way section of Australian Workers Union representing it before the arbitration court and Wages Board, federal vice president and New South Wales president of Australian Workers Union from 1933 until 1938, delegate to the Labor Council of New South Wales (TLC); director of Labor Papers Limited from 1937.

Military Service

Served in the Australian Infantry Forces from 1916 until 1918, 13th Battalion, private.

Personal

Son of George Henry Dalton, teamster, and Mary Grintell. Married Rita Mary Jupp on 19 November 1920 and had issue, 1 son. Roman Catholic. Buried in Rookwood cemetery from the Roman Catholic church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Randwick. Brother of Thomas William Dalton (q.v).

Submitted by Alicia Riley

From a list of Oldham Militia for 1781 – “Below Town”

NOTE: Oldham, Lancashire was split into “Below Town” and “Above Town”. No Militia have been found in the “Above Town” area.

Submitted by Howard Dalton

Howard has recently returned from a holiday in St Lucia where he visited the National Archive Office. Unfortunately the records are not indexed, but he was able to find one of interest:

Elisa Maries (nee Alexander) died Feb 10th 1931 and in her will she made a bequest to her grandson or great-grandson Joseph DALTON. The researcher at the Archives suspected that this child was probably not living in St Lucia at the time of her death, but was perhaps living on another island in the Caribbean.

Howard is returning to St Lucia next year and has kindly offered to members that he will look for records, for example of military personnel stationed there.

He can be contacted at howard.dalton@hotmail.co.uk.

Humor in Brooklyn

The following item appeared in the "Brooklyn Eagle", November 4, 1875, Page 4 and was sent by DGS member, Theckla Constable Ledyard of Washington State.

An Antique Oddity and a Dalton Victim

An Old Woman of Sixty, who Shook a Carpet in a Gentleman's Face and Indulged in a Freak of Malicious Mischief.

Susan Drummond, an oddly dressed, antique relic of the days of Martha Washington, who states her age at 60 years, was one of the prisoners in Justice Bemler's Court this morning. Her quaint old fashioned garb attracted much attention, and when she was called to the bar, her mode of address excited the risibility of the audience. The complainants against her, two gentlemen rejoicing in the euphonious and distinguished names of Boland De Vere Parker and Napoleon Dalton.

The former lives next door to Mrs. Drummond, on Lafayette Avenue, and yesterday had occasion to pass her house. Mrs. Drummond was shaking carpets in her front area at the time, when, having an enmity to Parker, she stepped forward and deliberately shook a piece of dirty carpet in his face. The dust settled on the gentleman's clothes and soiled his immaculate "dickey". Soon after this occurrence, for reasons best known to herself, Mother Drummond - as the old lady is familiarly called - stepped over to the rear fence of Napoleon Dalton and proceeded to tear down the boards.

Napoleon saw the deed and remonstrated, but remonstrance was in vain, and like a man of destiny he submitted to the work of demolition until Dame Drummond's fury had spent itself. She then went home and the owner of the fence obtained a warrant for her arrest on a charge of malicious mischief.

When interrogated as to her motive in assaulting Mr. Parker, the old lady said he had no business to look at her impertinently.

"Well", said Justice Bemler, "if you were not an old woman, I would deal with you severely for such conduct as you have been guilty of - you ought not to do such things."

"Well, then," said Mrs. Drummond, "people must not look at me, just as if I was a curiosity."

"I'll bind you over to keep the peace," added Judge Bemler.

"O, that's all right," was the dame's response, "for my part I think everybody ought to be bound over - it's no more than right."

The case of malicious mischief was adjourned until next week, and Mrs. Drummond left the Court amid considerable merriment.

Millicent Craig continues to be unable to prepare her usual piece for “Daltons in History” due to illness. In the meantime Michael Dalton, DGS Chairman, is dealing with some of the items from the American postbag. He writes briefly below.

Millicent has asked me to send her best wishes to you all, and she thanks those who have been in touch with her and sent her good wishes. She and her family much appreciate everyone’s thoughts at this time and she apologises for the delay in dealing with your enquiries, emails and correspondence. Urgent items continue to be passed on to me and I am sending out replies as quickly as I can. Please be just a little more patient than usual if it takes longer for us to come back to you!

Many DGS members in America and Canada have already booked to come to the 2008 DGS Gathering in Birr, Co Offaly, Ireland at the beginning of August. We hope that many more will take this unique opportunity to visit Ireland and interact with the many Daltons who will be present at what promises to be a landmark event for the Society. You are asked to return your registration form without delay. Full details of the event are to be found on this website by clicking on “Forthcoming Gatherings”.

For the time being, you should continue to refer any urgent DGS matters to me at michaelndalton@aol.com. If I am unable to deal with them, I will pass them on to someone who can and I will keep you informed. Subscriptions and deposits for Birr should continue to be mailed to Millicent at her usual address. Millicent tells me that she is beginning to feel better and we look forward to her returning to her computer soon.

Thank you to all who have contributed to the April 2008 issue of “Daltons in History”. I would like to appeal to you all for information on Dalton's all over the world. Maybe your personal story would be of interest to other Dalton's. We still don't appear to have any Scottish Daltons.

Please continue to send to me any ideas for future articles and also keep looking for any information to include in the Dalton Strays section (email: dairne@ntlworld.com).

Contributions for the May issue need to be with me no later than April 25th 2008.