Introduction

As always, greetings to all readers of "Daltons in History"!!

Another month has slipped by! In the early part of October, Kate and I were in Scotland where we enjoyed a stained glass weekend in Glasgow followed by a visit to Edinburgh which included viewing a number of art exhibitions, a guided tour of the Royal Mile and some more stained glass. Towards the end of the month we were invited to stay with friends in Antibes in the south of France for a few days – a very pleasant way to relax and enjoy a little autumn sunshine. In between there has been time for family history and, in particular, meeting up with DGS members visiting from overseas. Cecelia Lange and her husband Jerry from Arvada, near Denver in Colorado, USA were in England busy with family history research, and we spent an enjoyable day when they visited us here in Reigate. We had last seen them at the Salt Lake City Gathering in September 2011, and at their home whilst on our travels following the Gathering. And then we were contacted by Robyn Dalton, who lives near Sydney, Australia and was visiting London again. Robyn is the widow of my fourth cousin, Vernon Dalton, who died in 2010. She was last here only a year ago and we saw her then, but there was still much to catch up on when we met for lunch this time. It is always good to meet up with members of the DGS – so, if you are coming to England, do get in touch and we will arrange to get together if we can!

As usual, you will find below all the latest news about DGS events and activities, together with other updates to keep you fully informed about what we are doing.

Future DGS events

For the 2013 Gathering and AGM we are returning to Ireland. We will be based in Dublin, as we were in 2005, and the event will take place over the weekend of Fri/Sat/Sun 26th/27th/28th July 2013. It is planned that we will stay at the Ashling Hotel, where we were accommodated in 2005. Since then the hotel has been considerably refurbished and I am confident that we will be very well looked after. You can see more about the Ashling Hotel on their website at www.ashlinghotel.ie. Ciaran Dalton, our Irish Secretary and Chieftain of Clan Dalton, and I are now working to put a detailed programme together, and we will be concentrating on Dalton families with Irish ancestry. I am visiting Dublin in November and further details about the Gathering will be provided on this website in December, and in Volume 57 of the DGS Journal when it is published at the end of the year. In the meantime please reserve the dates in your diary. We will hope to see many DGS members there and particularly those with Irish Dalton ancestry.

As announced at the Annual General Meeting, plans are now being made for 2014 and 2015 with the Burgundy area of France and Virginia, USA as the suggested locations. It has also been proposed that we return to South Wales, UK, maybe in 2016. The DGS committee is actively taking these plans forward and we will be making further more detailed announcements in the coming months about locations and dates. So watch this space!

And, as we like to plan ahead and explore other options for our annual gathering events, if you have any particular thoughts about where you might like to meet, or a particular Dalton theme you think we should incorporate, we would really like to hear from you with your ideas.

The Dalton International DNA Project (DIDP)

Our DNA project continues to attract considerable interest with a regular stream of enquiries about joining being received by myself and Karen Dalton Preston as administrators of the project. In September we published a DIDP Update and this can be found in the "Dalton DNA Project" section of this website. Click here. This includes an up to date list of genetic family coordinators and details of the new reports that will appear towards the end of 2012.

We are indebted to Chris Pomery for all his assistance with the project over the past six years, which includes the preparation of three issues of the very comprehensive project progress report, and most recently a series of six reports covering individual genetic families. He has also given informative presentations at our annual gatherings on several occasions. We now have some 180 participants in the project, including three new recruits at the Yorkshire gathering, and well over 80% are members of one of the 15 identified genetic families.

The DGS Journal

Volume 56 of the DGS Journal for June 2012 was published and distributed back in July. As always this latest volume of our award winning Journal contains much of interest and, if you are not a DGS member, please think about joining the Society. This will entitle you to receive the Journal regularly, and much more. Full details are in the "Join the DGS" section of this website, or just click here.

The next issue of the Journal will be Volume 57 for December 2012. John Dalton, our Editor, always welcomes articles and other items for publication in the Journal. Any material for publication in Volume 57 should be sent to him as early as possible, and no later than Friday 16 November, 2012. This will enable John to plan the content of this and future issues. John is happy to advise and assist contributors and, if you have any questions or need help, please contact him by email at johndalton78@hotmail.com.

Back issues of the DGS Journal continue to be available. On this website you can access the "DGS Journal Index" from the homepage or by clicking here. 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 given for Volumes 42 to 56 and the full synopses will be uploaded in due course. Copies of all back numbers are available for purchase and these can be obtained through your local secretary using the order form that you will find on the link above. Details of prices, including postage and packing, will be found there as well.

We are most grateful to DGS member Mrs Pat Robinson, who holds stocks of back numbers for the Society and arranges for their distribution in response to requests from the local secretaries (address: Mallards, 3 High Street, The Green, Barrington, Cambridge CB2 5QX, UK email: gandprobinson@waitrose.com.)

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 December 2012.

Thank you for your attention

Yours very sincerely

Michael Neale Dalton
Chairman and Honorary Life President of the Dalton Genealogical Society

Here is the seventh instalment of the Dalton family who were descended from John and Susannah Dalton of Ireland, based on information given by Bill Dalton of Gig Harbour, Washington, USA with additional information from the Editor.

PETER M. DALTON (1850 – 1936)

I decided this month to return to Ireland this time to trace the life of Peter M. Dalton, who was the second son of John and Susannah Dalton. I first wrote about the family in the April 2011 edition of "Daltons in History" and in subsequent editions.

Peter Dalton was born in either May/November 1850 (according to his death certificate 22nd May, 1850) at Duncormick, County Wexford, Ireland. The rural village of Duncormick lies near the coast of the Bannow Peninsula in the south of the county.

From the 1861 Census of Wales we know that the family had moved across the Irish Sea and were living at 7 Club Row, Cwmdare, Aberdare near the town of Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales. Peter was now a scholar aged 10 living with his parents John and Susannah, elder brother Robert and younger siblings Mary and John. As mentioned in a previous "Daltons in History" the family were sharing the house with another Irish family. The sharing of houses by different families was very common at this time as wages were low.

A possible entry for a Peter Dalton has been found in the 1871 Census of Wales. There is a Peter Dalton aged 19, recorded as a visitor, living at the home of a William Drew at Alma Row, Nantyglo, Aberstruth, Montgomeryshire, Wales. Although his age is recorded as 19 (therefore born 1852) and place of birth County Waterford in Ireland instead of County Wexford, I feel that this entry should not be discarded. It must be remembered that County Wexford is adjacent to County Waterford in Ireland. If you also look at the births of the Drew family, the father William was born in County Waterford and the Drew family had lived previously in Aberdare and Aberamon where our Peter Dalton had lived and his family have worked. The village of Nantyglo lies at the head of the Ebbw-fach vale and was the terminus of the valley’s railway. At the time of the census the area had extensive ironworks and coal mines nearby. It also was linked by road to Cwmdare, which lay 20 miles to the west, where the Dalton’s had previously lived.

By using information gleaned from the US Census it can be seen that Peter Dalton moved to the USA in about 1875 (1900 Census). Perhaps he was following his elder brother Robert J. Dalton, who had emigrated to Pennsylvania USA sometime between 1871-2. During the 19th Century many families moved west often the eldest son followed later by his younger siblings.

In 1882 records have been found of Peter Dalton marrying Elizabeth Mulligan in Pennsylvania USA. Elizabeth is recorded as being born in February 1856 in Ireland and that she travelled to America in 1876 (1920 Census records say 1880).

In the 1890 US Census an entry has been found of a Peter Dalton, born May 1850 in Ireland of Irish parents. The age was given as 56 but this could have been a transcription error as he was actually 50 years of age. He was living in Mifflin Township, District 44, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Mifflin was not far from where his elder brother Robert was living. He had been married to Elizabeth for 18 years and was a labourer owning his own mortgaged home. The Census also states that he arrived in the USA, was a naturalised citizen and had been living there for 25 years. The 1900 Census also contains information that the family had had 9 children but only 3 were living. This information was contradicted in an entry in the 1910 Census. The children were listed as Margaret aged 13 born July 1886, Susan aged 10 born February 1890 and Elizabeth aged 8 March, 1892 all born in Pennsylvania. Living with them were Peter and Joseph, the brothers of Elizabeth, Peter Dalton’s wife, both were single and aged 28 and 26.

The Mifflin Township lies to the south east of Allegheny County, only 8 miles from Pittsburgh. From http://munhallpa.us/history I was able to find out that in the early 1890’s the Carnegie Land Company purchased land in the area for the construction of homes for their workers. The land was bought from the Munhall, McClure and Hayes families. The Munhall bothers had already laid out a plan to sell lots to mill employees and to construct houses for rent or purchase by workers in an area known as Munhall Hollow. In 1901 the borough of Munhall was incorporated including the Mifflin Township. The new borough was named after John Munhall and covered an area of East Homestead, Munhall Station and the steel properties owned by the United States Steel Corporation.

By the Census of 1910 the family were still living in the Allegeny County of Pennsylvania but have now moved to the Munhall Borough District 169. Peter and his family were living at 1048 Creek Road, Munhall, Allegany. He was a 59 year old steel worker living in a rented house with his wife of 27 years, Susannah. The latter was aged 54. Confusingly the Census now says that only 4 children (against 9 in the 1900 Census) were born to the family and of these 3 were still living. This anominaly could have been due to an enumerator error. Daughters Margaret and Elizabeth were still single living at home with their parents. The date of Peter’s arrival in the USA was recorded as 1875 and as before he was a naturalised citizen. Susan, the middle daughter has not been recorded as present at the time of the Census. Munhall lies on the bank of the Monongahela River. Its population in 1910 was only 5185 the steel industry being the only employer.in the area.

Peter may then have been employed at the Homestead Works of the Carnegie Steel Works, the latter I mentioned in the article "A Family from the Past" in the June 2012 "Daltons in History" edition.

In the succeeding 10 years Robert and Elizabeth continued to live at Munhall but by the 1920 Census they had moved to 1048 Creek Road where they can be found in their own home possibly renting out rooms to the Mellars family. As in the 1910 Census his arrival in the US was 1875 and his naturalisation date was given as 1880. Elizabeth’s arrival was 1880 and date of naturalisation 1884. Had the couple met previous to their arrival in the US or did they meet in Pennsylvania? Now Peter’s occupation is given as a hoist engineer working for a builder. His unmarried daughter Margaret A. is working as a telegraph operator.

The area the family lived in had continued to expand and more information can be obtained from www.mifflintownship.org the website of the Mifflin Township Historical Society.

Continuing the trail of Peter Dalton he next appears on 16/17th April, 1930 in the Census taken at the home of his 43 year old daughter Margaret A. Breen who was now living at New Harrisburg Slag, Carroll, County Ohio. They were living on a farm worked by his daughter. Peter was now 79 years and was widowed and retired.

The final documentary evidence was Peter Dalton’s death certificate which stated that he was born on 22nd May, 1850 and that he died on 5th June, 1936 at the Brown Township, Carroll County, Ohio. He was a widower, not a veteran and had been employed as an engineer. Death was due to arteriosclerosis. The informant was Mrs. Jos. Breen of Malvern County who was apparently his daughter Margaret who had been married to a Joseph Breen. Peter was interred 4 days later at Homestead, Pennsylvania the area where the family had lived for many years.

Even though this was just a brief look at another member of Bill’s family I hope it has given you a glimpse of familys who travelled vast distances to find work and bring up their children.

From Maureen Collins, Australian and New Zealand Secretary

The following might be of interest to Australian members. I know there were a lot of Daltons involved in the First World War and this might stir up some memories and/or curiosity:

Marking Remembrance Day with a quirky WWI discovery

The State Library of New South Wales recently uncovered a rare knitting pattern for the iconic 'Grey Sock', along with a knitting kit and oddly, some camel hair. Wrap with Love volunteer Janet Burningham kindly knitted a pair of socks from the pattern for our special Remembrance Day display, which will also feature the diary Australian soldier Gunner Pearce and a secret trench map of Messines, Belgium, 1917, selected from the Library's extensive WWI collection. On display from 9 November to 9 December 2012.

As I write, the North Eastern coast of the U.S. is being bombarded by tropical storm "Sandy". I have family and friends in the effected areas of New York and New Jersey, but am happy to say that everyone seems to be fine. It seems like loss of electricity is the only problem that our family members are experiencing, and we are very thankful for that.

I hope that all of our many DGS members in the areas effected by "Sandy" are all faring well, and are weathering the storm and its aftermath without any serious problems.

Dalton Data Bank Update:

Once again, we can thank Mike Dalton in Oregon for some new additions to the Dalton Data Bank databases. Mike has transcribed the Land Patent (Homestead) records from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and has also added new records for Oklahoma, including records that date back to the Oklahoma Indian Territory. This is the period before Oklahoma Statehood.

New Members:

Please join me in welcoming the following new members:

Patricia C. Middlebrook, New York
Gary W. Dalton, Suffolk, VA

Here are the traditional statistics for the month of October 2012.

Web Sites Update:

For the period from 1 October to 31 October 2012:

Updates to the Data Bank:

13 October, 2012: USA - Added BLM Land Patents Contributed by Mike Dalton, Oregon

11 October, 2012: Oklahoma - Added Oklahoma Territory Data Contributed by Mike Dalton, Oregon

2012 Gathering:

The 2012 Hull Gathering Videos were viewed 64 times during the month of October.

Hull Gathering - Video Visits

The Hull 2012 Gathering Photos and Presentations were viewed a total of 102 times during the month of October.

Gathering Photos and Presentations

DDB Web Site Usage Statistics:

19,702 visitors came from 108 Countries / Territories

NB: All of the Google Advertising Campaigns were modified to add India to the list of countries, hence the dramatic increase for the number of visitors from India. This change will be kept for the balance of 2012.

DDB Web Site Usage Statistics

Top 10 pages visited

Visits by date

Dalton Forum:

There are a total of 300 Posts in 188 Topics by 425 Members.

During the reporting period, there was 1 new topic added, 1 new post and 6 new members added.

DGS Web Site Usage Statistics:

1,201 Visits from 52 Countries / Territories.

DGS Web Site Usage Statistics

Top 10 pages visited

Visits by date

Google Ad Campaigns:

Dalton Data Bank Site:

26,205 Visitors reached the Data Bank by clicking on one of the 2,546,922 Google Ads served during the reporting period.


Visits to the Dalton Databank

DGS UK Site:

28 Visitors reached the DGS UK Site by clicking on one of the 5,941 Google Ads served during the reporting period.

"Join Us" Ad Campaign

And finally,

Here in the U.S., November is our traditional time of Thanksgiving. So, I want to wish all of our members and their families, especially those in the U.S., a Happy Thanksgiving. May you have all have much to be thankful for!


Karen Dalton Preston
North American Secretary

Thank you to all who have NOT contributed to the November 2012 issue of "Daltons in History". It's about time you did!

Please send me any ideas you may have for future articles or areas of research we could look at. New ideas are definitely needed!!

Please consider contributing a short description of any Dalton-related travels you may have undertaken anywhere in the world. Also members who are travelling to do research, visit a Dalton-connected site, or have made a connection to a distant cousin through the DGS. might be interested in letting other members know what they are doing through "Daltons in History". Photos from your travels would be appreciated. Also, it would be a way of helping members get to know each other a little better, and might help members who are widely dispersed geographically to feel a bit more connected.

Contributions for the December 2012 issue need to be with me no later than 25th November, 2012. (e-mail: dairneirwin@ntlworld.com).

Please continue to stick to the set deadlines!! There is no excuse for missing the deadline - PLAN AHEAD!!