from Lucy J. Slater

The next Thomas, may have been a son of one of the Shelford families for he must have been born about 1540, before the start of the parish records. He stands at the head of a very important family of Daltons who owned and governed most of South East Cambridgeshire. It is interesting to watch how this family increased in wealth and importance, not by hard work, but by marrying well.

The first we hear about this Thomas is his marriage at Linton in 1562. He married Eleanor Jellybrand, a daughter of a prominent local family who lived opposite the Church at Linton (pictured below) and owned lime pits for brick making at Balsham. So Eleanor brought with her a good dowery and Thomas started buying everything he could.

The manor house at Hildersham became his main home about 1565. About 1576, he bought the manor of Parys, which included the manor house, Brook Farm at West Wratting and the rectory at Little Abington. King's College had an estate at Hildersham which was also part of this manor.

Eleanor was a good wife to Thomas and between 1563 and 1586 she bore him 11 children of whom at least 8 reached maturity. They were: Michael b. 1564; Philip b. 1565; Prudence b. 1566; George b. 1568; Marie b. 1572; Anne b. 1573; Emma b. 1574; Elizabeth b.1579; and Thomas, Jr. b. 1586. Most of them were baptized at the Hildersham Church, just across the road from his house. Thomas reared his children well, sending his four sons to be brought up as lawyers: Michael to Trinity in 1579, and then to Lincoln's Inn in 1581; Philip to New Inn in 1586; George to Trinity in 1584, BA 1589, and Thomas Jr. to Sidney in 1601.

Thomas married his daughters to wealthy men in the neighborhood, so that he would not have to give much in the way of dowery. Prudence married Robert Webb at Freckenham in 1585 and bore him 7 children of whom 4 reached maturity. Marie married John Symonds at Hildersham in 1588 but he died so she then married Godfrey Wing at Freckenham in 1603 and bore him three children. Anne married John Adams in 1589 at West Wratting and bore him one child. Emma married William Day at Hildersham in 1590 and bore him one son, Phillip Day, and one daughter Elizabeth who died young. Finally, Elizabeth married Christopher Bird at Hildersham in 1590 and bore him several children.

Thomas, Sr. died in 1602 and Eleanor outlived him until 1615. Both Thomas and Eleanor left wills. Thomas' will made in 1599, shows a high standard of living. His son, George, inherited the house, land and outbuildings at Hildersham together with Lime Hill and some more lands at Balsham. These were probably part of his mother's dowery. The outbuildings at Hildersham included a dairy and brewing house, which are still used today as a garage and coal store. A few years ago, the present occupiers of the manor house were good enough to let me view the inside of their home. The outside was modernized in Georgian times, with new windows and doors but inside the original oak beams speak of the age of the house and the cellars are very large and built of stone. They probably belonged to an even earlier house which stood on the site and was pulled down about 1500 when the present manor house was built.

In his will, Thomas gives his youngest son, Thomas, Jr., the rights over the Great Abington parsonage and leaves his wife all his household linen, plate and brass with the exception of his armor. He leaves 20 pounds (a large sum in those days) to each of his five son-in-laws and his six great silver spoons and the residue of the estate to his eldest son, Michael. We shall hear of those spoons again.

Michael, being well trained as a lawyer, made an inventory of his father's lands. These included all the manor of Parys in West Wratting, Balsham, Wickham and Weston, the Rectories of Great and Little Abington with their rights and appurtenances, and the Manor of Hildersham, the messuage, and sixty acres of meadow, pasture and woods in Hildersham together with a messuage called Woodward and 60 acres of land in Depden, Suffolk, which probably came to Thomas from the Jermyn family as part of George's marriage settlement.

In her will. Eleanor left about 200 pounds to her many descendants. At her death she had about fifty living relatives and descendants. And in the next installment, Dr. Slater covers the lives of of Thomas' and Eleanor's sons, one of whom became a father of the manorial justice system in England which is also a basis of American law.

In the June installment, Dr. Slater follows the life of Michael, the country lawyer, and his contributions toward justice in the courts.

By E. Margaret Baker, Branson, MO.

DGS member, Dean Dalton of Largo, FL, sent the following information that was compiled by his cousin, Margaret. For many years Margaret has tried to put the pieces of their Dalton/Robinson family together. Her overview, written in 1997 sums up her conclusions as follows.

Perhaps we are luckier than some of the Dalton descendants. Even though we cannot yet connect to them we certainly have a pretty good idea who fathered the Indiana Daltons! Although every line has dozens of Johns and Williams, ours is the only one found to date that has Robinson as a given name, and the only other line that has Bradleys is the Rutherford County, NC Daltons.

In the 1786 Will of William Robinson, David and Bradley Dalton each received 1/9th of his estate. Dolly and Sarah, their wives, must have been sisters, and although it does not prove that the Dalton boys were brothers, it seems quite likely that they were. William Dalton Robinson of Indiana must have been named for his grandfather.

The early Virginia Dalton lines have Davids, but they and their wives have been accounted for by their descendants. Only one David located to date was old enough to have fathered some of these Indiana Daltons and is David, Jr. of Rutherford County, NC. His wife is unknown and because there are four generations of Bradleys in his brother's (William's) line. they believe that he had a brother named Bradley. However, only one record has been found for Bradley in NC. This is the only line that we have located that has any Bradleys. But the NC descendants stand by their belief that the Indiana Daltons do not belong to their lines.

Several researchers have said that the Timothy Dalton, Sr. line had a Bradley, but if so, none of the descendants list anything about him. There is a Bradley on the 1792-1798 Tax Lists of Greenbrier County, West Virginia, which at the time, was part of Virginia. Some think he belonged to Timothy and I am now in the process of trying to find more records there for him.

Since this part of our ancestry is mostly a guessing game, I would like to propose one scenario: that these Dalton boys who married the Robinson sisters are the sons of David Dalton, Sr., who with an unknown wife ( a Bradley ?), lived in Albemarle/Louisa County, Virginia. In about 1787-1788 David Sr. and his family moved to NC. After the Will of William Robinson in 1786 no other Virginia records have been found for David and Bradley so, at least David who appears in early NC records, migrated with their father. Did Bradley stay behind to take care of their inheritance? He may have been the Bradley who shows up in Greenbrier County in the early 1790's (1792-1798). Greenbrier, then in Virginia, is, as the crow flies, a little over 100 miles directly west of Louisa County. From there he may have made his way south to the Knox, Anderson, Roane County of Tennessee. I am still looking for that one date in Rutherford County. If it was in 1780, Bradley may have been scouting the area for the family. If it was 1790, he may have been visiting the family; settling affairs with his brother, David; or just checking the area out. If he stayed there any length of time he left no records. If he migrated to Roane County, Tennessee from there, where was he between 1790 and 1802? Or did he go back north to Greenbrier County, VA, staying there until he began his move to Tennessee?

If we are dealing with at least three Bradleys, where are all the records for them? It seems likely there was only one, and if they are not of the NC bunch, where are the records for his brother, David? With the mass of Daltons researchers someone surely would have found David, for most of them have Davids in their tree. Any information that you have on members of this family, may be sent to Michelle Heis, mheis@earthlink.net.

From DGS Member, Barbara J Wilson, Bellevue, Wa

Barbara writes that "my knowledge of my Dalton line in Pittsylvania Co., VA begins with my ggggrandfather, Thomas Dalton. All that I know about Thomas is that he was married to Elizabeth Patterson in 1788 in Pittsylvania Co. He appears on the land owning records as owning land first in May, 1799 and again in April, 1804. I am in the process of trying to establish which of the Dalton men in Pittsylvania Co. during Thomas' time was his father. This is complicated by the fact that another line of Daltons - Samuel of Mayo- in North Carolina had a son also named Thomas who married an Elizabeth Morris. The two Thomas's each married an Elizabeth and it can be confusing as they were of the same generation. Elizabeth Patterson's parents were Littleberry Patterson who lived and died in Pittsylvania County, and Nancy for whom there is no information available.

Ancestors of Hester Dalton

Thomas Dalton

------------------------------ m 1788 Pittsylvania Co., VA

| d. c.1850 Pittsylvania Co., VA

|

Charles Patterson Dalton

-------- b. 1807 Pittsylvania Co., VA

| m. 2/1865 Pittsylvania Co., VA

| d. 6/3/74 Pittsylvania Co., VA

| |

| | Elizabeth Patterson

| -------------------------------- b. 1765 Pittsylvania Co., VA

| d. 2/14/61 Pittsylvania Co., VA

|

Hester Dalton

b. 5/20/1866 Pittsylvania Co., VA

|

| Mary B. Adams

------------------------- b. 11/22/1825 Riceville, VA

d. 11/6/1922 Altavista, VA

I am very interested in finding information about the early Dalton family in Virginia and once I have established my Thomas' father's line can probably link to the early Timothy Dalton. I am also interested in finding links for the Virginia Daltons to the New England Daltons who came into MA in 1634. Please reach me at: NMHP59@prodigy.com

The DGS again extends its invitation to join in our Annual Meeting and Gathering of Daltons in Lancashire County, England on July 4, 1998. Details are in previous issues. On your visit you will not want to miss Hoghton Tower.

The connection of Hoghton to Daltons is through the marriage of Elizabeth Dalton of Thurnham Manor to Edward Dalton of Park Hall in 1683. Edward was the grandson of Sir Richard de Hoghton of Hoghton Tower.

Hoghton Tower is situated on a hill near Preston This impressive house is visible for miles and is approached by a long, straight half-mile drive. The history of the the de Hoghtons includes direct descendency from Earl Leofric and Lady Godiva, whose lands are still in the possession of the de Hoghton family.

The history of the Tower is a long and disruptive one, of seizures, bankruptcy, disrepair, and rebuilding, until a complete renovation and restoration was brought to a happy conclusion in 1901. Instead of weaving through its history, we have chosen to highlight one of its colorfiil and more controversial visitors.

It was quite common for the Kings and Queens of England to visit unannounced the lords of manors and castles. No exception to this custom was James 1(1603-1625). While King James possesed better than average intelligence and authored books, his stunted growth and deformity, caused him great embarrassment and he became vain, arrogant, and obsessed with power. A tongue, too large for his mouth made him stutter, and it is said that he wore a drool cup. He ruled by "Divine Right", claiming he was entitled to ignore laws for he was answerable only to God.

He arrived at Hoghton more than once with an entourage of a hundred men who had to be fed and quartered. The hunting grounds of the de Hoghtons were a paradise of wild game as well as domestic animals which the King commanded as his own. Likewise the horses of the Lord. On one visit to Hoghton Tower, it is said that he actually caused the Manor to declare bankruptcy.

The great banqueting hall at Hoghton resembles a scene from "A Lion in Winter". There is a railed gallery at the second floor level where the jesters,musicians and Shakespeare's troupe performed. Also at that level is a large room overlooking the hall where the "ladies took refuge" when the stories and men became too raucous. This room is fitted with French windows so the ladies could hang out over the sills and listen to the doings below. A leather tankard of beer held slightly less than a gallon and a few of those could really provide a riotous atmosphere. (The lady's tankards held a bit over a quart of ale).

At a meal, bones and scraps were thrown on the floor and dogs generally cleaned up the waste. In time the stench was so bad that the servants picked herbs or petals each morning to strew over the mess It was in this setting that King James held forth at a long table in the front of the banqueting hall. A platform had been built for his table. Another very long table was directly in front of him and occupied by his toadeying courtiers who hung upon every word that he uttered. In one of his ale- induced moments he knighted the huge roast of beef in front of him as "Sir Loin" and henceforth this name has remained through the centuries as we order sirloin steak.

King James spread the word that he had healing powers and invited the ailing to come to the Tower and receive a miraculous cure. Poor, ill people would literally walk miles to be touched by the King as he passed the line through in quick order. As he touched with one hand, his other was outstretched to receive their silver coin.

So insecure was King James, that he had Lord de Hoghton build a reception area for him. A platform was raised about five steps from the floor and on it is his regal chair. The chair has especially built legs, so tall, that it appears that the chair is on stilts. Here he could hold forth, heads above his tallest subjects.

There are many other fascinating stories associated with Hoghton Tower and it is certainly worth a visit. The current descendents, who are professionals in London, and their to children occupy one of the converted servants quarters each week-end. They are so unassuming that one may be your docent and you will never know it.

Honorable Charles Dalton, Lt. Governor of Prince Edward Island, Canada

Our request for information about this man has sparked interest from several readers.It evoked a response from a man who believes that he may be a brother to Charles and thus opens an avenue for farther research. We have also heard from a direct descendent of Charles' sister, Catherine, whose story will appear in the June on-line issue.

From Angela Findlay of Australia, formerly of Quebec, there came a copy of an announcement which appeared in the Montreal Daily Star, 8 Dec.1933.

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI. Still unconcious but slightly stronger said a physician's report on the condition of Hon. Charles Dalton Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward Island.

Mr Dalton in his 83rd year, is said by Doctors to have little chance of recovery from an attack of pleural pneumonia which developed during his confinement to hospital with a fractured hip-bone. For more than a month since he slipped on an icy pavement, the Lieutenant Governor has been in the institution where only a few days ago his condition was reported as satisfactory. Meanwhile, however, bronchial pneumonia set in and subsequently developed into the more serious stage". His obituary likely appeared in the Montreal paper and may give some information about his parents and whereabouts of his living relatives.

Connections

The Brooklyn Cemetery listings in the March issue included a Jeremiah Dalton and family. They may well be the ancestors of another reader.

In another instance the DGS was able to connect a Manitoba Dalton with his relatives in England (a DGS member) and help to extend his family chart. Our Canadian member visited the Executive Secretary, Dr. Lucy Slater, in England and was duly impressed with the knowledge accumulated by the Society and Lucy.

In two cases (a man from Oregon and one from California) the DGS was able to extend their ancestral charts back to the mid 1600's in Wales. If your ancestral chart stops at Buck's County, Pennsylvania, we may be able to extend your Dalton line also.

The following marriage listings came from Hugh Winters, in New Zealand through DGS member, Judith Matthews in Australia. They have been compiled from The Australian Marriage Witness Index.

Witness: Stephen Dalton     Anglican

Groom: William Moore        Bendigo

Bride: MaryBrown        VIC

Date: 5 Jan 1871

Witness: Winifred Dalton        St. Mary's Catholic

Groom: Bernard Patrick Connellan        Sydney

Bride: Eveleen Dalton       NSW

Date: 29 June 1911

Witness: James Dalton       Registrar

Groom: Angus McLean     Geelong

Bride: Mary Elizabeth Dalton        VIC

Date: 15 Nov 1879

Witness: George Dalton      Trinity

Groom: Henry Benjamin Dalton        Adelaide

Bride: Sarah Ann Dalton         SA

Date 2 June 1875

Witness: Alfred Ernest Dalton       Primitive Methodist

Groom: William Demurtz Ricardo      Fitzroy

Bride: Louisa Dalton        VIC

Date: 9 Jul 1900

Witness: S. C. Dalton       Anglican

Groom: Stephen Michael Dalton       Bendigo

Bride: Margaret Blane Hunter        VIC

Date: 15 June 1880

Witness: Sarah Dalton       All Saints

Groom: Stephen Dalton       Bendigo

Bride: Sally Ladner/Mrs. Forbes         VIC

Date: 14 Jul 1864

Witness: Stephen M. Dalton      Anglican

Groom: William John Frederick Glass     Bendigo

Bride: Theresa Emma McEvoy

Date: 9 Nov 1876.

There is some good news from DGS member, Bob Dalton, of McDonough, GA. After a fall in April 1997, Bob has spent the better part of the year recuperating from the serious effects of it. With final knee surgery in January of this year Bob has graduated to using a cane~and expects to be "able to do anything" within a few weeks. He says, "I am a tough old bird".

DGS member, Daveda Bundy of Pickerington, OH has planned a family reunion in Idaho in August. Her mother, Teressa Dalton, is a direct descendent of Matthew Dalton of Utah. Matthew's descendents now number over 3200 and growing. Matthews grandparents, Peter and Nancy Naulty Dalton, were born in Ardbraccan, County Meath, Ireland in the the mid 1750's. Matthew's father, James, was also born there and emigrated to Madrid, St. Lawrence, NY. Some of the family moved to Wisconsin near Columbia and Matthew went west to seek his fortune but stopped in Salt Lake City where he converted to the Mormon faith and remained in the area for the remainder of his life. Daveda's mother Teressa was one often children and Daveda looks forward to meeting many of her cousins this summer in Idaho.