From Millicent Craig The conventional explanation for the matching of different surnames in DNA results is that we are all descended from the same person, that it occurred thousands of years ago and is no help in genealogical research. In Volume 7, No.1, Jan 2004 of this publication, available in Back Issues, there are a number of reasons why this phenomenon can occur within the last three to five hundred years, and within the range of genealogical records. They include: adoptions, starting a new life in a new land, criminals changing their name, illegitimacy and an important one, inheritance and property rights. Another Reason for Different Surname Matching The feudal systems of Europe included a class of people known as serfs. This system was brought to Ireland with the Anglo-Norman or Anglo-French occupation. The map below shows the assimilation of the southern part of Ireland by the Anglo Normans from the crowning of Strongbow as King of Leinster in 1171. This southern province included Waterford, a stronghold of the Vikings. The northern section that included Meath was held by Sir Hugh de Lacy. Occupation was followed by the entry of Henry II of England in 1172. As the Irish towns and villages fell under the sieges that followed, Anglo-Normans were rewarded with large sections of the country. Irish kings were defeated and their subjects in many cases were reduced to peasantry. By 1250, the entire southern part of Ireland extending upward through County Clare was ruled by Anglo-Normans. Ireland in 1171 Ireland in 1250 Anglo-Normans introduced the feudal system from France and many Irish were reduced to serfs of the manorial lords on their own land. During this early period the monastic orders of France began to build a network of monasteries in Ireland some of which remain today. They also brought serfs from France to assist with the building and productivity of the monasteries. The reason for this short history is to lay a backdrop to our own major Irish Dalton line of Anglo-Norman origins. King Henry II, prior to his entry into Ireland had ceded the lands of Meath to Norman, Sir Hugh de Lacy. This is a matter of record. At a later date that has yet to be discovered, a section of Meath was granted to Sir Walter de Aliton. Although no dates have been unearthed, his wife Princess Jane is reported through legend to have built an abbey and other religious buildings. All that remains of the castle is a small pile of rubble. Over time stone was carted off for building material. In correspondence from Ciaran Dalton of Kerry we learn that Walter de Lacy, b. ca 1170 in Meath the son of Sir Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath, has a connection to the de Alitons* . Walter died in England and as did some of his descendents. An extraction** from Michael Cayley, DGS Archivist mentions Philbog de Aliton who according to heraldry was a descendent of Walter De Aliton. If the logic is followed, manorial management was required to maintain the edifices and provide income for the managers as well as for the Crown. So it is unreasonable to assume that the De Alitons broke from a custom that was handed down through generations in Europe. In the Heraldry Office of Dublin, there has been deposited the ancestral charts and heraldry of about 10 branches of Daltons who originated from the core line of Sir Walter de Aliton. As lords of the manors, their income was derived in a similar fashion. What is not widespread information is that in over five hundreds years of the feudal system, surname identity of many dwellers of Ireland, the serfs, was lost. It was not until the late 1600's that government allowed those who did not have a surname, to take one. In many cases they took the surname of their manorial lord. That was just over 300 years and 12 generations ago. This is how Dalton manorial management could account for the DNA results of descendents of serfs with a Dalton surname to have DNA that matches other surnames. DNA can reveal the true surname identity of the individual and also his ethnicity. (Vital records for serfs are virtually non-existent). By the side of the roads in Ireland there are campers or caravans that often provide shelter for large families. We know them as "tinkers". Some may be the remnants of the 18th century serfs. When the market for farm products failed and the economic manorial system collapsed, the serfs were turned out, their windowless hovels burned to the ground and they became wanderers. In America there is a class known as "the travelers". They are quite wealthy and have two enclaves, one in the Carolinas and one in Texas. The men and sometimes the entire family "wander" the U. S. seeking to do carpentry, roofing jobs, etc. In the cold weather they return to their colony where they maintain gypsy-like customs including matchmaking of small children but live as lords of their manors. Notes: Credit is given to the following reference: http://www.irelandstory.com From Ciaran Dalton. Bodleian Libary, Oxford. L. S. Rawlinson B 329ff.121-76, ms.159-60r. Walter de Lacy, called Lord of Meath of the priory of Craswell, order of Grandmont in Herefordshire founded in 1225. The author dates the division of Meath into Meath and Westmeath about 1235 and in the same document there is a mention of Philippo de Alleton. A visiting scholar transcribed the surname as D'Alton. Philbog is a variant found in other documents. Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls, Ireland, XXIII to XXXI years of Edward I, pub HMSO, Dublin 1905 31 July 1299, Meath. Nich. son and heir of Ph. Dalton, attached to answer said Jordan [son of Will. Muck] 12 marks of a debt of his father, comes and acknowledges that he owes 9 marks, which if he do not pay, the Sheriff may levy for. For this Jordan remits the residue of the debt and damages. Nicholas in mercy for unjust detention. |
During the month of September 2004, some significant results were reported in the Dalton International DNA Project and we seek more participants to confirm or deny some of the branches. There are 60 Daltons in the study. 1. Samuel Dalton of Mayo, VA. Samuel is perhaps one of the earlier Daltons whose records accord him an estimated birth date of 1699. Because his given name and that of his son Timothy matched those of the NH Daltons who arrived in 1635, some have endeavored to connect him to the family that emigrated from England. On the basis of one NH Dalton DNA sample we now know that it may not be an accurate assumption. However one sample is insufficient and we are searching for another. We are also searching for a descendent of Captain John Dalton of Boston, prominent citizen who first appeared in Boston as a ship's mate about 1712. The only clue to his ethnicity is the fact that he belonged to an Irish Society in Boston. At the time of writing, the results of the first 12 markers for Samuel Dalton descendent are available and the matching is significant with the DGS members. The 12 markers also show the link to a Dalton member in England. All Americans who have a match have been notified and an update will be printed when the 25 marker results are posted. 2. Standlee V. Dalton, our eldest participant also has some matches although not exactly surprising as shown in his DNA results. His roots with the American "colonial gang" has been assured. To read Standlee's ancestral line as he knows it, click on "Daltons in History" August 2004 Volume 7 Number 8. 3. The first 12 markers for a member who is descended from a branch of John Dalton's family have been posted. John was the atomic scientist who was born in Cumbria and who furthered his scientific career in Manchester, England. The first 12 markers vary considerably from any other English Daltons in this study. So this is a new line that has appeared. 4. A Canadian/Irish member has received the results of his 25 marker DNA test and matches very closely two others - one American/Irish and one Irish. He is also part of a much larger group. We now hope that all of them will meet each other for the first time in Dublin at the DGS gathering on July 30, 31, 2005. |
This valuable file of data was contributed by DGS Archivist, Michael Cayley. Dalton entries include the father's name, place of his origin, name of company and person to whom he served his apprenticeship, many of whom were Daltons. You will recognize some family lines in this data. London apprenticeships were keenly sought and when a term was completed, the apprentice was designated a freeman and sometimes moved to another location or back to his village to apply his skills. Extractions Dalton, Edward, son of Andrew, Curbridge (Witney), Oxfordshire,
husbandman, to John Skynner, 25 Mar 1643, Armourers' and Braziers' Company |
While summering in New York and researching her New York Daltons, DGS member Theckla Constable Ledyard of Washington state hand copied all Dalton references in issues of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1845 -1901. They include marriages, weddings, deaths, property transfers, social activities, legal actions, accidents etc. It is a long file and Part I 1845 to 1880 was printed in September 2004. Extracts for Part II cover the period 1881 to 1901. This should augment the sparse Brooklyn data that is available for researchers. Our appreciation is extended to Theckla. Brooklyn Daily Eagle References Jan 31 1881, George F. Dalton and wife, Carrie of 22
Degraw St., attend St. Peters Catholic Church |
Three new or expanded files were posted to the Republic of Ireland in the Dalton Data Bank during the month of September 2004. They include the Counties of Donegal, Louth and Kerry. Few Daltons were located in Donegal and Louth but Mike Dalton of Oregon has added a significant amount to the Kerry file. Mike's ancestral roots are in Kerry and he had commissioned a genealogist in Ireland to extract extra data for him. In addition he used three microfilm sources. In the three files there are approximately 650 surname entries. Counties Donegal and Louth Daltons were not commonly found in either Donegal or Louth. Births and deaths are from the IGI and Matthew DaltonsCivil Registry Ectract - 1864 to 1891. Daltons were not commonly found in County Donegal. DGS member, Mike Dalton of Oregon has extracted the few births and deaths from the IGI and from Matthew William Dalton's Civil Registry Extract - 1864 to 1891. County Kerry Records for County Kerry Daltons have expanded a hundred fold since uploading into the outdated file of Ireland. Thanks to the efforts of DGS member Mike Dalton of Oregon, this file now contains 600 surname entries and includes births, marriages, Griffiths Valuations and some miscellaneous data. Please check the Republic of Ireland file. Edior's note; Mike is trying to complete this new Republic of Ireland file in advance of the AGM in Dublin, July 2005. |