The Dalton Genealogical Society

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.

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

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

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

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