Sir Robert Dalton, Knight

Sir Robert Dalton was the first son of Sir Richard Dalton II was of Byspham, Lancashire and was born about 1279 and died about 1350. Byspham is a few miles north of Dalton and was the 2nd place that our Dalton family owned land. Sir Robert married 2 wives.

1. Mary Latham.
2. Sarah Ballof

Sir Robert and Mary Latham had two sons:

• John
• William

Note: This Sir Robert Dalton is where most of the Dalton family researchers believe is the start of real documented proof of our Dalton line in Lancashire.

The History of Sir Robert Dalton, Knight:

Sources:

• Mrs. Morag Simpson; from an article in Vol. 5, page 22, of The DGS Journal.
• From the “Dalton Book” By Mrs. Frances Edith Leaning (Dalton)
• From the personal files on the Dalton family, by Rodney Dalton
• Combined research by members of the Dalton Family Research Group.

Sir Robert is the first direct Dalton ancestor whose life is documented in some detail. The documentation comes about because he was actively engaged in public affairs during the reigns of Edward II and Edward III. His father was Sir Richard de Dalton, the same what legendary ancestor whose exploits crusading earned the green griffin crest for his family.

The first document found that mentions a Robert de Dalton is one that he signed as a witness on a lease dated November 11, 1251. [FILE - Swinburne Manuscript Vol. 5 - date: 13th - 19th centuries]

• William de Milneburne leases to William son of Walter Taylor of Hoga all his land with toft and croft in the township of Newton for term of 4 years paying 5 silver shillings rent a year, half at Pentecost and half at St. Martin for all customs and exactions. Witnessed by lord Th. de Fenure, lord Symon de Difiliston, Patrick son of (?) Finnardus, Adam son of (?) Christiana, Robert de Dalton, Nicholas son of Alan, and Th. chaplain who wrote this deed.

Another early historical reference to Robert de Dalton is in 1284, when he was one of twelve men, all of Yorkshire, who were mainpernors (surety for a person's appearance in court) for one, John de Northeland, imprisoned for the death of Robert de Sumeter. Sumeter had been killed in Yorkshire, and mainpernors had to be reputable persons of that county. This item is found in a volume of state papers know as Close Rolls, Vol. 131, p. 271 (Edward 1).

[I question this - if he were born in 1279, how did he sign a lease in 1254? Also, would not have been mainpernor in 1284, as he would not have attained his majority. There is clearly a mixture of generations here. mez, curator, 4/24/2013]

Sir Robert is next mentioned in HL IV p. 98, and as the reference is to "Inquisitions and Extents", it is probable that this was the year of his father’s death, and he has now became Lord Manor of Bispham. At any rate, in 1305 he was claiming "common of pasture" from Ellen, widow of Henry de Lathom, and from the Prior of Surscough. Both of these were people of importance in the neighborhood of Bispham. In the Hundred of West Derby, which belonged with scores of other properties to Earl Edmund, the King's brother, there were several manors, let to various people. Amery de Bispham under William de Ferrers, for instance, had held Bispham, in 1287. When Robert de Holand held Holland, Upholland, Leyland, and others, Lathom was also an adjoining Manor, and held by the Lathoms, who took their name from it. Long afterwards, during the Civil War, the siege of Lathom House made it famous; but in the meanwhile there was an intricate network of inter- marriage between the several families, so that it is difficult to get out one pedigree without bringing in the rest. Burscough Priory had been founded by a Lathorn in the reign of Richard I - it was for Black Canons, and the Prior had the grant of holding a market, and an annual fair on Whit Monday, Tuesday, and September 8th, from Edward I. According t o the Burscough Register, our Robert de Dalton allowed the Prior ‘to approve in the hey of Dalton', (VCHL IV p. 98). A hey was an enclosure into which "beasts of the chase" were driven, and this probably means the Prior's huntsmen might use it.

Sir Robert had the upbringing appropriate to his position in feudal society and appears to have been knighted at a young age. He succeeded to his inheritance at the death of his father in 1293, owning land, largely in the Hundred of Leyland at Byspham and Dalton. Land in the latter manor was held with the Holland family. In references to Sir Robert in the official records, various members of the Holland family are often associated with activities of the Dalton’s. Up-Holland their original manor is close to both Byspham and Dalton but the families were not only neighbors but very probably related. The cross-lets of the Dalton’s and the fleur de lis of the Hollands only distinguished their coat-of- arms. Mrs. Leaning produces further evidence of such a link, "in one manuscript pedigree, drawn up by an unknown hand, our pedigree it surfaced by several of the Holland’s, one of them Adam being the immediate progenitor of the first de Dalton".

Sir Robert Dalton of Bispham Manor:

If you look at the southwest section of a map of Lancashire there is several Lancashire villages named Dalton. Also nearby is the village of Bispham, (not seen) - one of three in England. The Amery De Biscop family held lands in these villages and one of them is located north of Dalton, formerly known as Biscopham, and nowadays designated as Bispham, with the centre shown on the map as Bispham Green. The distance between these two points on the map is about six miles.

Our Dalton legend states that Sire de Dalton allegedly arrived in England in 1135 and was the father of this clan. Although pedigrees exist and there are mentions in the Close Rolls, constructing a time line for these early Dalton's is difficult. Records of possession of Bispham Hall by Dalton's do give a calendar of their presence. In the records there is a space of 36 years from Biscop family possession in 1288 to the possession by a Dalton in 1324. Thus is recorded that Sir Robert de Dalton took possession of Bispham Hall in 1324 and was followed by his son Sir John, in 1369. Sir Robert was also recorded to be of Pickering in Yorkshire and held an interest in Croston Hall as well.

The lands of Bispham village numbered about 900 acres in the 14th Century and today number about 1000 acres. Occupancy of Bispham Hall by a succession of Dalton's lasted from 1324 to 1558, when Sir Robert Dalton (later of Thurnham) transferred his interest to William Stopford. During 238 years of known Dalton occupancy, at least 9 generations of Daltons, some with fairly large families, descended from Sir Robert. It was inevitable that they migrated into the surrounding areas for their livelihood.

Bispham was originally in the Parish of Croston as was the adjacent small village, Mawdesley. Records show the purchase of land by the Bispham Dalton's at Bentley Carre in Mawdesley where farming was of prime importance and basket making was also a trade of the Dalton's.

As you study the Ordnance Survey along with Birth and Marriage records, they show that in the 16th Century, Daltons inhabited many of the villages surrounding Bispham and Dalton. Some went east to Standish and were raising families there before Myles Standish travelled to North America. Others went to Coppull and Chorley and into Eccleston. And in a wider circle went on to Preston, Burnley, Thurnham, etc.

Just south of Dalton is the village of Up Holland. The De Hollands’ and Dalton's were close friends. It was here that a De Holland hid Sir John after his dastardly act. Records show that marriages were performed between Dalton's and Hollands up to the 16th Century. As you study the Ordnance Survey, note the number of Halls that appear on the map. The lords of the manors were not only friends and entertained, but their children intermarried. One Hall missing from the map is Park Hall, now the base for a Theme Park, located at the side of M6 "motel" near Charnock Richard, and important because of a Dalton/Parke union.

This is the area from where the ancestors to many of us originated, and where they remained for over 700 years. It is an area of narrow country roads, lined with tall hedges. There are numerous farms and small clusters of brick houses. It is a quiet place interrupted only by the sound of farm machinery in a field, or the pealing of church bells. People are friendly, and many ancient customs and traditions are still uninterrupted by the march of time.

Sir Robert was one of the knights in the train of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, Edward II's cousin. He is mentioned in various deeds relating to the Earl's affairs and another relation John de Dalton was the Earl's bailiff. The "favorite knight" of the Earl, however, was Sir Robert de Holland on who was lavished lands and money. Sir Robert was created a Baron in 1314.

The Earl of Lancaster was one of the great landed magnates of England and he became a focal point for the growing opposition to Edward II's unsuccessful regime. The loss of Scotland and the corruption of the government by the favorites of the King, who incidentally was a homosexual, were more than many feudal notables could stand and rebellion followed. Lancaster, however, made the mistake of trying to enlist the support of the Scots and this rallied some otherwise wavering nobles to the support of the King.

Thomas, The Earl of Lancaster, had been raised to an even greater position, and was in fact among the most powerful nobles in the realm. He was of the blood Royal, and within seven generations could count 5 kings as his direct ancestors, to say nothing of Rollo, duke of Normandy and Charles III of France, before William the Conqueror.

In 1320 our Sir Robert Dalton was one of the witnesses to a charter granted by the Earl,

and it was not at all surprising that when the Earl used force to separate the weak King from his favorites that a conclusive family like the “Dalton's” should be in the Earl’s party. But the results were disastrous. Not all of the Earl’s broad land, or his great popularity, or even his kinship with Royalty availed to save him. When a great man falls, so do other lesser one’s fall with him.

The rebellion was defeated at the Battle of Boroughbridge in Yorkshire in l322 and Sir Robert de Dalton fought with the Earl. Sir Robert de Holland, however, arrived too late with his reinforcements and then, seeing the Earl's cause was lost, wasted no time in pillaging the belongings of the Earl's supporters, taking goods to the value of £1,000. He made his peace with the King and advanced in royal favor. In 1328, however, the followers of the Earl had their revenge and he was ambushed and killed. His head was sent to the new Earl of Lancaster as a symbol of revenge.

Thus in July of 1322, we find our Sir Robert Dalton in big trouble, for a order was issued by the King to Thomas Deyvill, constable of Pontefract Castle, to receive Phillip de la Beche, John de Acton, Robert Dalton and John Blaket as prisoners. Sir Robert was arrested and imprisoned in the dungeons of Pontefract Castle and his lands forfeited. The Earl was executed and many of his supporters hanged, but Sir Robert escaped with one year's imprisonment and a small fine, which was afterwards canceled. The Holland connection may have helped in this respect. Read next the story about this arrest of Sir Robert.

The arrest an imprisonment was in connection with the political troubles of Edward II's reign. Earl Edmund (brother of Edward I) had a son named Thomas; Thomas was the Earl of Lancaster and among the most powerful nobles in the realm. He was of the blood royal, and within seven generations could count five kings as his direct ancestors, to say nothing of Rollo, Duke of Normandy, and Charles II of France, before the Conqueror. In 1320 our Sir Robert was one of the witnesses to a charter granted by the Earl. But the Earl was headed for trouble-he lead the Baronial party who were using force to separate the weak king from his favorites, Piers Gaveston and the Despencers. The results were disastrous and not all his broad lands or his patriotic motives, or his great popularity, or even his kinship to Royalty, availed to save him. He was executed at Pontefract, after being taken prisoner at Boroughbridge, with many other barons and knights. When a great man falls, many other lesser ones fall with him. Such was the case with those who served the Earl of Lancaster. From the greatest to the least lost their posts and all that went with them. Two of those lesser men included brothers John and Robert de Dalton.

In March 1322, John de Dalton, brother to our Robert, is referred to in the Close Rolls (Vol. 132, page 284, 1318-1323) as "late baliff of the said Earl" and the "goods, jewels, corn, oxen, horses, cows, money by take, debts, and all other goods and chattels that belonged to the Earl in the castle and manor of "Solynbrok, which was in the baliff s charge, are come into the king's hands." The pedigree shows Robert as having a brother John, "of Kirkby Misperton," which is a place very near Pickering in the North Riding of Yorkshire. In the list of lands, which had belonged, in 1266, to "Edmundus filius Regis," we find after "Lancastr.castr. honor. Wiresdale and Lounsdale vaccar" (sic), "Pykering castrum et foresta (Ebor)", and John de Dalton of Pickering was the first of a series of Daltons there.

On July 20, 1322, the king issued an order to Thomas Deyvill, Constable of Pontefract Castle, to receive Philip de la Beche, John de Acton, Robert de Dalton, and John Blaket, as prisoners. A writ was at the same time sent to Henry de Percy, Constable of Scarborough Castle to receive another four (among them William Trussel), "and to cause them to be kept safely in that castle."

So during the next twelve months our Sir Robert had been lost, his wife and little son, living one supposes, on sufferance, and his friends clearly making frantic efforts to raise the great sum necessary for his ransom.

We get a glimpse of the complications that arose from the confiscation of lands, on July 3, 1323. It appears that a certain William de Hoton held of John Flemying, by homage and fealty and a yearly payment of 2s. A property in Mundesley of three messuages and sixty acres of land, rendering six marks yearly; and he had demised this property to Robert de Dalton for life. But it had been seized into the king's hands on the Saturday before the Annunciation in the fifteenth year of his reign, because Robert was with Thomas, late Earl of Lancaster and adhered to him. On learning of this, the king ordered the rent to be paid as before to William de Hoton.

Meanwhile, as the days lengthened, Robert had nothing to do but to pace the courtyard between the vast dark towers and to discuss for the thousandth time the scanty hopes and more abundant fears which the prisoners perhaps shared together. It was not encouraging to remember that before this very Castle, under a strongly armed guard, the Earl had been beheaded, and a great number of those of lower rank had been hanged. But the Constable had been changed since then, and it was in this year that the king himself paid a visit to Pontefract. Perhaps as a result, on August 12" the following mandate appears in the Close Rolls:

On August 12th, 1323, the King “ordered Richard de Mosele, Constable of Pontefract Castle to release Sir Robert, Knight, a late rebel from prison in that Castle, so that he may come to the King to make security for his good behavior, hereafter, as certain persons have prayed the King to deliver him and to have made security for 100 marks, where-in they made fine to save the said Sir Robert’s life”

A week later, the King come to further order: “ to John de Lancastre. Keeper of certain rebels land in the County of Lancaster, to deliver to Sir Robert Dalton, Knight, his lands as he has made ransom to the King for his life and lands.

Sir Robert de Dalton made very good use of his restoration to favour. Three years later he is found holding the position of Keeper of the King's Woods and case in Blakeburnshire. The king had discovered that at Pickering Lythe, or Liberty, great laxity had arisen in the keeping of the Forest Law, as more than two score of offences had occurred within a twelve month of the Duke's execution. He might easily - or uneasily - imagine the same sort of thing was going on elsewhere, and the sooner a trusty hand was placed in command, the better.

To be Keeper of the King's Woods was not a sinecure by any means. From time to time, at irregular intervals, certain Justices who rode a circuit were appointed to inquire into the stewardship of the Royal forests. The Court was preceded by a "regard" or survey made by twelve chosen persons, who were taken through the woods and had brought to their attention all trespasses against the Forest Law. The Keeper seems to have had to answer for every animal, every tree, every opening or enclosure, everything except the weather, that had its being in the "wood territory" under his care.

Robert de Dalton's position as Keeper is made known by a complaint registered in the Close Rolls in August 1326, by one Adam Nowel. The old man - or he may have been young - gives vent to what reads like a long howl, to the effect that he, and his father before him, and his grandfather, and his great grandfather, in fact all his forefathers, had enjoyed certain rights and privileges, of which he had been deprived when the woods came into the King's hands by the forfeiture of the Duke. These rights, such as to take old and dry wood, and to have common chace (sic) for all manner of wild beasts, with bow and arrow, but not in the demesne lands where he might not attack but for the length of the throw of a horn, and so on, were set out at great length. One gets the impression that the Justices became so tired that rather than hear any more of Adam, and his father, his grandfather, and so forth, they hurriedly record that the King orders the Keeper to permit Adam to receive and have, etc., and Robert de Dalton is here spoken of as keeper of the king's woods and chace aforesaid.

Two years later, in the next volume of the Close Rolls, we find Robert helping someone else, as he had himself been helped, to pay off the heavy ransom incurred by one, Thurston; others were Richard de Huyton, Henry de Ins, John Banastre, and Alan de Raynford. In 1335, John and Nicholas Banastre were found acknowledging a debt of £200 to Robert de Dalton. He was becoming more and more important, for in April of 1341 there was an order to pay him £46. 11. 2. or a greater sum due to him "for his wages when in the king's service in parts beyond the sea." In July of that same year he was associated with the Bishop of Durham; Henry, Earl of Derby; Henry de Percy; and Ralph de Nevill, with powers to treat with the king's subjects in the North for the defense of the country against the Scots.

In May 1343, in the Chancery at Westminster, there is deposited the indenture of Robert de Dalton's grant for life to John de Hoton, knight, of all the rents, etc., in Whytington in Lonesdale, Co. Lancs. Among the six witnesses were John de Shirburn and two members of the Radeclyff (Radcliffe) family.

In Nov. 1343, and to Feb. 1346, Sir Robert held the lucrative position of Constable of the Tower of London, The Kings most important prison.

The Tower of London

During that period eleven orders reached him, of which the greater part were to release certain prisoners. The one of highest rank was Gilbert le Despencer, to be released "by the mainprise (a writ directed to the sheriff, ordering him to take sureities for a prisoner's appearance and to let him go at large) of William de Bohun, Earl of Northampton," and Hugh le Despencer, "as he is staying under arrest in the Tower by reason of certain excesses charged against him." This order was under the Privy Seal, on December 20, 1344.

The Keeper of the Exchange was one, John de Flete, concerning whom Robert de Dalton had been ordered, in January 1344, "to cause a turret in that Tower to be delivered for the making of gold and silver coins, until certain houses are ordained for making those stamps in the Tower." Two goldsmiths and a "chaucer" were others, but the most interesting of the releases were those of a monk, and a merchant, both dated August 31, 1345. That of the monk was as follows: "Order to deliver John de Forde, monk of the Priory of St. Swithun's, Winchester, who was lately delivered to the Constable to be kept in the Tower, for certain trespasses and excesses committed by him, to John, Archbishop of Canterbury, or to one of his, to do as shall be agreed upon between the king and the Archbishop." The second ran: "Order to release John de Astwyk, by the mainprise of eight named who have undertaken that he will answer to the king for what is to be paid of the 5000 marks promised by him and his fellows, merchants of England, and for wool taken by him to Flanders, contrary to the prohibition."

He was not continuously in residence there as some of the directives he received about his duties refer to Sir Robert "or to him who supplies his place there".

Clearly there was a deputy. In February 1346, the Calendar of Patent Rolls for 1345-1348, p. 52, shows a Grant to him of an annuity of £40 at the exchequer for life, "or until the king grant him an equivalent of land and rent." A fortnight later the reason for this becomes clear in the following: "March 12. Appointment of John Darcy "le piere" to have the keeping of the Tower of London for life, as others have held the same, receiving yearly the accustomed fee.

"Mandate to Robert de Dalton to deliver to him by indenture the said Tower, with the appurtenances, along with the armor, victuals, and other things, and the prisoners there, which are in his custody."

He relinquished his position in 1346 and received a grant of the "farm revenue" of Apthorpe in Northamptonshire, which amounted to £40 a year.

After leaving the Tower, Sir Robert immediately resumed his military career and joined Edward III in the invasion of France. He was present at the Battle of “Crecy” in 1346 and the Seige of Calais. Among his relatives and connections accompanying the King were the inevitable de Holland’s, Sir William de Dalton, Controller of the King's Household and later his Treasurer, and John de Dalton, the Royal Sergeant-at-Arms.

Sir Robert’s military talents were also put to use and he was connected with the Bishop of Durham, the Earl of Derby, Henry de Percy and Ralph de Neville, in organizing the defense of Northern England. He also served abroad since, in April 1341, he received a payment of £46 "for wages in the King's services beyond the seas".

Our Dalton family’s involvement during the war with France:

The "Hundred Years' War" between France and England (1337-1453) was an episodic struggle lasting well over a hundred years, for much of the time without any conflict. The battles were both violent, but also on occasions when ideals of "chivalry" were displayed.

The first major battle of this war was on 26 August 1346 in which Philip VI of France was defeated by Edward III of England was at the village of Crécy-en-Ponthieu, now in Somme, France, 11 miles northeast of Abbeville.

It was in the course of this year (1346) that Edward III, with the consent of all the Lords and commons of England prepared the great military expedition to France that led up to the victory at Crecy. Everything was done on a magnificent scale. There accompanied the King twelve great Earls, 1066 knights, over four thousand esquires, 20,000 archers, and a great host of yeoman, minstrels, messengers, masons, smiths, and others. Every knight

and men-at-arms was clad in complete armour, mounted on chargers, their surcoats trappings and banners showing their colours and devices.

In the retinue of Henry, Earl of Lancaster, we find the name of Nigel de Lorying, Chevaler, so well known to us through Conan Doyle's romance of "The White Company"; and with Sir Robert de Dalton, now a grizzled old warrior, went his son, Sir John and the relative Sir William de Dalton, Controller of the Kings household, and later of his Treasurer. There was also a John de Dalton, stated in the accounts (financial) to be "the knights cousin", and whom I take to be the same who is described in the allotment of properties in Calais, in 1348, as Kings sergeant at arms. He was of the retinue of Thomas, Bishop of Durham. The list of all these knights, and the account of the battle written immediately after it, as well as the description, and much else, is all to be found in the 18th volume of the Collections of the William Salt Archaeological Society.

The following names of knights who were with the King are given because every one of them was of a family or house with which our own was connected at the time or afterwards. Sir John de Shirburne, Sir Ralph de Ferrers, Sir William de Hesketh, Sir Otho and Sir Thomas de Holand, and Sir Thomas de Lathom, were from Lancashire. Others were Sir William Trussel of Cublesdon, Sir Michael Ponynges "le uncle." Sir John and Sir Nicholas Charnels, Sir Gerard de l'isle; John, Giles and Roger de Arderne, Henry and Gilbert de Haydok, and Sir Roger Hosie or Hussey. Many a father brought his son, just as the king himself brought the Black Prince, to be one of that goodly company.

The details of the prelude and aftermath of the battle offer some obvious explanations. Edward landed his army of 4,000 knights, and 10,000 English and Welsh longbowmen in 1,000 ships at St Vaast-de-la-Hague near Cherborg on 12 July 1346, plundered his way through the orchards and cornfields of Normandy and sacked Caen with merciless brutality. He by-passed Paris and eventually made camp at Crécy.

The Battle of Crécy:

The Battle was fought on Saturday, August 26 1346, and was the first of several significant battles during which the longbow triumphed over crossbowmen and armoured knights.

Some of the highlights of the battle of Crécy is referenced from the works of Jean Froissant, The Longbow by Robert Hardy and The Medieval Archer by Jim Bradbury:

French forces numbered approximately 36,000.

English forces numbered approximately 12,000 of which 7,000 were archers.

The battle line was approximately 2,000 yards wide.

The English army, occupying the top of a gentle ridge near the town, consisted of three groups of men-at-arms and spearmen, with archers placed on their sides. The archers formed ranks resembling an outward V.

Each English archer carried 2 sheaves of arrows (48) into battle. Resupply was accomplished by going back thru the lines or having more brought forward.

The bow draw weights were normally from 80 to 120 lbs.

Arrows, depending on type and weight, could be shot 250 to 300 yards.

The English archers could shoot an average of 10 arrows per minute.

The total number of arrows shot during the battle is estimated at a half million.

There were 14 to 16 charges made against the English lines from the start of the battle at 4:00 PM until the completion at midnight.

Casualties were estimated from 5,000 (low) to 10,000 or more (high) for the French Knights and Genoese crossbowmen. English casualties were several hundred.

The victorious Edward III then moved on to Calais, arriving on 4th September. An assault of the well-defended town looked impossible, and instead Calais was blockaded. This lasted until 4 August 1347, and therefore perhaps the pardon of William de Okebourn should have been dated 'outside Calais'. When Edward eventually entered the town he proceeded to evacuate almost all the inhabitants, in order to people it with the English colonists whose descendants were to hold it for another 200 years.

And so it was with our Sir Robert de Dalton, who passed on his legegcy to his son, who was also made a Knight. Great stuff!!!!

__________________

So we can imagine Sir Robert riding from his home in Byspham, clad in his best armour, wearing his plumed helm and carrying his great broad sword, his lance and with his shield in azure blue with the silver lion on his chest. He would be riding his great war horse which would be clad in armour. By his side was his son, Sir John, also in his best armour and behind them an esquire carrying a banner with the full coat of arms embroidered on it, complete with the green Griffen. They were also accompanied by a priest who bore a portable altar and some new winding sheets, just in case things did not go too well. [Winding sheets were burial sheets or palls.] The party rode down through Lancashire gathering more men of arms at every town and joined the Earl of Manchester. Then they brought the French to face them at Crecy, one of the most historical battles of all time. The English had the new technology of the day, bows and arrows, and of course easily won the battle. All went well with Sir Robert and his son and there must have been many prayers of thankfulness raised when they rode back to Byspham. No doubt their war horses were not so frisky and their coats of arms a bit sullied, but they were alive.

______________________

http://www.joepayne.org/dalton.htm

THE DALTONS OF LANCASHIRE: A lecture/talk given by Dr. Lucy Joan Slater, Editor and Secretary, Dalton Genealogical Society, Cambridge, England

...The Flower's Visitation of Yorkshire in 1563-4 gave the main pedigree of the Dalton family. It started with Sir Rychard of Byspham born about 1230 and holding the manors of Byspham in Lancashire and Kirkby Misperton in Yorkshire. He had two sons, Sir Robert and Sir John. Sir John held the manor of Kirkby in 1332 and founded the Yorkshire line of Daltons. Sir Robert was born in 1284 and died in 1350.

About 1320, he married Mary, the daughter of Sir Thomas Lathom and she bore him a son, Sir John Dalton. Sir Robert had sided with the Earl of Lancaster who was beheaded in 1322 and Sir Robert was confined to Pontifract Castle for a time. However, his friends raised a ransom for him, so he was released and allowed to go back to his home at Byspham Manor. In 1327, when Edward II came to the throne, the fine was returned to Sir Robert and he was made Keeper of the Royal Forests and then the Constable of the Tower of London.

In the spring of 1346, King Edward prepared to invade France. He assembled the greatest army seen in England up to that date. With the King were his son, Richard the Black Prince, 12 Earls, over 1000 Knights, 4000 esquires, 20,000 archers and an unnumbered host of yeomen, blacksmiths, messengers, masons, cooks, minstrels and other camp followers.

So we can imagine Sir Robert riding from his home in Byspham, clad in his best armour, wearing his plumed helm and carrying his great broad sword, his lance and with his shield in azure blue with the silver lion on his chest. He would be riding his great war horse which would be clad in armour. By his side was his son, Sir John, also in his best armour and behind them an esquire carrying a banner with the full coat of arms embroidered on it, complete with the green Griffen. They were also accompanied by a priest who bore a portable altar and some new winding sheets, just in case things did not go too well. [Winding sheets were burial sheets or palls.] The party rode down through Lancashire gathering more men of arms at every town and joined the Earl of Manchester. Then they brought the French to face them at Crecy, one of the most historical battles of all time. The English had the new technology of the day, bows and arrows, and of course easily won the battle.

All went well with Sir Robert and his son and there must have been many prayers of thankfulness raised when they rode back to Byspham. No doubt their war horses were not so frisky and their coats of arms a bit sullied, but they were alive.

Now we come to one of the wildest deeds ever committed, even by such wild men as the Daltons. After his return from Crecy, Sir John thought it was time he took a wife. He fancied Margery, wife of Gerard de Lisle. She was said to be one of the most beautiful women in England at the time and was rumored to be the mistress of the King's second son, Lionel, who was about 20. She had been married twice before and had inherited a manor near Reading, so she was a rich woman in her own right. On Good Friday, March 31, 1347, John Dalton and six companions attacked the Manor House, killed Margery's uncle and one of her man servants, stole 1000 pounds in gold and other goods, seized her and carried her off to the North. These facts are all recorded in the Court Rolls. One translation of the document says that John Dalton married her that same day. Another version says that ...he had his way with her.... In any case, Lionel was not pleased and his father issued writs against the seven men to be apprehended and put into the Tower. When they could not be caught, old Sir Robert Dalton was taken and imprisoned in their place, in the Tower, where he had once been the Constable. The hue and cry was raised throughout the land, but John and his friends took refuge with friends in Lancashire and were not caught. After a few months, Sir Robert was released.

Six months later, the dreaded Black Death swept through England and the doings of John Dalton were forgotten. Half the population died during the next two years and there were not enough strong men even to bury the dead.

Margery died in 1349 and John went on to do such good service in the wars in France, that he petitioned the King who then pardoned him for the ravishment of Margery. His father, Sir Robert, died in 1350 and John returned home to Byspham Hall where he married a daughter of Sir Henry Hussey, had two sons and died in 1369.

_________________

• The Visitations of Yorkshire in the Years 1563 and 1564: Made by William ... By William Flower
• https://books.google.com/books?id=pjMEAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA394&lpg=PA394&d...
• https://archive.org/details/visitationsyork00britgoog
• https://archive.org/stream/visitationsyork00britgoog#page/n97/mode/1up
• Pg.85
  • Dalton.
• Sir Rychard Dalton of Byspam in Lancashyre, Knight. = ; ch: Sir Robert (m. . . . Latham), Sir John (2 son.) Dalton
  • Sir John Dalton Knight 2 son. ; ch: B (Pg.86 Sir Pyter Dalton Knight. = . . . . doughter of . . . . ; ch: John Dalton.)
  • Sir Robert Dalton son & heyre of Sir Rychard Dalton Knight. = . . . . doughter of Sir Thomas Latham. ; ch: A (Pg.86 Sir John (m. . . . . Hussey) Dalton)
    • https://archive.org/stream/visitationsyork00britgoog#page/n98/mode/1up
    • Sir John Dalton Knight. = . . . . doughter of Sir Henry Hussey Knight. ; ch: Sir John (m. . . . . Pylkyngton.) Dalton
      • Sir John Dalton Knight son & heyre to Sir John. = . . . . doughter of Sir Rychard Pylkngton. ; ch: Sir Rychard (m. Kateren Venables), Robert (m. Margaret . . . . ) Dalton.
        • Sir Rychard Dalton Knight son & heyr to Sir John. = Kateren doughter of Sir Thomas Venables, Knight. ; ch: Ales (m. William Gryffyth), other doters Dalton
          • Ales doter of Sir Rychard Dalton. = William Gryffyth of Penryn in Carmarthenshyre. ; ch: Sir William, Jennet Gryffyth.
        • Robert Dalton of Bispayne, 2nd son. = Margaret doughter of . . . . ; ch: William (m. Elsabeth Beaconsall), John (3rd son.), Rychard (m. doughter of Fleming) Dalton
          • .... etc. _________________
• Robert de Dalton1
• M, #155486, b. circa 1285
• Robert de Dalton was born circa 1285 at of Bispham, Lancashire, England.1
• Family
• Child
  • Sir John de Dalton1 d. 1369
• Citations
• [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. IV, p. 105-106.
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p5177.htm#... ______________
• Robert Dalton1
• M, #161418, b. circa 1279, d. 1354
• Father Richard Dalton1 b. c 1235, d. 1293
• Mother (Miss) de Lawrence1 b. c 1245
• Robert Dalton was born circa 1279 at of Bispham, Lancashire, England.1 He married Mary de Latham circa 1303 at England.1 Robert Dalton died in 1354 at England.1
• Family Mary de Latham b. c 1282
• Child
  • John Dalton+1 b. c 1305, d. 1370
• Citations
• [S11597] Ancestry.com, Submitted by robertluther1963.
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p5374.htm#... _____________
• Sir Robert Dalton1
• M, #146873, b. circa 1290
• Sir Robert Dalton was born circa 1290 at of Apthorp, Northamptonshire, England.1
• Family
• Child
  • Sir John Dalton+1 b. c 1315
• Citations
• [S61] Unknown author, Family Group Sheets, Family History Archives, SLC.
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p4891.htm#... _______________
• The John Dalton book of genealogy by Dalton, Mark Ardath
• https://archive.org/details/johndaltonbookof00dalt
• https://archive.org/stream/johndaltonbookof00dalt#page/25/mode/1up
  • PEDIGREE OF DALTON FAMILY
  • compiled by JOHN LUCHER DALTON 1889
• A copy was obtained from Voyla Dalton Smith, the daughter of John Luther Dalton and a copy of the Dalton pedigree chart sent to Sarah Cedenia Dalton of Parowan, Utah, by John Luther Dalton.
• In a letter sent to me, dated March 19, 1960, Mrs. Voyla Dalton Smith has this to say, "Father left on a mission to England the 28th of April 1863 and re- turned 1866. He also made a subsequent trip to England for genealogical research in 1888 and compiled his findings in 1889. Father never put down the source of his information as I have indicated but Mother said that he searched histories, deeds, wills, cemetery records and etc."
• — 1 —
• LeSieur or Sire de Dalton came from Normany, France, in 1135 A.D. with King Henry II of England.
• The eldest son John was granted on the death of his father, the Manors of Dalton and Byspham in Lancashire, England. He executed a deed in favor of his eldest son John 1193 A.D. He had two sons.
• — 2 —
• John Dalton or Doldon was given a deed 1193 A.D. Lancashire, England. Simon de Dalton was mentioned in a deed 1190 A.D. Lancashire, England.
• *Note — In the Sarah Cedenia Dalton copy "The eldest son John executed a deed in favor of his eldest son third John 1193 A.D."
• — 3 —
• (1) Sir Richard, eldest son of John, was a crusader in the Holy Land 1187 A.D. He killed several Saracens. From this the family takes the green griffin in its crest. He was buried at Dalton with his legs crossed.
• (2) His brother was John Dalton or second John.
• https://archive.org/stream/johndaltonbookof00dalt#page/26/mode/1up
• — 4 —
• Sir Richard, eldest son of Sir Richard (3), married Miss Lawrence in 1277, Lancashire, England. His signature to a deed 1282 A.D. is still extant.
• — 5 —
• His eldest son Sir Robert, married the daughter of Sir Thomas Latymer or Latham.
• — 6 —
• His son Sir John, married Alice Hussey 1327 A.D., daughter of Sir Henry Hussey of Lancashire. Received lands in 1327.
• — 7 —
• His eldest son, Sir John, bore arms as a Knight in 1389, and was given a deed 1359. He married Miss Pilkington, daughter of Sir Richard Pilkington.
• — 8 —
• His son, Robert Dalton, married Margaret Holker, 1444, Lancashire, England.
• — 9 —
• Richard Dalton married Miss Hesie or Heine (Fleming)
• — 10 —
• His son Roger Dalton of Lancashire, married his second cousin Margaret Stanley.
• — 11 —
• Their son Richard, married Jane Whitaker
• — 12 —
• Roger Dalton married twice, first Miss Radcliff of Wymerly
• — 13 —
• Their son William, 1513, Byspham, Lancashire, also married twice. He had no children by his first wife, and his second wife was Jane Townley or Towerly. By her he had three sons.
• — 14 —
• 1 -Robert Dalton, married Ann Kitchin and he died without male issue.
• 2-Thomas Dalton, married Ann Molyneux. Thomas inherited Thurnham and other properties and his descendants in the female line have lived at Thurnham Hall up till about thirty years ago.
• 3 -Roger Dalton (Our Line) married Mary Ward or Warer of Lancashire.
• — 15 —
• Walter Dalton, born 1552, died 1619, Whitney, Oxfordshire, England. He married Margaret of Lancashire and had issue.
• — 16 —
• 1 -Walter Dalton (Our Line) born 1582, Whitney, Oxford and died 1650. He married Elizabeth of Curbridge, Oxford and had issue ( 17) .
• 2-Edward Dalton, born 1590, Whitney, Oxford, England. He went to Ireland, then afterward to America.
• — 17 —
• 1-Walter Dalton (Our ancestor) born 1603, Whitney, Oxford, England. He died 1666. Married Jane Needham.
• 2-Charles Dalton, born 1605, Whitney, Oxford, England died 23 Oct. 1707.
• 3 -Elizabeth Dalton, born 1609, Whitney, Oxford, England — died young.
• 4-Thomas Dalton, born 1611, Whitney, Oxford England — died young.
• 5-William Dalton, born 1614, Whitney, Oxford, England — died young.
• https://archive.org/stream/johndaltonbookof00dalt#page/27/mode/1up
• 6-Andrew Dalton, born 1616, Whitney, Oxford, England. He died in 1721. The last of his descendants as far as could be traced was William, who died 1850.
• 7-Johanna
• Walter Dalton, born 1603, the eldest son of Walter (Our Ancestor) married Jane Needham and left issue. After the battle of Worchester he settled in South Wales about 1651. Walter Dalton died 1666 and Jane Needham died May 1, 1714. Children:
• — 18 —
• 1 -Charles Dalton, born 1639, Whitney, Oxford, England, died 23 Oct. 1707. Married Jane Shedd or Shead. They had nine children, none of the sons left issue.
• 2-Thomas Dalton, born 1643, Whitney, Oxford, England — died young.
• 3-Ormand Dalton, born 1645, Whitney, Oxford, England — died young.
• 4- Walter Dalton, born 1648, Whitney, Oxford, England — died young.
• 5-James Dalton (Our Line), born 1650, Whitney, Oxford, England died May 15, 1721 — He married Joyce Vaughn, 1677. She was the daughter of Rowland Vaughn. She was born 1647 Pembrey, Carmarthanshire, Wales, and died March 14, 1731.
• 6-Johanna, born 1653 — Married James Butler.
• James Dalton, born 1650, married Joyce Vaughn, 1677. They left issue.
• .... etc. ______________
• 'Dalton01'
• Sir Richard Dalton of Bypsam, Lancashire
  • 1. Sir Robert Dalton
  • m. _Latham (dau of Sir Thomas Latham)
    • A. Sir John Dalton
    • m. _ Hussey (dau of Sir Henry Hussey)
      • i. Sir John Dalton
      • m. _ Pilkington (dau of Sir Richard Pylkyngton)
        • a. Sir Richard Dalton 'of Apethorpe'
        • m. Katherine Venables (dau of Sir Thomas Venables)
          • (1) Ales Dalton
          • m. William Gryffyth of Penryn
          • (2)+ other daughters
        • b. Robert Dalton of Bispayne
        • m. Margaret
          • (1) Richard Dalton of Croston
          • m. _ Fleming (dau of Sir William Fleming of Wath, Yorkshire)
            • (A) Roger Dalton of Dalton Hall
            • m1. _ Ratclyff (dau of Sir John Ratclyff of Lancashire)
              • (i) William Dalton of Bispam
              • m1. Margaret Terboke (dau of Sir William Terboke of Terboke Hall)
                • (a) Margery Dalton (dsp)
                • m1. _ Wenloke
                • m2. Gylbert Moreton
                • (b)+ other issue (dsp) - Robert, Roger, Jane, 8 others
              • m2. Jane (natural daughter of Sir John Towneley of Lancashire)
                • (m) Robert Dalton of Bispham, Pillin and Thurnham (dsp 1580)
                • m. Anne Kechyn (dau of John Kechyn)
                • Visitation ends with this generation, identifying Robert as "of Thurnham". This is presumed to be the Robert who is the first mentioned by Commoners, being described therein as "of Bishpam and Pilling, who acquired by purchase, in 1556, the manor and estate of Thurnham" and who was succeeeded by his nephew.
                • (n) Thomas Dalton
                • m. Anne Molyneux (dau of Sir Richard Molyneux of Sefton)
                  • ((1)) Robert Dalton of Thurnham (d 1626)
                  • This is probably the Robert who married Elizabeth Hulton.
                    • ((A)) Thomas Dalton of Thurnham (d after Newbury 1643)
                      • ((i)) Robert Dalton of Thurnham
                      • m. Elizabeth Horner (dau of Thomas Horner of Middleham)
                        • ((a)) Elizabeth Dalton of Thurnham (d 1710)
                        • m. William Hoghton of Park Hall
                        • Their eldest son inherited Thurnham and took the name Dalton.
                        • ((b)) Dorothy Dalton of Faton and Aldcliffe who apparently married ...
                        • m. Edward Riddell of Swinburne Castle (b 1660, d 1731)
                • (o) Anne Dalton
                • m. _ Westmer
                • (p)+ other issue - Roger, Richard
              • (ii) Roger Dalton (dsp)
              • (iii) Sybell Dalton
              • m. William Wolberd Draper
                • (a)+ issue (dsp)
            • m2. (sp) _ Standyche
            • m3. (sp) _ Farnygton
            • m4. Jane Jakes (dau of Roger Jakes of Barkemsted and Mawde Shordyche)
              • (iv) Larence Dalton (d 1561)
              • m. Anne Breme (dau of Richard Breme of London)
              • (v) Margaret Dalton
              • m1/2. Richard Fawley of London (fishmonger)
                • (a)+ issue - Walter, Dorothy
              • m2/1. Thomas Weston of London (taylor)
                • (c) Jane Weston
                • m. Andro Roo of London (fat maker)
                • (d) Margaret Weston
                • m. Nicholas Collet of London (shoemaker)
              • (vi) Anne Dalton
              • m. Thomas Baker of Barkensted
                • (a)+ issue - Astwyn, Raff, Ales, Ellyn, Cyssely
              • (vii) Elsabeth Dalton
              • m. Francis Colbarne
                • (a)+ issue - Jane, Elsabeth
              • (viii) Jane Dalton
              • m1. Richard Not of London ("ale bruer")
              • m2. Robert Vady
              • (ix)+ other issue (dsp) - Henry, Thomas, Thomas, Richard, 3 others
            • (B) Ellen Dalton
          • (2) William Dalton
          • m. Elsabeth Beaconsall of Lancashire
            • (A) Richard Dalton (priest)
            • (B) Anne Dalton
            • m. Seth Worsley of Croston
              • (i)+ issue - John, Anne
          • (3) John Dalton
  • 2. Sir John Dalton
    • A. Sir Peter Dalton
      • i. .... etc.
• Main source(s): Visitation (Yorkshire, 1563-4, Dalton), Commoners (vol i, Dalton of Thurnham)
• From: Stirnet.com
• http://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/dd/dalton01.php _________________
• Links
• http://geneagraphie.com/getperson.php?personID=I572067&tree=1
• http://www.familycentral.net/index/family.cfm?ref1=3511:15443&ref2=...
• http://www.britannia.com/bios/ladies/mpoynings.html

_____________________