Harman D’Alton Family of Booterstown House
Michael D’Alton of Rahara married Clara. In the census of 1749 he is living in Rahara and has six servants.
Administration was granted to Clara his wife, and his son John on 19 Jun 1752.
1 John Dalton married Jane, of St Mary’s Parish, the daughter of Thomas Fitzgerald, counsellor at law,
on 13 Sep 1760. She was described as 'an amiable young lady with a large fortune'. John was the
Collector of Athlone and died at Spa in Germany in September 1774. In his Will he left money to the
poor of the town of Athlone and the poor of Rahara, and the balance to his wife Jane and sons John and
Thomas. The Westport papers note him as being the nephew of Dennis Kelly of Lisduff, County Galway
and the father in law of Peter Kelly Browne of Westport.
1 Lt Col Dennis Harman D’Alton of the Hon East India Company's Bengali Establishment, was born
either 1764 or 1771. He married Welelmina (sic) Perrie and was living in Batavaria (Central Jakarta)
in 1821. Dennis died on 17 Jan 1827 at Oxford place, Cheltenham and there is a memorial in his
honour at the Church of Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire. His military career is given ' In Fights
Forgotten, A Dalton in the East by Michael Cayley.
'He joined as a Cadet in 1783, and saw service in northern India. He was promoted to the rank of
Captain in 1804, and was commended for his service. He was promoted to Major, in 1814 and saw
service in Java for which he was given a special gold medal. Stamford Raffles was the Civilian
Governor over him. In 1815, the Light Infantry mutinied and Dalton suppressed this mutiny.
There was trouble in Celebes in the same year, and Dalton was sent to suppress that. There was a
fierce battle which Dalton won, although he lost a third of his troops. He returned to India and then
back to England. In 1819, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, formerly retired and died in
Cheltenham'.
In his Will he provided for his daughter Charlotte and for his common law wife Selina Ann Jackson,
but through severe illness, he had not been able to attend a ceremony to make it official.
1 Charlotte Mary D’Alton born 9 May 1816 was baptised at the parish of St John, Hempstead on
18 Jul 1821 and married Michael Thunder of Lagore, Co Meath at Booterstown House,
the house of her aunt on 2 Sep 1834. The marriage was registered at Booterstown Church.
One of the witnesses was Alexander Mansfield a trustee of the Thunder Trust and the other
her aunt Mrs Sweetman.
Michael was born circa 1802, he was a JP and appointed High Sheriff of County Meath in
1850, he died at Stratford, Rathgar in 1879. Charlotte died at Roslin, Terenure on
16 Jul 1889.
1 Charlotte Mary Thunder, eldest daughter born 28 Jun 1835 at Gardiner’s Place,
married Thomas Boylan JP on 13 Aug 1861.
2 Eliza Mary Thunder born Booterstown House 8 Feb 1837 became a nun and
died at Mount Anville Convent, Stillorgan 24 Sep 1874.
3 Patrick Thunder, son and heir born at Earl Street 21 Jan 1838 married Mary
Anne O’Kelly on 13 Jul 1871.
4 Helena Thunder born 31 Jan 1839 at Lagore became a sister of Mercy.
5 Anna Maria Thunder born 23 Jul 1840 and died at Lagore 1 Jan 1841.
6 Michael Harman D'Alton Thunder born Lagore 17 Feb 1842 married Mary Knill in 1878,
daughter of Stuart Knill, a Lord Mayor of London.
7 Julia Maria Thunder, fourth daughter married Hugh O’ Connor, grandson of
Valentine O'Connor of Rockfield on 2 Sep 1863.
8 John Albert Thunder, third son born 15 Apr 1845, died at Stoneyhurst College.
9 James William Thomas Thunder born 21 Apr 1848 at Lagore married Laura
Mary Plowden in 1873.
10 Francis Thunder born at Lagore 3 Dec 1849.
11 Rose Thunder became a nun of the Sacre Coeur.
12 Robert Thunder, sixth son born April 1854 died at 43 Rutland Square on 6 Jan 1862.
13 George Francis Thunder born 11 Jul 1858.
14 Mary Thunder, youngest daughter died at 43 Rutland Square 6 Jan 1867.
2 Thomas Dalton, was a midshipman/Masters mate on board The Brunswick and was killed
in the engagement with the French fleet in Jun 1794.
3 Charlotte D’Alton married William Sweetman of Raheney House, Co Dublin at Booterstown on
8 Dec 1805. She died at Lagore the house of her nephew in law on 25 Feb 1865.
1 Maria Sweetman married John Sweetman, Maria died 8 Feb 1845 at Eccles Street.
4 Fanny Dalton youngest daughter died at Lower Abbey Street on 1 Oct 1775.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2018