Melfort Dalton
Michael D’Alton JP and captain of Ross Castle, Rossmanager, Bunratty one of the senior
magistrates of County Clare died at Sixmilebridge late of Ross Castle on 16 Feb 1837.
1 Amelia D’Alton eldest daughter of Michael D’Alton late of Ross Castle died
20 Jan 1826 and was buried at Bunratty churchyard.
2 Edward Neville D’Alton second son born circa 1794, Lieut Royal Navy, and
Chief Office Coastguard. He rescued the crew and passangers of the brig
Woodbine of Scarborough off the Isle of Arran in 1835. He was transferred
from Claggar Station to Mannon Bay in 1844 and was Acting Inspector
Commander in 1847. Edward died 30 Mar 1871 at 9 Royal Canal Terrace,
Dublin aged 77.
1 Edward Neville D’Alton, Coast Guard born circa 1822 at Clare joined the
Royal Navy in 1843 as a Coast Guard and married Johanna William.
Coastguard to Sherries 1863 to 1866, Balbriggan from 1866 to 1873
before becoming coastguard at Howth. He died at Seaview Tce., Clontarf
in 1905 aged 83. Johanna died 7 Mar 1919 aged 78 at Leicester Lodge
and was buried at St Fintan’s Sutton.
1 Edgar De Montmorenci D'Alton, born circa September 1860 fifth
son of Edward D’Alton, grandson of Edward Neville D’Alton and great
grandson of Michael D’Alton of Ross Castle drowned by falling
overboard the ship Astracan at Great Horn on passage from Port
Victor South Australia to London aged 18 and 2 months on
19 Nov 1878.
2 Amy Arabella D’Alton born circa 1861 at Galway became a hospital
nurse died unmarried 23 Nov 1932 aged 71 and was buried at St
Fintan’s Sutton.
3 Son Dalton born 9 Dec 1863 at Skerries.
4 Olive D’Alton born circa 1864 died unmarried on 30 Mar 1954 aged
90 at Leicester Lodge and was buried at St Fintan’s Sutton.
5 Octavius D’Alton born 16 Aug 1865 at Balbriggan.
.
6 Daughter D’Alton born 1 May 1867 at Balbriggan.
7 Henry Frederick McKay D’Alton born circa 1868 a theatre agent died
unmarried at Leicester Lodge Clontarf 5 Jun 1936 aged 68.
8 Gertrude Campbell D’Alton born circa 1869 died unmarried
9 Nov 1939 aged 70 at Leicester Lodge, Clontarf and was buried at St
Fintan’s Sutton.
9 Melfort Campbell D'Alton born circa 1869 was a Vicar Choral at
St Patrick’s Cathedral and lived at 68 Gardiner Street with his sisters
Gertrude and Olive at Lower Gardiner Street in 1901. He studied at
St Patricks and then Italy. He was a renowned Tenor and lived at
19 Lower Pembroke Street from 1906. He married Isabella Jefferson
of 3 Mount Street Crescent, daughter of T Ross Jefferson at St
Patrick’s Cathedral on 12 Dec 1906. He joined up in 1914 with the
British Red Cross and the Order of Jerusalem and acted as an orderly
during WW1. He was dismissed as a Vicar Choral in 1916 when the
Board changed. He was a noted authority on Handel and was
presented with a medal from the Handel Society by Herr Wilheln von
Khlmann, German minister on the 250 anniversary of Haldel’s birth.
He was a judge and on the committee of the Feis Ceoil. He gave a
concert at Lodge Park, Tivoli Road, Dun Laoghaire after which Oliver
St John Gogarty wrote a poem about him. Isabella born circa 1864
died at 85 Palmerston Road on 30 Jul 1919 and was buried at St Fintans,
Sutton. Melfort died at St Kevin’s Hospital on 9 Jan 1942 and was buried
with his wife.
10 Alfred de Courcy D’Alton, seventh son born circa 1871 Co Dublin was a
Post Office Clerk, he died at Leicester Lodge unmarried on 5 Nov 1939
and was buried at St Fintan’s Sutton.
2 Thomas D’Alton, third son born circa 1825 of Edward Neville D’Alton
and grandson of Michael Dalton of Ross Castle. He was a merchant
living at Russell Place when he married Emma Egan, daughter of
Thomas Egan on 11 Jan 1851 at St George’s Church Dublin and lived
at Emorville Terrace, South Circular Road. He died 17 Aug 1878 aged
53 at 3 Frankfort Avenue, Rathgar and was buried at Mount Jerome.
Thomas was married and a warehouse keeper. His wife was the
executor of his Will. He was buried at Mount Jerome.
3 Eliza D’Alton born 1847, granddaughter of Michael D’Alton of
Woodpark, living 55 Dominick Street married Thomas James Crowe,
son of Thomas James Crowe on 8 Aug 1863 at St Mary’s Dublin. Thomas
worked for the census office and died aged 28 on 7 Royal Canal Tce on
20 Jul 1870 and was buried at St George’s Burial ground. Eliza secondly
married Robert Drought, a bank official of 9 Royal Canal Terrace son of
George Drought of Ballyboy, Kings County on 23 Oct 1871 at All Saints,
Grangegorman. Elizabeth died 22 May 1925 at 50a Leinster Road
Rathmines aged 78, the home of her daughter M E MacDonagh.
3 John Henry Dalton born circa 1795 died 9 Mar 1813 in his 18th year.
4 Eyre Stratford D’Alton born circa 1805 was a Captain of the Ross Castle Corps of
Infantry. He converted to Roman Catholicism and died January 1827 aged 22.
A month's mind was held for at the RC Chapel at Sixmilebridge in February
1827.
5 Jane Alicia D'Alton only daughter married Thomas Lewis of the 48th Regiment in May 1830 at
Limerick. Alicia secondly married Henry O’Brien of Butler’s Lodge, Co Tipperary in
June 1840.
To an Old Tenor
Melfort Dalton, I knew you well
With your frozen eyes and your spastic stance.
Ah, but your voice was as clear as a bell
When you tenored the ladies into a trance;
The finest tenor in town you were,
Finest; but those were the days of yore,
Oh, but weren't you arrogant then,
Weren't you arrogant, Chanticleer,
When you told each hostess to go to hell:
"I'll sing what I like and I'll read the score"?
Little they knew, but I knew what you meant:
Yourself you first had to magnify
Before your notes unto Heaver were sent-
(Peacocks and tenors and G.P.I.)
I knew it, and that is the reason why
I now am recording the wonderful tale
Of how you received an offer to come,
Though your eyes and your legs were beginning to fail,
And sing at St. Joseph's Old Maids' Home,
And all the honors you gained therefrom.
We sat in the nearest respectable bar
Waiting the message of how you fared;
And, though you wished it, we were not for
Success overwhelming quite prepared.
Sitting we waited and tippled the ale;
In came the scout with the wonderful word
Of how they tittered and how you scored:
"Called back four times." And we roared, "Waes-hael!
Melfort has done it again, good Lord!"
We were not allowed in the Old Maids' Home;
And rightly so, for they might be scared;
But "Here, boy, here. Tell us all How Come?"
He shuffled at first then he came to a stand.
He did not bow as a fav'rite should
(He knew the balance was none too good)
But he started with a visage inane and bland"
"But how did he merit such great applause?
Be more explicit, you poor recorder?"
"Once for singing and thrice because
His dress revealed a quaint disorder."
Moral
(Non Nobis)
A moral lies in this occurrence:
Let those who have too much assurance
And think that public approbation
That comes from songs or an oration
Is due but to their own desert,
Remember Melfort Dalton's shirt
Oliver St. John Gogerty
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2019
Michael D’Alton JP and captain of Ross Castle, Rossmanager, Bunratty one of the senior
magistrates of County Clare died at Sixmilebridge late of Ross Castle on 16 Feb 1837.
1 Amelia D’Alton eldest daughter of Michael D’Alton late of Ross Castle died
20 Jan 1826 and was buried at Bunratty churchyard.
2 Edward Neville D’Alton second son born circa 1794, Lieut Royal Navy, and
Chief Office Coastguard. He rescued the crew and passangers of the brig
Woodbine of Scarborough off the Isle of Arran in 1835. He was transferred
from Claggar Station to Mannon Bay in 1844 and was Acting Inspector
Commander in 1847. Edward died 30 Mar 1871 at 9 Royal Canal Terrace,
Dublin aged 77.
1 Edward Neville D’Alton, Coast Guard born circa 1822 at Clare joined the
Royal Navy in 1843 as a Coast Guard and married Johanna William.
Coastguard to Sherries 1863 to 1866, Balbriggan from 1866 to 1873
before becoming coastguard at Howth. He died at Seaview Tce., Clontarf
in 1905 aged 83. Johanna died 7 Mar 1919 aged 78 at Leicester Lodge
and was buried at St Fintan’s Sutton.
1 Edgar De Montmorenci D'Alton, born circa September 1860 fifth
son of Edward D’Alton, grandson of Edward Neville D’Alton and great
grandson of Michael D’Alton of Ross Castle drowned by falling
overboard the ship Astracan at Great Horn on passage from Port
Victor South Australia to London aged 18 and 2 months on
19 Nov 1878.
2 Amy Arabella D’Alton born circa 1861 at Galway became a hospital
nurse died unmarried 23 Nov 1932 aged 71 and was buried at St
Fintan’s Sutton.
3 Son Dalton born 9 Dec 1863 at Skerries.
4 Olive D’Alton born circa 1864 died unmarried on 30 Mar 1954 aged
90 at Leicester Lodge and was buried at St Fintan’s Sutton.
5 Octavius D’Alton born 16 Aug 1865 at Balbriggan.
.
6 Daughter D’Alton born 1 May 1867 at Balbriggan.
7 Henry Frederick McKay D’Alton born circa 1868 a theatre agent died
unmarried at Leicester Lodge Clontarf 5 Jun 1936 aged 68.
8 Gertrude Campbell D’Alton born circa 1869 died unmarried
9 Nov 1939 aged 70 at Leicester Lodge, Clontarf and was buried at St
Fintan’s Sutton.
9 Melfort Campbell D'Alton born circa 1869 was a Vicar Choral at
St Patrick’s Cathedral and lived at 68 Gardiner Street with his sisters
Gertrude and Olive at Lower Gardiner Street in 1901. He studied at
St Patricks and then Italy. He was a renowned Tenor and lived at
19 Lower Pembroke Street from 1906. He married Isabella Jefferson
of 3 Mount Street Crescent, daughter of T Ross Jefferson at St
Patrick’s Cathedral on 12 Dec 1906. He joined up in 1914 with the
British Red Cross and the Order of Jerusalem and acted as an orderly
during WW1. He was dismissed as a Vicar Choral in 1916 when the
Board changed. He was a noted authority on Handel and was
presented with a medal from the Handel Society by Herr Wilheln von
Khlmann, German minister on the 250 anniversary of Haldel’s birth.
He was a judge and on the committee of the Feis Ceoil. He gave a
concert at Lodge Park, Tivoli Road, Dun Laoghaire after which Oliver
St John Gogarty wrote a poem about him. Isabella born circa 1864
died at 85 Palmerston Road on 30 Jul 1919 and was buried at St Fintans,
Sutton. Melfort died at St Kevin’s Hospital on 9 Jan 1942 and was buried
with his wife.
10 Alfred de Courcy D’Alton, seventh son born circa 1871 Co Dublin was a
Post Office Clerk, he died at Leicester Lodge unmarried on 5 Nov 1939
and was buried at St Fintan’s Sutton.
2 Thomas D’Alton, third son born circa 1825 of Edward Neville D’Alton
and grandson of Michael Dalton of Ross Castle. He was a merchant
living at Russell Place when he married Emma Egan, daughter of
Thomas Egan on 11 Jan 1851 at St George’s Church Dublin and lived
at Emorville Terrace, South Circular Road. He died 17 Aug 1878 aged
53 at 3 Frankfort Avenue, Rathgar and was buried at Mount Jerome.
Thomas was married and a warehouse keeper. His wife was the
executor of his Will. He was buried at Mount Jerome.
3 Eliza D’Alton born 1847, granddaughter of Michael D’Alton of
Woodpark, living 55 Dominick Street married Thomas James Crowe,
son of Thomas James Crowe on 8 Aug 1863 at St Mary’s Dublin. Thomas
worked for the census office and died aged 28 on 7 Royal Canal Tce on
20 Jul 1870 and was buried at St George’s Burial ground. Eliza secondly
married Robert Drought, a bank official of 9 Royal Canal Terrace son of
George Drought of Ballyboy, Kings County on 23 Oct 1871 at All Saints,
Grangegorman. Elizabeth died 22 May 1925 at 50a Leinster Road
Rathmines aged 78, the home of her daughter M E MacDonagh.
3 John Henry Dalton born circa 1795 died 9 Mar 1813 in his 18th year.
4 Eyre Stratford D’Alton born circa 1805 was a Captain of the Ross Castle Corps of
Infantry. He converted to Roman Catholicism and died January 1827 aged 22.
A month's mind was held for at the RC Chapel at Sixmilebridge in February
1827.
5 Jane Alicia D'Alton only daughter married Thomas Lewis of the 48th Regiment in May 1830 at
Limerick. Alicia secondly married Henry O’Brien of Butler’s Lodge, Co Tipperary in
June 1840.
To an Old Tenor
Melfort Dalton, I knew you well
With your frozen eyes and your spastic stance.
Ah, but your voice was as clear as a bell
When you tenored the ladies into a trance;
The finest tenor in town you were,
Finest; but those were the days of yore,
Oh, but weren't you arrogant then,
Weren't you arrogant, Chanticleer,
When you told each hostess to go to hell:
"I'll sing what I like and I'll read the score"?
Little they knew, but I knew what you meant:
Yourself you first had to magnify
Before your notes unto Heaver were sent-
(Peacocks and tenors and G.P.I.)
I knew it, and that is the reason why
I now am recording the wonderful tale
Of how you received an offer to come,
Though your eyes and your legs were beginning to fail,
And sing at St. Joseph's Old Maids' Home,
And all the honors you gained therefrom.
We sat in the nearest respectable bar
Waiting the message of how you fared;
And, though you wished it, we were not for
Success overwhelming quite prepared.
Sitting we waited and tippled the ale;
In came the scout with the wonderful word
Of how they tittered and how you scored:
"Called back four times." And we roared, "Waes-hael!
Melfort has done it again, good Lord!"
We were not allowed in the Old Maids' Home;
And rightly so, for they might be scared;
But "Here, boy, here. Tell us all How Come?"
He shuffled at first then he came to a stand.
He did not bow as a fav'rite should
(He knew the balance was none too good)
But he started with a visage inane and bland"
"But how did he merit such great applause?
Be more explicit, you poor recorder?"
"Once for singing and thrice because
His dress revealed a quaint disorder."
Moral
(Non Nobis)
A moral lies in this occurrence:
Let those who have too much assurance
And think that public approbation
That comes from songs or an oration
Is due but to their own desert,
Remember Melfort Dalton's shirt
Oliver St. John Gogerty
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2019