DALTON, Thomas (1517-91), of Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorks.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. 1517, 3rd s. of Thomas Dalton of Kingston-upon-Hull by Maud, da. of Thomas Wilkinson of Kingston-upon-Hull. m. (1) Anne Walker, s.p.; (2) Anne, da. of Sir Robert Tyrwhitt of Kettleby, Lincs., 5s. 3da.

Offices Held

Sheriff, Kingston-upon-Hull 1550-1, mayor 1554, 1560, 1569

Biography

Dalton, whose family had been prominent in Hull for many years, and whose father and brothers were also merchants, traded extensively with the Netherlands. In May 1561 he was among the merchants of the Calais staple who founded a staple in England. He used much of his considerable wealth to buy land, mainly in Yorkshire, such as the manors of Sutton and Paull; one of his largest purchases was made in June 1558, when he and Sir Henry Gates paid over £2,000 for the lordship and manor of Sculcoates, near Hull, together with some Breconshire property.

In Parliament he sat on at least one committee, on 21 Feb. 1576 for butlerage and prizage of wines. During the session of 1581 ill-health prevented his attendance, and he was replaced by Thomas Fleming I. However at the end of the session the House disallowed the substitution.

He died 4 Jan. 1591, and was buried at Trinity church, Hull, where a brass depicts him and his two wives, describing him as a merchant of the staple and adventurer. His will, made on 30 Dec. 1590, was proved at York on 10 Dec. the following year. His second son William became recorder of Hull and attorney-general of the court at York, and one of William’s sisters, Anne, married Sir Ralph Ellerker.

York reg. 11, f. 259; 24, f. 769; Yorks. Arch. Jnl. xii. 218; C. Dalton, Wrays of Glentworth, ii. 208; Foster, Yorks. Peds. i; Genealogist, n.s. xxi. 45-6; T. Gent, Kingston-upon-Hull, 119, 120, 122; Bronnen tot de Geschiedenis van den Handel met Engeland, Schotland en Ierland, ed. Smit, 691-702, 1069-71; CPR, 1557-8, pp 288-9; 1560-3, p. 29; Yorks. Fines (Yorks. Arch. Soc. rec. ser. ii), 193, 310 et passim; (v) passim; CJ, i. 107, 135; D’Ewes, 308 prints James Dalton.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: W.J.J.

Notes