Dalton, Massachusetts - Births, Marriages and Deaths to 1850. Genealogy

Description

Vital Records of Dalton
, Massachusetts to the year 1850
(Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1906) The Essex Institute, 1918) 82 pgs., hardcover.  Dalton
is a community in Berkshire Co., Mass., settled in 1755 and incorporated in 1784.  Genealogical treasure of all the births, marriages and deaths in the community until 1850.  This series often contains besides vital records from the town clerk other sources including church, cemetery, and private records such as diaries and family bibles. A wonderful source for your local history or genealogical collection.
History
: Dalton was first settled in 1755 on former Equivalent Lands, and officially incorporated in 1784. The town was named after Tristram Dalton, the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives at the time of the town's incorporation. Dalton was settled as a rural-industrial community, with mills set up along the East Branch of the Housatonic River and small patches of farmland in other areas. In 1801, Zenas Crane, Henry Wiswall and John Willard set up a paper mill along the river which, by 1844, had begun producing banknote paper, which was purchased by banks all the way to Boston. The company, Crane & Co., still is the largest employer in town, making paper products, stationery, and, since 1873, has been the only supplier of paper for the Federal Reserve Note, the United States' paper money. The town now has a mix of small town and suburban qualities, and was served by trolleys to Pittsfield for many years. In 1973, Dalton was the host of the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE or ISDT), also referred to as "The Olympics of Motorcycling". The ISDE is an annual event held in a different country each year since 1913 (minus WWI and WWII), and draws competitors from all around the world.