Comte d'Alton

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Comte d’Alton is a French “noblesse d’eppe” title granted by Hugh Capet to a Guild Master from Altenbourg who arrived in France sometime in the late 900’s. Several holders of the title were administrators of Calais after the system of hereditary administration of townships were abolished along with feudal dues, under the Bourbons. This often leads to the title being misquoted as ‘Comte du Calais’. This is inaccurate as there never was a Comte du Calais, owing to the long period of time when the Township was an English territory.

[edit] Recent history

The current holder of the title is unconfirmed. The title can be traced from the Revolution as having fled to London for two generations. It is known that the Comte of the day left the Dowager Comtesse, his mother, to deal with his debtors, while he fled to Ireland. Once in Ireland the Comte lived under the falsely anglicised surname ‘Dalton’ in county Meath.

Historians have been able to trace the title to a Thomas Dalton from the early 20th century, who is believed to have married a Barbara Twoomey. There is no record of Thomas’s emigration from Ireland, and it is believed he was in some way involved with the I.R.A., leaving the country illegally to escape arrest. Under an archaic French law that ceased to be formal law with the 1789 revolution, a noble title cannot be inherited by someone who has not been confirmed as a catholic by his 21st birthday.

The Comte d’Alton would also have claim to the fabulous collection of emerald jewellery that was taken to Ireland. The whereabouts of the jewels has been unknown for almost three hundred years.

[edit] Current Holder/Heirs

The descendants of Thomas Dalton and Barbara Twoomey live in Melbourne, Australia. The senior heir is Owen Emmett Dalton. As the title remains unclaimed, any one of his descendants through the male line can claim it upon his death. The child of a French noble can take the father's title before their baptismal name as a courtesy, but cannot be addressed by the title 'excellence', which is reserved solely for the title holder himself.

Owen's descendants entitled to use a courtesy title, or inherit the noble title are listed below:

[ Comtesse ] Anne Hede (nee Dalton)

[ Comte ] Michael Dalton - Primary first generational heir

[ Comte ] Jeffrey Dalton - 2nd first generational heir

Tomas Dalton - Primary second generational heir

James Dalton - 2nd second generational heir

[ Comtesse ] Jennifer Buckland - wife of Jeffrey Dalton

[ Comte ] Denis Dalton - 3rd first generational heir

Benjamin Dalton - 3rd second generational heir

[ Comtesse ] Jennifer Dalton - wife of Denis Dalton

[ Comtesse ] Susan Belk (nee Dalton)

Owen's full title, should he ever claim it, is: 'Son Excellence Le Comte d'Alton'