Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

his town who has done more for the youth
of the day in an educational way, which,
after all, is the foundation of their life's
career. Mr. Dayton is held in the highest
respect and esteem ; he is among Green-
wich's ablest citizens.
The origin of the name of Dayton is
from Dal-ton, previously Dale-ton, meaning
a farm in the dale, which places it
among the names derived from location.
The ancestor of the family was Ralph
Dayton, of whom further.
(I) Ralph Dayton, who was probably
born in County York, England, about
1588, and was one of those who formed
the company of Governor Theophilus
Eaton and Rev. John Davenport, settled
in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1638.
Later, Ralph Dayton sold out and removed
to Easthampton, Long Island,
where he died in 1657.
(II) Robert Dayton, son of Ralph Dayton,
was born in 1628, in England, and
came to New Haven with his father, removing
with him to Long Island, and
there he died, April 16, 1712. He mar-
ried Elizabeth Woodruff, a daughter of
John Woodruff.
(III) Beriah Dayton, son of Robert
and Elizabeth (Woodruff) Dayton, was
born in 1668, and died April 30, 1746. The
Christian name of his wife was Jane.
(IV) Beriah Dayton, Jr., son of Beriah
and Jane Dayton, was born in 1708. Lit-
tle is known of this generation except that
he had a son.
(V) Jesse Dayton, son of Beriah Dayton,
Jr., was born in 1733, and he mar-
ried Hannah —-—-. They were the
parents of David Dayton, of whom fur-
ther.
(VI) David Dayton, son of Jesse and
Hannah Dayton, was born in Easthampton,
Long Island, December 21, 1761, and
died in Greenwich, Connecticut, January
23, 1838. He married, January 21, 1789,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
360
Elizabeth Osborne, who was born in
Easthampton, November 2, 1766, and died
April 10, 1837, in Greenwich.
(VII) David (2) Dayton, son of David
(i) and Elizabeth (Osborne) Dayton, was
born March 2, 1798, and died January 26,
1872. He married, March 6, 1827, Eliza-
beth Brush, daughter of Edward Brush,
and member of a family long resident in
Greenwich. Elizabeth (Brush) Dayton
was born in 1797, and died September 20,
1863. David (2) Dayton learned the
trade of weaver, which he followed for
many years. He was also an extensive
farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Dayton were the
parents of seven children, two daughters
and five sons, one of them Henry Day-
ton, of whom further.
(VIII) Henry Dayton, son of David
(2) and Elizabeth (Brush) Dayton, was
born in Greenwich, Connecticut, Septem-
ber 10, 1834. He was educated in the
district schools of his native town, and
early in February, 1849, he went to the
metropolis to engage in business. His
first employment was with a cousin, who
was in the grain business in "The Old
Greenwich Village," New York City, and
after a few years Mr. Dayton drifted into
mercantile fields, as a salesman on the
road. Over a half century ago, Mr. Day-
ton became identified with the insurance
business and this has been the occupation
which he has since followed, maintaining
offices in New York City.
Mr. Dayton has spent his life among
children, having been interested and ac-
tive in Sunday school work from early
boyhood, and also has served for thirty-
eight years on different school boards.
For ten years he was a trustee of the old
public schools of "Greenwich Village,"
New York City, and when he returned to
his native town as a resident in the mid-
dle of April, 1885, he was put on the
school board there. Mr. Dayton was an