Hello all,
This is aimed at those listers who are descended from Stevan Catlay of Normanton.(by my
count that entails eight of you)
Most of you already know of the book:- " British Military Intelligence in the
Crimean War" by Stephen Harris which features our Charles Cattley who set up the
first recognised British Army Intelligence network of spies working for the Allied armies
in the Crimea and you will also be aware that I helped this author to flesh out the
character of Charles from our family records.
Just to let you know that about 18 months ago now, I was contacted by a Jean Hood, a
retired member of Lloyds of London's historical branch. In her latter years of
employment she came across reports in the Lloyds archives of one 3rd Lt John Dale of The
Honourable East India Company. The more records she read concerning John Dale, the more
entranced she became with what he had done whilst serving in the H.E.I.C because here was
factual historical evidence of a man who's exploits read more like a Captain
Hornblower or a Richard Bolitho Naval fiction novel!
She decided that his story needed telling in the form of a biography and set out to write
a book on him. Like Stephen Harris she became stuck concerning any family background but
did know that he had married a Frances Bode Cattley in 1812. Thus she started to look into
Cattley as a name hoping for a connection. Via Erica (who else?!) an enquiry eventually
landed in my lap from Jean and thanks to our family records, I was able to give her the
leads she needed to find out a whole lot more on him including the descendant who owns his
sextant and telescope.
Jean has just contacted me to say that her book "Marked for Misfortune" is about
to be released from the Publishers and I can vouch that it will be well worth a read or
even a purchase.
This side of family genealogy where one can put to good use, all the information carefully
gleaned and stored is really what it is all about. It is one thing to do the research (at
any level, from circumstantial to deep "pioneering" stuff) but far more
rewarding is being able to share it with others which helps send them further along their
own research path.
Look out for the book, I do not yet know who the publisher is but will advise asap when I
know.
Regards to all Tim