Hi Brad Fitzgerald
Welcome to the Catalpa Project.
Your joining message is very intriguing.
Hello, I wish to join this project because I have a number of connections to the event. 1. My Great Aunt Mary Tondut (On my dad's mum's side) was involved in the rescue. She had John Breslin's child (a son) in Sydney in Dec 1876. John paid for her to travel from Perth to Sydney so she could avoid questioning after the event. 2. Mary's sister was married to Henry O'Grady, who was the brother of Capt John O'Grady of the Georgette, Captain John O'Grady of the Georgette, the ship that chased the Catalpa and fired a hurriedly fitted artillery cannon across the stern and then the bow of the Catalpa, and was prepared to sink the Catalpa before Captain Anthony of the Catalpa hoisted the American flag and via megaphone advised the Georgette they were now in international waters, and that perhaps it wouldn't be wise to cause an international incident by sinking an American ship. 3. My 3rd GG Father (on my mum's dad's side) William James Moriarty helped John Boyle O'Reilly escape (with Maguire and Father McCabe) and hid him in his house before Maguire rowed him out to an American whaler, which ultimately got O'Reilly to Boston. I've had recent contact because of a DNA match with a 3rd cousin living in Sydney who is a great grandchild of John Breslin's son. She knows very little of the Catalpa rescue or the Fenians in general, as do I. I want to join this project because I think I have something to add and I also see it as a great opportunity to learn more about my Irish heritage. "
Are you able to fill in the profiles linking O'GRADY?
Many regards
Peter
