Hi Mark -
Thanks for that! Fascinating. One of the sons of David Dalby was Augustus, born 1779 (an elder brother of my ancestor Octavius). He was a Master in the Royal Navy (the youngest ever when promoted in 1801), and served on a number of ships from 1801 to at least 1807 - but probably later as well. One of his sisters had married Jasper Burniston (or Boniston) who was a Selby ship owner. It would not surprise me in the least if this was Augustus Dalby. By then he was living in Saltash, Cornwall, but as a seafarer he could well have gone back to Yorkshire. He was quite wealthy from prize money during the wars, and also received half-pay RN pension as well as holding a number of other positions from time to time, including chief customs officer at Dartmouth, purse of a Cornish tin mine, and towards the end of his life commisioner of pilotage at St Ives.
I shall certainly look out for George Hood. Not a name that I have come across - but it sounds very naval! Not related to Admiral Hood ?
all the best
Stephen