Memoirs of James Ord
of Ord Rancho, California

Edited by Henry W. Shoemaker
(Author of "The Last of the War Governors")

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The Memoirs of James Ord
of Ord Rancho, California

Edited by Henry W. Shoemaker
(Author of "The Last of the War Governors")

Published by the Altoona Times Tribune
Altonna, Pennsylvania
1920

/-*

JAMES ORD
(From a Daguerreotype Formerly in the Possession
of His Grandson J. P. Ord)

(Frontispiece)

Preface
THE romantic legend attached to James Ord has always
possessed a peculiar charm for historians and literat-
teurs. Many have upheld his honest belief that he was
the son of King George the Fourth, of England, and
Mrs. Maria Fitzherbert, while others, including the gifted Irish
author, Shane Leslie, have made light of his pretentions. Fortu
nately for his descendants and friends, he left several autobiog
raphical fragments, some in his own handwriting, which tell the
story better than any one could relate it for him. If the account
of his royal blood be true, then he and his posterity are much-
wronged persons, who have suffered the loss of birthright and
prestige with becoming dignity. Stripped of their royal rights
by political exigencies, they have carved out name and fame for
themselves in America, where they have left an imperishable
heritage. Several of James Ord's sons won distinction in varied
fields. Major General E. O. C. Ord, who was one of General
Grant's trusted leaders, commanded the Pennsylvania Cavalry
in the Civil War; Colonel James L. Ord was a noted military
surgeon during the same war; Colonel Robert Brent Ord won
fame as a ranchman and stock raiser in California ; Pacifiicus O'rd
was a learned Judge, while the only daughter, Mrs. S. W. Holla-
day, played a prominent part in the social life of San Francisco,
and was for years the Regent of the Colonial Dames. In the
third generation were scions of equal repute. Lieutenant Jules
Garesche Ord, son of the General, was known as "The Hero of
San Juan Hill," where he gave his young life, and is buried under
the Ord monument at Arlington. J. P. Ord, a leading official
of the General Electric Company, added the prestige of wealth
to the family name, while Lieutenant James T. Ord and Captain
E. O. C. Ord, Jr., two other sons of the General, served credita
bly during the Spanish-American War. As in the third, so also
in the fourth generation the name of Ord shines with undimmed
1 lustre. Major James Basevi Ord, "The Hero of Parral," who
was aAvarded the Distinguished Service Medal for conspicuous
bravery on the Border, and was also decorated by the Republic
of China, is now the American Military Attache at The Hague;
Captain Ord Preston is named among the aviators of the World

War; while Colonel James E. Ord was a member of the Staff of
Lieutenant General Hunte'r Liggett, First Army, U. S. A.,
A. E. F. Mrs. Henry W. Shoemaker (Mabelle R. Ord) is a
leader in women's patriotic activities, and is an honorary member
of Colonel Hugh White Chapter, D. A. R., of Pennsylvania, and
served as Secretary of the D. A. R. Chapter at Mexico City,
Mexico, for several years. Even the venerable James Ord- him
self, in his younger days, was an officer of the United State?
Army and of the United States Navy, and was always filled with
a patriotic fervor for his adopted country. However, the mys
tery of his birth and early surroundings always tinged him witli
melancholy, and he longed to solve the secret of his parentage.
The gist of his reflections on the subject will convince those who
wish to be convinced, but his innate honesty and refusal to be
led away by romantic suppositions leaves the question in doubt
when the last word is read, if the reader wishes to doubt. Prob
ably apart from the satisfaction to his descendants which the
publication of these fragments will give — the word' fragments is
used designedly, as some of the papers which were appended to
the original manuscripts are lost — will be to stimulate a further
sympath'etic research into the beginnings of this remarkable man.
The libraries of the United States and England may reveal links
which will cHnch the chain of evidence and prove the modest old
Galifornian to be the rightful heir to the British throne. Such
ifvould be the wish of his kin, not for the glory attached, but to
settle a long-discussed question in a manner creditable to all con
cerned: The preservation of these chapters in book form will
clear the way for the historian of the future and give him a foun
dation on which to build his investigations. James Ord's wife,
formerly Miss Rebecca Ruth Cresap, came from a no less unique
and brilliant ancestry. Captain Michael Cresap, who Hes buried
in Old Trinity Churchyard;, New York, was a noted Indian
fighter in his day, and his alleged slaughter of the family of the
Indian warrior, James Logan, or Tah-gah-ju-te, gave rise to the
redman's impassioned oration, "Logan's Lament." The Cresap
family has furnished many distinguished officers of the American
Army and Navy, as well as leaders in civilian life. Apai-t from
all traditions of royalty, the progeny of the Ord-Cresap line can
feel proud' of generations of patriotic and true-hearted Ameri
cans behind them who were never found, wanting in any national
crisis. It is hoped that the following pages will carry on the
spirit of the writer, whose sole desire was to estabHsh the truth

of bis birth and origin. Thanks are due to Mrs. Reginald
Brooke, of London, a daughter of Mrs. Holladay, who preserved
manuscripts, and for the loan of the photograph of James Ord,
used as the frontispiece.
Henry W. Shobmakek.

"Restless Oaks," McElhattan, Pennsylvania.
June 25, 1920.

James Ord's Memoirs
Soquel (Ord) Ranch, Santa Cruz County, California
December 3rd, 1858

(Again reviewed and revised October 30th, 1859)
(Again reviewed and revised October 25th, 1863)

IN THE following pages I propose to note down some of the
events connected with my own personal history so far as
they are known to myself from my earliest recollection,
hoping that the few items which I shall hereinafter record will,
in the hands of any one interested in the matter, lead to a more
full and definite knowledge of my birthplace and parentage than
what is now known to myself.
My name is James Ord.
I am about 73 or 73 years old*, as near as I can suppose, for
I cannot be certain as to my age.
The first place about which I have any clear recollection of
childhood is the City of Norfolk, Virginia, where I lived with a
man by name Xames Ord and his sister, Mary Ord, who were
always recognized by me as my uncle and jmotherij: respectively.
Their mother was Helen Ord, who was also one of that
family with whom I lived in my early childhood§.
I first went to school in Norfolk in Church Street (teacher
named Wilkinson, I thirfk) ; placed there while I was living with
James Ord, who was by profession a naval architect. I also
went to school a while near the then Borough of Norfolk, Va.,
dn a branch of the Elizabeth River ( ?) near where James Ord
was then building a vessel, and I cannot now recollect which was
my first schooling as between these two places.
I was a small boy at the time, and do not recollect what I
studied at either of these places, but at one of these schools I
had in my hands a small book of Capt. Wilson's voyages to the

*Note in J. O.'s handwriting, 72 or 73 in 1858.
tMother, not Aunt, whidh I have erased. — James Ord.
tSee P. 14.
§See P. 14

Loo Chu (?) Islands (I think this was at Wilkinson's school),
and do not recollect whether it was one of school books then
to be studied by me or not, but it is one of the first books which
I recollect as a book. I was then too small to participate in the
general boyish school boy plays. James Ord went to the Great
Bridge near Norfolk, fourteen or fifteen miles therefrom, and in
the direction of the Dismal Swamp, to build a vessel for Thomas
or John Brent, a merchant then at Norfolk (see among' my
papers. Doc. A, a doctor's bill receipted for medical attendance
account of Mrs. Ord's child, dated 1791 ; that bill accrued at the
Bridge, and the "child" or "son" referred to therein was myself.
Helen Ord (the mother of the James and Mary Ord) died
there at the Great Bridge, October 21, 1791 (see Doc. 34, certifi
cate of John Brent) . I do not recollect her personally. I was
too young. If I have any recollection of her it is now 'too indis
tinct to say for certain whether or not I ever saw her.
Mary Ord, the sister of James Ord (my uncle) and widow
of Raphael Ord (a distant relation of James Ord), died at Nor
folk. I remember her, about taking her coffin in a boat and
going with my uncle in the boat to bury the remains of Mary
Ord at the graveyard at the Great Bridge, from which fact I
infer that Helen Ord died earlier than Mary.
I recollect of being with the family of John Brent frequently
and staying with them at times ill Norfolk, where they resided
for a time. About this time, and after Mary Ord died, James
Ord resolved to go to England and to take me with him, and, as
I recollect, engaged our passage on board a ship and bought
some provisions for the voyage, and one day, as he was going on
the wharf towards the ship, leading me by the hand, I was, I
think, then seven years old about, he addressed me thus : "James,
if you had your rights in England, you would have something
very great," or words to that effect. The words made a stronjij
impression on my mind at the time, but I was too young fully to
understand the purport of them or to know to what he alluded,
but he did not go to England, for some reason which I know not,
and that is all I recollect of what he said to me at that time. He
always called me "James," and I always called him "Uncle," and
he always gave me to understand that Mary Ord was my mother
(who died, as observed, before I remember calling her mother).
About 1796 we went from Norfolk in a sloop to Charles
County, Md., to the residence of John Brent (page 14), farmer,
about five miles from Port Tobacco, and' there remained until the
10

year 1799, during which time my uncle built a schooner there for
John Brent, and while in Charles County I went to school to two
different country schools, first to School-Master Thomas A.
Davis, afterwards Sheriff, I learned, and then second to School
Master Milbourn Adams. In the latter part of 1799 James Ord
left Charles County, and took me with him, and engaged in a
farm called "None Such" near Washington City, D. C, the
property of Notley Young, and while there we heard of the
death of Washington.
At "None Such" I went to school, stayed there a few
months, less than a year perhaps, and from which place I went to
college at the "Georgetown College," in Georgetown, D. C, and
entered the primary class, called the Class of Rudiments or
Humanities. Bishop Leonard Neale was then; President of that
college, and he afterwards (after death of Archbishop Carroll)
became the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Baltimore. At this
college I passed the usual course of study, was a novice in the
Order of Jesuits, contemplated entering the Roman Catholic
priesthood, but never studied theology. I remained there as a
student and master till 1811. One of my pupils afterwards be
came Governor of Maine — Governor Kavanaugh.
From this college I became a midshipman in the Navy of
the United States, served on board the "Congress" from July,
1811, to the spring of 1813, when I entered the Army as First
Lieutenant. Got my appointment in the Navy through Paul
Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy, and my commission in the
Army from President Madison; served in the Army until 1815,
when I resigned. In 1814 I married Miss Rebecca Ruth Cresap,
my now present wife ( see family Bible), in Allegheny County,
Maryland. I lived in said county to about 1819, when I went to Wash
ington, where I stayed until 1837, in the Government offices in
various public duties, and was a Magistrate J. P there from
1821 until 1837, appointed by President and Senate each five
years. I left and went to IlHnois as clerk to John Garland, who
was then Major Garland', Indian disbursing agent, now General
Garland. In April, 1837, I went to Chicago, III, where I remained till
July, 1837, when I went to Detroit, Mich., and received the ap
pointment as sub-Indian Agent at Sault Ste. Marie, where I
stayed till April, 1850. After that, till July, 1855, lived in Wash
ington, D. C, where I embarked for California, July 5, 1855, on
11

the steamer "George Law ;" arrived in California, July 28, 1855,
with wife, daughter, Georgiana Catherine, now Mrs. Samuel W.
Holladay, and my son, Robert Brent Ord. So muc:h for identity.
According to the best of my information on the subject, the
above named James Ord (my reputed uncle) and his mother and
sister, above mentioned, came to the United States of America
from Bilboa, Spain, in the year 1790 (about, not later than that),
they landing at Norfolk, Va. (Reference to the Custom House
records of that date for list of the emigrants at that time.) I
came to this country with them — that is, they brought me when
a small child. I have often heard my uncle say so. This family
of Ords were all English people. I have also heard from this
uncle that I was brought a tender infant from England to Bilboa
in Spain ; he also told me that I never sucked the breast, but was
brought up by hand ; that is, fed with a sucking bottle. This
uncle did not often speak to me of his relatives after I came to
years of understanding. From him I did not learn what was his
native town in England, but that fact appears from the papers
here on file that it was from the North of England somewhere
(perhaps Durham) . James Ord had a brother Robert, who was
a merchant, and went to the East Indies, and was not heard from
afterwards, as I ever learned. I think my uncle never heard of
him after. There was also another brother, John Ord, who was
in the British Navy, and died, leaving a will to Helen Ord, his
mother (see the papers on file). Also I discover from these
papers that my uncle, James Ord, had another sister besides the
sister Mary. This other sister he never spoke to me about
(Mrs. Cresap's first husband). I also learned from my uncle
that I had an attendant or teacher in Spain who taught me
Spanish, but I have no recollection of this fact myself. My
impression is that he told me that when in Spain I had a female
nurse and a male attendant or tutor.
As Mary Ord was represented to me to be my mother, so her
husband, Raphael Ord, was also represented to be my father.
These were the first representations made to me by James Ord,
my uncle ( ?) while I was very young.
Raphael Ord was never in this country, nor in Spain, but
was represented to have died at an early period. His name no
where appears in any papers I have, and I only know him by
having heard my uncle, James Ord, speak of such a man.
Raphael Ord's profession, as I understood, was that of
house carver, and his father a broker in London. My Uncle
12

James Ord died at the Navy Yard in Washington, D. C, in 1810,
of bilious fever, and at his death William Brent, the Clerk of the
United States Circuit Court in the District of Columbia, became
my guardian (or rather James Ord's executor), and he, Wilham
Brent (in about 1811, before I went to sea,) handed me a certifi
cate of marriage of Raphael Ord to Mary Ord, spinster, I think,
in St. George's Chapel (perhaps Windsor), the marriage pur
porting to be in 1786 (see register of marriages in the chapel).
While I was at college, and a day or two before his death (in his
last illness I went from the college to see him; found him very
ill), my uncle always seemed studiously silent as to my birth and
parentage, except that he told me that the Rev. Mr. Coen bap
tized me; more particularly I did not learn, but the impression
was and is that it was in London that I was so baptized by him.
He told me this more than once, I think.
I have reason to believe that my uncle had correspondents in
London, bat who they were, or the nature of their letters, I never
learned. My uncle used to visit me at the college, and I used to
visit him at the Navy Yard. My uncle paid part of the ex
penses of my education at the college, but how much I don't
know. This uncle was very kind, and affectionate, more than a
father to me. At his death my uncle left a little personal prop
erty, say about a thousand dollars, which came into the hands of
William Brent (page 15) as executor, and I realized this little
property (stock in the Potomac Bridge, and in the Coml. Com
pany) ; the latter failed and proved worthless.
In the year 1833, in a book store in Washington, I got a
book, "The Life of George IV," by Rev. Mr. Croly. This book I
read, and therein I found' (or else in the Annual Register) re
marks of proceedings in the Plouse of Commons in relation to
George IV alluding to his marriage with Mrs. Fitzherbert, which
was then and there denied as a fact by Charles James Fox. In
one of these books it is mentioned that Mrs. Fitzherbert received
from the Royal family of England an annual' pension or annuity
of some thousand pounds till her death.
I know that my Uncle James Ord was a strict Roman Cath
olic. It is also a historical fact that Mrs. Fitzherbert was also a
most rigid and zealous Roman Catholic. It is also a fact ap
pearing in the papers that my uncle, James Ord, was captain and
part owner of one of the Corunna packets plying between Eng
land and Spain. I also know from my recollection of James Ord,
my uncle, that he was a nautical man- (sailor), and it also
13

appears from one of the documents. No. 32, on file, that he was
examined and discharged from the British Navy for defect in
health. May 19, 1779. It was also from that certificate that I
learned his age, 40 years. I learned from the Annual Register
that a Mr. Fitzherbert was a Minister to Spain from England.
The Annual Register gives the Court proceedings, but no rela
tion appears between him and the Mrs. Fitzherbert. I have
heard my uncle, James Ord, speak of the fact, which also appears
from one of these documents, that he, my uncle, after he left
command of the Corunna packet, got an appointment as Naval
Architect under the Government of Spain in the Navy Yard at
Bilboa, in Spain. My uncle, James Ord^ on his' death bed, the
last time I ever saw him, said to me : "James, I have something
of the highest importance for you to communicate to you." He
did not state further what it was, and I did not ask him further,
expecting him to tell me at another time, but I never saw him
again alive.
Father William Mathews was the Dean or Vicar of St. Pat
rick's Church in Washington, and he was the priest and con
fessor of my uncle, James Ord (who left him $300 or there
abouts as a donation). Upon the application of my son. Captain
Ediwa'rd Oth'o Cresap Ord, of the United States Army, for infor
mation of him as to my parentage, he, Father Mathews, gave the
Captain a certificate, signed before a Notary Public, stating cer
tain facts concerning my origin, which he said had been commu
nicated to him by James Ord, then deceased. (See certificate in
possession of Major Pacificus Ord, dated about May 20, 1850,)
the substance of which is that he had learned from my uncle
that he was an Englishman, and went from England to Portu
gal ( ?), thence to America ; that I was with his mother and sister
going from England to Portugal, thence to the United States of
America, and that I was brought with them an infant for obvious
reasons. This certificate was given by Father Mathews to my
son. Captain Ord, and on his solicitation, for the purpose of
finding evidence as to my parentage. In the certificate Father
Mathews refers to my uncle as John Ord instead of James, and
he also speaks of his having gone from England to Portugal in
stead of to Spain. These are obvious mistakes arising from his
defect of mind and memory, as he was then in his dotage (about
1850 or '51), and was a very old man, born in 1770, as will appear
from a likeness of him, copies of which are still extant in his
parish, among his people, who held him in the highest esteem.
14

As before remarked, he was an intimate friend and ac
quaintance of my uncle, James Ord, and was speaking of him
when he calls him John in the certificate, and of his having gone
to Portugal. About 1833, and prior thereto, I became doubtful as to my
relationship by blood with James Ord, my reputed uncle, and
Mary Ord, his sister, my reputed mother, and with Helen Ord
as my reputed grandmother ; these doubts in my mind had been
excited from the recollection of what my uncle said to me on
the wharf at Norfolk, and also shortly before his death, as
before related, and also from some facts appearing in these
papers now here inconsistent with such relationship, and
also from other facts collected from a large quantity of papers
left by my uncle with William Brent in Washington at my uncle's
death. These papers I never received from William Brent till
somewhere about the years from 1827 to 1830 — as near as I can
remember, it was probably about the year 1827. About the year
1833, feeling these doubts, I made Father Mathews my friend
and confidant on this subject, he having been one of the Profes
sors of the Georgetown College while I was there as a student,
and I had been under him in his class some time, he teaching
rhetoric and belles letters — that is, he was my teacher and pro
fessor, and also he being in 1833 my parish priest.
I also must add here something more which appears in his
certificate given to my son in 1850 ; that is, that I never knew my
parents, and also that I was the son of the Duke of York (the
brother of the Prince of Wales, a son of George the Third) and
Lord Farmer's (Farmour's) (?) daughter (who is she?) This
in addition to what is said above is the purport of the certificate,
as near as I can recollect. It shows that my conjecture as to my
identity was close to the mark. In this conversation with Father
Mathews, in 1833, I communicated to him these facts produc
tive of doubts in my mind as to my relationship with the Ords
above named, and I also stated to him that I thought my mother
was Mrs. Fitzherbert, the wife of the Prince of Wales, after
wards King George IV, and that the said Prince of Wales was
my father. I also communicated to him all the various other
facts and circumstances which I had learned from my uncle and
from the various books which I had read in the investigation of
the case ; among them was the "Annual Register," being an
account of the proceedings of the House of Commons, and also
a book, "The Life of George IV," by Croly, and Lady
15

Guernsey's narration, who gives items of the history of herself
and other ladies of the Court, in which she states as- a fact that
Mrs. Fitzherbert was enciente. All these facts and impressions I
communicated to him when he expressed his approval of my
efforts to investigate the history, and readily offered to co-operate
with me in the business. Then I prepared a letter to Mrs. Fitz
herbert and read it to him ; he approved of the same and advised
me to send it, as it might result in clearing up the mystery of my
birth which lurked in my mind.

Written on the 3rd December, 1858, and read over carefully
and corrected by interlineations as above by S. W. Holladay, my
son-in-law, and as such approved on this 30th October, A. D.
1859, at Soquel (or Ord Rancho), by me.
(Signed) James Okd.
Witnessed by me : G. C. HoIvLADAY.

The Jesuit Tradition
In the "Centenary History of Georgetown College," pub
lished, in, 1891, under the auspices of the college, on page 29, is
the following statenient: "James Ord, son of King George IV,
of England, and his lawful wife, formerly Mrs. Maria Fitz
herbert, was enrolled among the students of this college in the
year 1800."
(An oil portrait of James Ord is said to be hanging on one
of the walls in the college. — H. W. S.)

Mrs. Surguy's Interesting Reminiscences
. , According to Mrs. H. W. S'urguy, of 1410 M. Street, N. W.,
Washington, D. C, Emilie Young, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Notley Young, was living until a comparatively few years ago.
As a : girl, Miss Young taught James Ord until a tutor was
brought from England to prepare him for entering Georgetown
College and the priesthood. Her conversations concerning her
illustrious pupil, which .she related in her old age were reiiTember.-
ed with interest: by her many friends. 16.

Memoranda Concerning James Ord
Born April 8th 1786 (?) - Died January 25th, 1873

Compiled by His Granddaughter, Mary (Ord) Preston
1896

AFTER the death of his mother and sister, James Ord
spoke of returning to England, and engaged his passage,
but he relinquished the idea suddenly, for what reason I
never knew. In 1795 or 1796, John Brent and his family left
Norfolk and returned to their old home, about five miles from
Port T'obacco, in Charles County, Maryland, and my uncle and I
went with him. I recollect that we went in a sloop. Here we
lived with the Brent family, and I was sent to two different
schools — first to one kept by Thomas A. Davis, who was after
wards Sheriff, and next to one kept by Milbourn Adams. In the
latter part of the year 1799*, when I was about thirteen years
old, I went to live with Notley Young on his estate, called "None
Such," then near but now a part of Washington City, D. C. I
recollect that while there the news of General Washington's death
reached us, which occurred on 14th of December, 1799. I re
mained at "None Such'' until April 12, 1800 (fourteen years old),
when I was placed at the Jesuit College at Georgetown, D. C,
the Rev. Leonard Neale being then I'resident of the College.
James Ord, my reputed uncle, was. then employed at the Navy
Yard, Washington, where he occupied the position of Naval
Constructor. Although I had always called him "Uncle," my
suspicions had for a long time been aroused as to the subject of
my parentage. Once, while we were out walking together, he
said to me : "James, if you had your rights, you would be some
one very great in England — at the very head, in fact. May God
forgive those who have wronged you !" Again, when I was at
Georgetown College, I asked him to tell me the date of my birth.
He hesitated for some moments and then said : "James, I do not
know well enough to tell you." All he ever told me was that I

*Making his birth year 1786. George IV and Mrs. Fitzherbert
were married in 1785. 17

was born in England, but I had never seen any father or sucked
the breast of my mother. That I had been taken as a tender
infant from England to Bilboa, Spain, where he had held an
appointment under the Spanish Government, and that when the
period of his service was over he had come to the United States
and brought me with him. He also told me that in Spain I had a
female nurse and a male attendant who taught me Spanish, but I
have no recollection of these circumstances.
James Ord rarely spoke to me of his relatives in England,
but I have heard him say that he had two brothers in the British
Navy, and that both of them had died on foreign service. I
think he also said his father was a sea-faring man who was lost at
sea. He also told me that the husband of his sister Mary (my
putative father) was one named Ralph Ord, a cousin of the
same name, and that he was the son of a broker in London. I
had many times seen my uncle receive letters from England, but
from whom they came I never knew. He was always extremely
kind to me, but his reticence and apparent embarrassment when
ever the subject of my or his family was mentioned impressed
me always very greatly.
At Georgetown College I passed through the usual course of
study, and then made up my mind to enter the priesthood. This
course was most warmly endorsed by my uncle, and I entered
the Jesuit Order as a novice in 1806, and took the order in 1808.
I remained until 1811.* While I was teaching at ¦ Georgetown
College, James Ord, my reputed uncle, died at the. Navy Yard,
Washington. His illness and death were very sudden. I was
sent for in great haste to come to him. He recognized me when
I entered the room, and said : "James, I have something of the
greatest importance to communicate to you," but in a moment,
before he could speak further, he fell into a state of unconscious
ness, and never spoke again. By his will he left me all the
personal property he possessed, with the exception of a few hun
dred dollars which he left to Rev. Francis Neale, then the Presi
dent of Georgetown College. The money realized from his
effects was paid me by William Brent, his executor. This gen
tleman was a brother of Robert Brent, and was also a brother-
in-law of Archbishop Carroll, both brothers having married
sisters of the famous Archbishop.
*E]vlidieiitlly the parenitaige and legitiimacy of James Ord were known
by the Jesuits, ais it is sSid that no one of unknown or illegitimate
origin can be admltteid to this famous order. — H. W. S.
18

Soon after the death of my uncle (which occurred in Octo
ber, 1810), I relinquished the idea of becoming a priest and left
the Georgetown College early in May, 1811, On the 9th of
June, 1811, I was appointed a midshipman in the United States
Navy, by Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy. I made a
cruise on the frigate "Congress," but, not liking the sea, I re
signed my commission on 13th of April, 1813, and a few days
afterwards, on 30th of April^ 1813, I was appointed a First
Lieutenant of the 36th U. S. Infantry, by President Madison. I
never knew, for certain, to whom I was indebted for the endorse
ments which secured these two appointments from- the above
named, but presumed it was to the Brent family, as they were
almost my sole friends when I left Georgetown College, and
where I had been continuously since my entrance in 1800, with
the exception of an occasional day spent with James Ord at the
Navy Yard.
In 1814 (28 years old) I married Rebecca Ruth Cresap,
daughter of Colonel Daniel Cresap, an officer in the Revolution
ary War. On 14th of February, 1815, I resigned my commission
in the Army and resided at the home of my wife's family in
Allegheny County, Maryland. Here were born my three eldest
children. James Oed.

Children of James Ord and Rebecca R. Cresap
I. Hon. Pacificus Ord, born 1816, died 1900.
II. Major General Edward Otho Cresap Ord, born 1818.
died 1883.
III. Colonel James L. Ord, born 1820, died 1898.
IV. Placidus Ord, born 1822, died 1876.
Y Colonel Robert Brent Ord, born 1826, died 1886.
VI. William M. Ord, born 1828, died 1882.
VII. John S. Ord, born 1832, died 1908.
\'III. Georgiana Catharine Ord Holladay, born 1834, of "Nob
Hill," San Francisco, California, (^widow of Judge S.
W. Holladay.) 19

Concerning James Ord
Who Died January 25th, 1873, as Related by Him to His
Children from 1850 to 1863

I HAVE always been known by the name of James Ord. My
earliest recollections are of living in the town of Norfolk,
Virginia, U. S. A., with a man named James Ord and his
sister, Mary Ord, who were recognized by me as my uncle and
mother, respectively. Their mother, Helen Ord, was also one of
the family. Helen Ord died at Great Bridge, a few miles from
Norfolk, in 1791. I have no recollection whatever of her. Mary
Ord, who I was taught to call "Mother," died in Norfolk, in
1792 or 1793. My only recollection is going in a boat to Great
Bridge to her funeral and seeing her coffin. My first vivid
recollections are of James Ord, who I called "Uncle,"and of a
Mr. John Brent and his family, with whom I spent much of my
time. Mr. Brent was the son of Paymaster Robert Brent, of the
U. S. Army, and a nephew of Archbishop Carroll, of Baltimore,
Maryland. James Ord, my reputed unclCj was a Naval Architect
and was employed by Mr. Brent in shipbuilding. He built a
vessel for Mr. Brent, called the "Ann," at Great Bridge, on the
Elizabeth River, near Norfolk. James Ord was an Englishman,
who came to the United States from Bilboa, Spain, in 1790. He
brought with him his mother, his sister and myself, and I was
about four years of age at that time. They landed at Norfolk,
Virginia, and my very earliest recollection is hearing a cock crow
on the deck of the vessel as we were about to leave her.
(Remaining pages apparently missing,)

NOTE: — The documents mentioned from time to time in the fore
going pages, in support of the compiler's contentions, are missing and
have been lost for many years. Doubtless copies will be secured later
on.— H. W. S.

20

From Death Bed Confessions of the Late
Countess of "Guernsey" (Jersey)

TO

Lady Anne Hamikon
(Lady-in- Waiting to Queen Caroline)

Developing a series of mysterious
transactions connected with the most
illustrious personages in the Kingdom
To which are added
The Queen's last letter to the King,
written a few days before her Majesty's
death —
and other authentic documents never
before published.

" / am the Viper that has been
secretely wounding you both."
Vide the Countess' Narrative

SECOND AMERICAN EDITION

Philadelphia
Published by James E. Moore
1823

(Extracts Only Relating to Mrs. Fitzherbert)
(J^ A T THAT time I was young and 'two' much engaged in
/A the amusements around me to regret the King's ab
sence; I speak of the year 1787*. About that period
we lost for a short time the ornament of our society, the all-
accomplished and graceful Prince of Wales: conjectures were
vague and various — some said, 'The Prince has taken an excur
sion to the coa'st, having accompanied a friend on his return to
France.' I felt not a little proud that I had been admitted a
party to the secret of his having gone to take a peep at Paris,
but this the Parisians were not intended to know, his object being
just to look at their then beautiful queen and to play one game
with her of rouleaux, under the incognito of an English noble
man; as, also, to satisfy himself whether the fashionable
madamoiselle de Lille was as pleasing as Fanny, and to try the
affections of the fascinating Widow Fitzherbert, who was then in
Paris, and about whom his head had wandered ever since he met
her at her uncle's. His absence did not exceed fifteen days ; his
return home was hailed by his mother and young friends as a
joyful event ; to me, however, it became less so, when I heard
that the widow had returned with him. At first, I endeavored
to think it a mere flirtation, an ephemeral passion, for well I
knew the susceptibility of his heart ! and, as long as I enjoyed his
friendship, feared not the flatterers of a day. But rumor soon
told a tale which the Prince did not contradict, even to me, 'That
Mrs. Fitzherbert met him at Calais, where they were united
according to the forms of the Romish Church.' The relatives
of the lady whispered this everywhere ; while the Prince's inti
mates pledged themselves to negative the fact. Meantime, two
houses at Brighton were fitted up in an accommodating style, so
as to admit an intercourse by a private passage. The lady as
sumed a great degree of stately hauteur, refusing access to many
of her former acquaintances, and all within her mansion bore the
mark of royalty. No one acknowledged, but yet every one treat
ed Mrs. Fitzherbert as the consort to the Prince, and their do
mestic happiness was the general topic, which, however, I was
little inclined to credit, the Prince being equally ardent in his
(*1785)? M. O. P. 93

pleasurable pursuits, and equally warm in our private interviews !
That he lived with the lady on a different footing to the usual
style of a. mistress was apparent ; and the 'circumstances being
related to his father, the latter was so hurt at the statement that
it materially aifected his spirits. The bare suspicion (for he
never ascertained the matter satisfactorily) that his son should
have acted contrary to Lhe la'ws of succession so^ prayed upon his
mind that, with other family disturbances, it produced a violent
paroxysm of a disorder which was near proving fatal to his life.
"Mrs. Fitzherbert continued the serious friend of the Prince
and was gratified to the extent of her wishes. Pride being her
prevailing passion, appearances were to her everything; the soft
emotions of the heart she was ever a stranger to.
"The Queen noticed her, as did several of the family ; the old
lady pretended to believe that Mrs. Fitzherbert kept steady the
affections of her favorite son — but here she tied a bandage over
her eyes from a wish hot to see.

"The story of the Prince's marriage with Mrs. Fitzherbert
had gained universal credit, notwithstanding the assertions of his
friends to the contrary. Pitt, a staunch Protestant, dreaded the
influence possessed by Mrs. Fitzherbert, it being well understood
they lived, in great domestic happiness and comfort, and though
she had never proved enciente by either of her former husbands,
and that the present alliance was null in every point of law,
yet the birth of a child would have been regarded as an event
likely to produce very fatal consequences, particularly as at that
time (doubtless to please Mrs. Fitzherbert) the Prince showed a
strong partiality towards the body of Catholics, even so as to
raise their hopes to the attainment of emancipation at no distant
period. This apprehension being exaggerated by the ministers
in their statement to the King, he resolved to make any sacrifice
to prevent it. In the early part of that year, he had repeated
interviews with the Prince respecting his marriage with some
roj'al foreigner, the interests of whose family might assimilate
with his own in religion and general politics. Not but that the
King felt delicately for Mrs. Fitzherbert's situation; and both
he and the Queen honored her with their private approbation ; at
the same time he could not conscientiously countenance so con-
24

spicuous an example in his son, as living in open violation of the
laws, which it was no less his interest than his duty to practice
and defend.

"Mrs. Fitzherbert the nation undertook to soothe, in the way
most congenial to her feelings — an addition to her income. Fi'om
childhood, money, and a certain style of living, were the desired
object of her choice, and she was happy in acquiring them,
even beyond her sanguine expectation ; inheriting from her father
the slender sum of one thousand pounds, she depended on a deli
cate complexion and a pair of blue eyes to do the rest. Vanity
found an entrance into the pious and retired education of a con
vent, and her school-fellows prophesied her longing spirit would
not rest until she acquired exalted rank. Without one iota of
the tender passion which, when felt in the extreme, forms ex
cuses for a thousand follies, she became successively the wife of
two gentlemen of large fortunes and of respectable famihes ;
who, by their generous liberality, left her a handsome jointure,
that enabled' her to support her rank in society ; but, as the incli
nation to please did not cease with the life of Mr. Fitzherbert,
she acquired the name of 'the fascinating widow.' Attracted
by this distinction, the Prince wished to see her, and an appoint-
rnent was made for the introduction to take place at her uncle's ;
on that occasion, she speculated so far as to risk seven hundred
guineas on a lace train, which she had lined with lilac as the most
becoming color of her complexion — more fortunate than many,
• her speculation answered!
"I shall now leave this lady to enjoy her jointures, and an
nuity, her royal liveries, and princely friends as long as she can.

"I observed to her (Queen Caroline) 'that Mrs. Fitzherbert
was fair, and the Prince always wished her not to be sparing of
rouge': she eagerly asked, 'Who is Mrs. Fitzherbert?' I hesi
tated, looked foolish, and begged her to excuse my inadvertency,
in having mentioned one whose name I ought particularly to have
avoided ; and declared, the interest I felt to render her appearance
as lovely as possible, had made me forgetful of other matters.
She persisted to inquire, and I made excuses ; urged at length by
her entreaties, I knelt before her, and, with convulsive sobs, that
25

I could well assume, besought her not to name my offense to the
Prince, who would never forgive my incautious conduct in speak
ing of a person who, certainly, had seemed to share his affections,
but whom there was no longer any cause to suspect; she having
consented to remain retired and unnoticed. 'Does any engage
ment bind the Prince to that lady?' asked the Princess. 'Excuse
me,' I replied ; 'I cannot answer that question now ; on some
future day I promise to disclose all.' 'On your honor, promise!"
said the Princess. 'Solemnly, I do!' was my answer. 'But
your highness is disturbed; I cannot forgive rnyself — let me
entreat your highness will take something to recruit your spirits.'
'A little cider will suffice,' said the Princess ; 'the voyage has
made me thirsty.' I rang — an attendant entered; I ordered
some cider, as also some brandy, and mixing some of the latter
with some cider, assured the Princess it would prove particularly
refreshing after her journey. No sooner had her highness swal
lowed the overpowering beverage, than a message was brought
that the ceremony waited her appearance, and she hastened to
join the family who had assembled in the closet, &c.

"It is well known," said I, "among the Prince's friends that
he never passed a night with Mrs. Fitzherbert ; their private in
tercourse was not conifined to time, but was at the call of incli
nation, the best mode, I think, to keep the flame of love alive.'
'Appropos, Guernsey,' (Jersey) said the Princess, 'you prom
ised me some particulars respecting that lady ; I wish you would
now communicate them.' 'I shall obey your highness' com
mands,' I replied, 'but I hope to be excused the relation now,
for it is a long story, and my lord might wonder at my delay.'
'Your apology is so good,' said the Princess, 'I accept it with
pleasure. I would not for a moment be the cause of disappoint-
rrient to you andyour lord's happiness; therefore, good night.'
"As she uttered the last words her highness sighed heavily,
and looked so sad, that it brought reproach to my mind. Oh !
how would her wish have changed had the Princess known it was
the Prince who waited for me!

"To prevent the Prince's ranging in the sweets of variety, I
kept him as much as possible to myself ; but here I did not always
succeed. His visits to Mrs. Fitzherbert were more frequent than
26

J judged necessary; but, as his delicacy made him still consider
it right to continue his clandestine attention to her, it appeared a
fit occasion for me to communicate the nature of the Prince's
engagement in that quarter; which I took an opportunity of
doing, under a promise on the part of the Princess never to
divulge that the communication was made by me. I declared my
motive to be entirely devoted to her highness ; but that if the
Prince knew it, I should be considered by him as a spy upon his
actions. In that case I should be required to resign rny greatest
happiness — the being allowed to attend upon her person, in
which pleasing duty I hoped to have some times the opportunity
of evincing my sincere and grateful attachment to her royal
highnoGs In relating the narrative I took care to inform the
Princess that her marriage was not a voluntary act on the part of
the Prince, but a task imposed upon him by the people — who
were instigated to make this condition through the apprehension
of the ministers, who hoped by this means to wean him from his
Catholic connections, for they looked with dread on the partiality
the Prince professed towards that class, through his attachment
to Mrs. Fitzherbert, who followed the Romish doctrine, in strict
conformity to its tenets, keeping in her house a chaplain of her
own persuasion who was often admitted in the social circle of
the Prince.

"I and the Queen (Charlotte) conversed on the negligence
which, for some time back, had been shown to Mrs. Fitzherbert ;
and, thinking I should please her Majesty by forwarding a recon
ciliation in that quarter, I represented her temporary absence as
the effect of delicacy giving place to public feeling, the better to
answer my purpose. I pretended to have received a communica
tion from Lady M  L  , who mentioned having a letter
from Mrs. Fitzherbert, from the other side of the water, and in
which she acknowledged the motive of her journey in the fol
lowing passage: 'I do, and ever shall, consider my self the
lawful wife of the Prince. I am convinced he thinks the same,
and that his excellent father and mother (whom all the world
allow to be the most pious and amiable that wear a regal crown)
are of the same opinion. I am well aware that the late marriage
was .in compliance with the will of the nation ; therefore, from a
consideration of public benefit, which often operates against indi
vidual interest, I will absent myself a while, not to be in the way
27

of those feelings, which must be sacrificed to female delicacy; as,.
certainly, the exalted stranger will require some time for expla
nation. When she knows how each party is situated, doubtless
she will herself invite my return, well satisfied with holding the
prerogative of royalty, whilst I enjoy the supreme felicity of
conjugal affection; mine by the most sacred tie! the duties of
which shall never intrude on the rights annexed to her high
station." *.**** i
"Who," said I, "can help admiring, such sentiments? Here,
the most tender conscience may see the forbearance, the noble
feeling, by which a wife is enabled to resign the outward appen
dages of rank, for the mild and unobtruding practice of social.
duty.

"I encouraged the Queen (Charlotte) (who honored me with
her full confidence) to encourage her son in the renewal of his
connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert, and I prepared his mind to
receive this advice by frequently speaking to him on the subject
and describing the sensations of that lady, as I pretended they
were stated by her friend ; for to me she was not half so formida
ble a rival as the Princess, because Mrs. Fitzherbert possessed
not any share of that susceptibility which is irresistible when
displayed to a man of feeling; but Mrs. Fitzherbert returned, and
with her presence the Prince's health and peace came also.''

NoTK :
The foregoing pages, though not pleasing nor particularly
delicate, give a clear view of court. life during Mrs. Fitzherbert's.
period., M.\ry Oed Pbeston.

88

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

3 9002 08866 0619

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