The Lamar register., 1922-10-04
|HIST1RY'S
MYSTERIES
WHO WAS JAMES ORD7
CIV lvy 81 NJ. ->-aze ~ s!,-y-- - J-sy.pc.lr

THE public life of the man whose
= name was concealed under the
palpablr alias of James Ord" COM
rnenced when this strange character
was sent To Georgetown college, in
Washington. with the statement by his
guardian. Captain ord, that IF you
had your rights in England you would
be some one the very mention OF
who's" name would cause every head
10 bend God forgive those who have
wrnnsed you. my boy!'
In order "a remain close by his
r.Etrge. the elder ord secured posi-
lion in the Washington navy yard, but
II was noted that the allowance which
lie was able to make to the boy who
passed as his nephew. was out of all
proportion to his salary as a master
mechanic. Young ord remembered lit
lie of his life abrosd-though there
seemed 10 he hazy recollection Of
tall and stately woman. sad-faced and
dressed in the most expensive Of fab
rics. who had visited him at Intervals
during his childhood. In later years.
however. he had spent the ma ior por-
tion of his time travelling with his
uncle" and II was only when they
came TO Washington that the pair set
lied down for any appreciable period
Before the youth concluded his
schooling AT Georgetown college Cap
tain ord was taken Ill. and after q
sickness ms brief as II was mysterious,
died while trying TO tell the boy the
secret OF his parentage. James" he
gBsped. II have sworn not to do 70.
but ! must tell you that your father
Was" and here ft OF coughing
seized him. which prevented his dis
'losure OF the mystery.
Upon Investigation Of his guardians
papers, Ord discovered that the man
had not been his uncle but was mere
ly common sailor in the British navy.
who, through the exercise OF some po-
iitical Influence. had been given the
post Of dockyard Inspector under the
Spanish crown. The younger Ord's
supply OF funds continued unabated
and he placed himself under the tu-
telsge OF a Maryland priest. who. In
addition 10 teaching him. assisted in
the search for the truth concerning his
parentage. This search led 10 the con
clusion. unsupported by any direct
documentary evidence. that he was
the son of George " of England. born
while thar monarch WIS prince OF
Wales. his mother being Marie Anne
Smythe Fitzherbert. whom George had
married in l7s5.
When Ord was well on in life. he
wrote to Mrs. Fitzherbert. but was
unable to obtain Il reply from her. al
though he died in the firm belief that
she was his mother. This contention
was also accepted by the Jesuit IA
theirs Of Georgetown college, who. in
the centenary history Of the instltu-
tion. mentioned the name Of james
Ord, son nf George w" in its list Of
alumni.
After various adventures in Amer
lea. including a trip to the far West
In search of gold and the accumula-
tion Of n considerable fortune on The
Pacific coast. ord was appointed to
the bench, and returned to Washing
ton. where he built handsome home
on Pennsylvania avenue. Later. how
ever. he moved to Omaha. where he
died at the age of ninety-seven. still
strong in the belief that the long
delayed unseallng Of Mrs. FitZher-
hert's private papers would clear up
the mystery which surrounded his
birth These papers formed part Of
a mysterious packet which Mrs. Fitz-
herbert. upon her deathbed requested
might be placed in vault in Coutts
hank. London. to remain there until
such time as the reigning sovereign Of
Great Britain might see nj to have
them publicly opened
The seal was finally broken Ia 1906
By order OF Edward VII. but. while