Family of Isabella Ord
by Charlotte R. Hartmeyer-Whalen
I am researching my husband's 2G grandmother, Isabella Ord. She married James Stokell Arrowsmith, Sr. between Apr-Jun 1852 in Llanelly, Carmarthenshire Co., Wales, according to the BMD Index.
The 1841 Wales Census has a 12 year old Isabella with Thomas Ord, 35, Engineer and his wife Jane, 35, in the Llanedy Civil Parish, Carnwallon Hundred, Carmarthenshire County, Wales--Registration District Llanelly; Sub-registration district Longhor. With them is also Margaret Evans, 15, F.S.
I found Thomas and Jane Ord in the same area in 1851, but no Isabella. I found a marriage of a Thomas Ord and Jane Seymour on 21 Jan 1837 in Llanelly, Carmarthen, Wales. In view of Isabella's age, it does not appear that Jane Seymour would be her mother.
There is also a George and Jane Ord living nearby in both census years--possibly a brother to Thomas?.
My information on James Stokell Arrowsmith, Sr. indicates he was born 9 Mar 1803 in Richmond Near Leyburn, Yorkshire, England and died 15 Aug 1855 in Chestertown, Kent Co., Maryland USA. We have visited his gravesite, but Isabella is not there with him. They had two sons--William born 30 Jun 1853 in Kent Co., Maryland and died 11 months later. He is buried near his father. The other son, James Stokell Arrowsmith, Jr. was born 27 Jan 1855 in Kent Co., Maryland and died 12 Nov 1924 in Prince Georges Co., Maryland.
Apparently James and Isabella immigrated to the U.S. after June 1852 and before their first son was born in June 1853.
A family story surfaced that indicated Isabella wanted to return to England/Wales after her husband's death in 1855, but did not have the money and the Arrowsmiths would not help her. However, I do not find her in the 1860 U.S. census records, but she might have remarried. I also do not find a 5-year old James Arrowsmith either until 1870 at age 15 with the Bell family (James Sr.'s sister, Margaret married Anthony Bell in Yorkshire).
Any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Charlotte Whalen
Frankford, Delaware USA