Anna Maria Wiseman

Anna Maria Wiseman was born about 1813. Her husband was Richard Dix Wardle and her children were Elizabeth Evilina Wardle, (wife of Allen Ortte), Fanny Fern Wardle, (widow of William F. Henry), and Charles Wiseman Wardle.

Anna died October 25, 1888 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Letter about Anna Maria Wiseman

A letter was written about Anna by one of her Granddaughters. Below are the page images; the text follows. This copy was graciously provided by Diane Smith.

Page 1 of the letter.

Page 2 of the letter.

Portland, Maine.

December 3lst, 1928.

Dear Henry:-

Your letter to hand a few days ago. Well you can imagine how surprised I was to hear from my brother after these few years of silence. Yes we all are well, enjoying this wonderful part of the country, lovely is no word. This month being snowless, our first snow storm for the winter was the middle of November. I am so glad to know Brother James, wife and daughter was over to spend the Xmas holidays with you, and yours. I do wish you all a prosperous New Year.

Now you have asked me in your letter to give some information in regard to our Grandmother Wardel. Well I can give you just what I know as Mother never did tell me much and I did not see the letters or correspondence between her and the Mother Superior in Philadelphia. After Pa died Mama said she had died also. Now those letters I know Mother held, perhaps if you write to Bessie she may give you some light on them. No I have no photo of Grandmother Wardel. Aunt Lou has one, that is Uncle Charlie had copied after Grandmother’s death. How good it is I can’t say, it was a golden Jubliee that this Mother Superior celebrated and a lady reporter of New York to witness the affair in Philadelphia got same and published in a New York Paper. Uncle Charlie happened to be on Canal Street and bought a New York paper just happened to see all the account of it which mentioned some names and so on. I do remember him coming up to Mama with same and showing it to Mama and said you being the oldest you must see into this if it don’t do us any good it will do our children some good, so Mother took paper to Aunt Fannie as she said, “Yes you didn’t know that.” I will get you the papers. Now, what papers I never saw them but Mama started corresponding with the Mother Superior and got a lot of information. Now Grandmother’s first husband was John Lockhead. She was a bride, mother and widow in one year, only 15 years old, she crossed over to America with baby in arms which Queen Victoria demanded her to stay in England and told her if she crossed and came over she would disowned her, but Grandmother Wardle came in spite of it all, her baby was a boy who she named John. Her maiden name was Ann Maria Wiseman that was her maiden name. Her second husband was Richard Wardle I think he was in the British Army, but she married him in New Orleans and at that time he was a sea captain. I think her first husband was a sea captain, not positive. I do not know if she was first or second cousin to Queen Victoria, and she had a cousin or Uncle who was a Cardinal Wiseman (Catholic Faith). Now Bessie talking to me when I was down home 7 years ago, said it was Grandmother’s uncle who owned the Pleasure Gardens in Montreal Canada. Now you remembered when we were all single and living on St. Charles Avenue Grandmother Wardle was thinking of going to Italy to find her brother, of course I do not know what his name was but she wanted to take me for the trip but Pa wouldn’t consent so she didn’t go. I do know when I was a little girl Grandmother Wardel went to Europe to visit her people and she brought me back some lovely toys. Grandmother was educated in her profession and graduated over there but that was in her second husband’s life. Now I don’t know but I remembered saying to our Mother one day I wonder if Queen Victoria left Grandmother any money and Mama said no. She followed up the will, but how mama found out she said no she had so many cousins and second cousins she did not remember any.

It is really to bad Mama didn’t let us know more. Perhaps Gertie could give you some light on it because she knows her mother (Aunt Fannie) gave mama the papers. It is very funny what became of the papers. Let me know full particulars and if you get any other information.

Now I have a lovely family of daughters. All grown up, also one son, almost 25 years. I am very proud of my children, they all are married to men who are well fixed, of course Mabel is my second daughter who is Mrs. William Stewart, Gladys is Mrs. Joseph I. Clark, Thelma is Mrs. Otis W. Joslyn, Jr. Mabel lives in Portland, Gladys lives in Pawtucket Rhode Island, and Thelma lies in Columbia, Missouri. Now my son Eugene is home with me also my two youngest daughters, Alma and Allene. Theo the oldest passed off some years ago. We love this climate certainly a healthy climate and the scenery is gorgeous and the mountains. I wish you would send me a picture of yourself.

Well Henry dear, if I can remember any more will gladly give it to you. Please let me hear from you again.

Your loving sister,

(the letter was an unsigned copy)