1854 Emeline & Orlando Stoddard Victorian Calling Card, Ledyard CT

#760:

Printed on card: "Mr. & and Mrs. Orlando Stoddard" with his fiance's maiden name, "Miss Emeline Lester, Gale Ferry, Ledyard, Conn." printed below. This is in New London County Connecticut CT.

This is an exceedingly rare Victorian wedding card for a Civil War soldier who died in 1861, early in the war. Sadly, he married in 1854, had three children and his wife Emeline died at age 29 just before the war started, in 1860. Orlando then went off to war and was killed in action in 1861 himself at age 34. He left those 3 young Stoddard children, Orrin, Emma and Lizzie. We do not know who raised the children, do you? Their son, Orrin O Stoddard, presumably Orrin Orlando Stoddard, became a physician.

Found in Public Genealogy Records:
Orlando Stoddard in the Connecticut Births & Christenings
Birth Date 01 Dec 1827
Birthplace Groton, New London, Connecticut
Father's Name Daniel Stoddard Jr.
Mother's Name Fanny Stoddard

Capt. Orlando Stoddard in the Connecticut Town Marriage Records
Name: Captain Orlando Stoddard (Mariner)
Age: 26 Years
Birth Date: abt 1828
Marriage Date: 14 Jun 1854
Marriage Place: Ledyard, Connecticut
Spouse: Caroline Lester (incorrect transcription for Emeline Lester)
Spouse Age: 24 Years
Married June 14, 1854 by John W Case.

By the 1860 Census, sadly, Emeline has died, and he lives next door to the Lester Family & Emeline's siblng Austin Lester with their 3 children:
Emeline Stoddard Connecticut Deaths & Burials
Death Date 12 Mar 1860
Death Place Connecticut
Age 29, Birth Date 1831

Captain Orlando Stoddard Mariner age 33 born 1827 Groton Ct
Orrin O Stoddard Son age 5 1855 Ledyard Ct
Emma Stoddard Daughter age 3 1857 N.C.
Austin A Lester wife emeline's brother age 28 1832 Groton Ct
Laura Lester age 23 1837 Michigan 20
Lydia A Lester age 3 1857 Ledyard Ct
Lydia Lester age 78 1782 Groton CT (her grandmother?)

Orlando Stoddard (1827-1861)
Event Type Death
Event Date 1861
Event Place New London, New London, Connecticut, United States
26 APR 1861 Killed in Battle
Source: Hale Collection for Ledyard CT

Orlando Stoddard 1827–1861, age 34, born 1827 in Ledyard, New London, CT
Died 26 April 1861, KIA, Killed in Battle

His Father: Daniel Stoddard 1787–1874
His mother: Fanny Comstock Stoddard 1797–1860
His siblings:
Elizabeth Stoddard born 1822
Daniel Stoddard 1824–1853
Lyman Stoddard 1826–1842
Fanny Stoddard born 1829
Amanda Stoddard 1835–1885
Sidney Stoddard born 1837
Clarissa Stoddard born 1840

His wife: Emmeline Lester 1831–1860
Her parents: Captain Austin Miner Lester & Nancy Lester

Their children:
Orrin O Stoddard 1855 (became Dr. Orrin Stoddard M.D.)
Emma Stoddard born 1857
Lizzie Stoddard 1859–1859

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD 1650 -- 1900. BY Rev. JOHN AVERY. NOYES & DAVIS: PRESS OF THE BULLETIN CO. NORWICH, CONN. I901: "Austin M. Lester, son of Allyn and Lydia Miner Lester, married Nancy Stoddard, daughter of Asa Stoddard, Sept. 16, 1827. Their children were Sally Ann, born April 22, 1829, died Sept. 6, 1849. Emelyne, born May 25, 1831, who married Orlando Stoddard. Austin A., born June 23, 1832, married Laura Marshall, March 12, 1856. Elizabeth, born Jan. 3, 1835, married Charles Davis. Orlando Stoddard, son of Daniel Stoddard, married Emelyne Lester, daughter of Austin M. Lester and Nancy Stoddard Lester."

The late Orlando & Emeline mentioned in their daughter Emma's 1877 marriage record to Daniel Bennett:
"New York Marriages, 1686-1980" Database
Name Orlando Stoddard
Wife Emaline Lester
Daughter, bride: Emma Stoddard
Spouse: Daniel H. Bennett
Event Date 14 Feb 1877
Event Place Manhattan, New York City, New York
Father's Name: Nathan R. Bennett
Mother's Name: Abbie Jane Hill
Spouse's Father's Name: Orlando Stoddard
Spouse's Mother's Name: Emaline Lester

This old card was found in Essex County, MA, and is a wonderful piece. It is unusual to have a maiden name, husband's name and location so clearly identified on and early calling card. They left us clues and a story.

This was their personal card, probably for their wedding, when Emeline was still referred to as "Miss Lester." The surname "Stoddard" is an old New England and Connecticut surname. A wonderful piece personally belonging to an early Civil War soldier.

Size: 2 x 3 inches
       Note: Hello from ~debra. I have spent years collecting over 10,000 ID’d lost family photos & paper from US flea markets & antique shops. I do the best gen research I can, but am always open to corrections. This is an original antique item, not a reprint. A new high quality rigid sleeve is included for extra protection, especially during shipping. You may buy a piece alone, or large intimate 300 dpi scans of the front and back sent immediately via email, or both. Please search carefully, as they are often found together and many may be related. I also invite you to join me at Ancestorville Genealogy on facebook. Thank you, enjoy! ~Debra Clifford (contact info on top bar)