The daughter of José de la Guerra y Noriega, known as "El Capitan", and Maria Antonia Carrillo, she was born in San Diego, Alta California; the Guerra family of California moved to Santa Barbara soon afterwards, where her father became commander of the Presidio.

In 1833, she married Manuel Jimeno Casarin; the couple moved to Monterey, then the capital of Alta California, part of Mexico since 1821.

[1] In 1856, she married James L. Ord, a U.S. Army surgeon who was the grandson of King George IV; the couple settled in Santa Barbara.

De la Guerra Ord's account emphasizes the important role of women in the described historical events.

[3] Her recollections also include a description of what have been the largest recorded earthquake and possible tsunami to hit central and southern California, as related to de la Guerra Ord by Father Luis Gil y Taboada.