Lynda has kindly sent me some closeups from the original family portrait. It's hard to avoid the reflected light, but I am so grateful for these. I hope you enjoy pouring over them as I have. Ida Thorn Fox Ellen (Helen) Thorn Kirkland Eugene Thorn Herman Thorn
There is a reference to the Thorns living in Hamilton's home for a short time, but I have not been able to verify it. I wonder if this is a case of mis-remembering, or if they were really there? This would have been through the period they were living on Apthorpe farm on the Upper... Continue Reading →
I found it interesting to see that Antoine Raymond Camille de Varaigne, husband of Mary Thorn, became a favourite of Napoleon 111, considering his rather rocky start eloping with her. Colonel Thorn initially forbade them from marrying, but eventually relented, and de Varaigne became the Emperor's chamberlain. In 1860, he was promoted to Prefect de... Continue Reading →
With many, many thanks to the amazing Harvard Library, I managed to secure the only image around of Clot(h)ilde Barili Thorn(e) - a digital copy of a lithograph from 1854 by F. (Francis) D'Avignon. I am ecstatic to finally see her, and feel very fortunate to have had so many wins in the last week... Continue Reading →
Thanks to Lynda (a descendant of George Healy's), I have some precious photos of memorabilia connected to the Thorn family portrait. This is the flyer for the auction when the painting was sold sixty years ago. I had tried to track this down through the auction house, but they told me they had lost their... Continue Reading →
I am BEYOND excited to share with you a glimpse at the original Thorn family portrait painted by G.P.A. Healy in 1851. Until today (3 plus years into the research), I had only seen an old black and white photo of it in the Frick photo archives. And I had no idea who the current... Continue Reading →
This remains one of the great mysteries of my research. It seems that Colonel Thorn owned or rented a Chateau in Normandy. So far, I have not been able to identify which one! If any of my French relatives have a suggestion, I would love to hear it. This would have been between 1830 and... Continue Reading →
As I have mentioned before, one of the best things about this research is the people who have contacted me because they have a connection with the material. Sometimes, it's been by actual relatives and descendants of the Thorn's. Other times, it has been people undertaking associated research. This week, I got to meet a... Continue Reading →
In a series of letters that I found for sale or sold on Le Manuscrit Francais, we are able to get more insight into the lives of Jane Thorne, and her daughter Jeanne Marie. I have reproduced the details from the website. But if you visit it directly you can also find this information. Laurent... Continue Reading →
Lawsuits plagued Herman Thorn's life from the moment he married into William Jauncey's family fortune. It began with the court case after his eldest son died unexpectedly before coming into his inhertance from old William. It seems that Herman acted quickly to secure the fortune that was going to be divided amongst other Jauncey relatives.... Continue Reading →
The Colonel and Mrs Thorn 
I noticed that too..nicknames add even more color to the picture
Oh, yes I found the photo amd put it on the poat about the Thorn granchildren! From Jane's letters it…
I shared her portrait and her father James with you…James is the black framed portrait vs the giant gold framed…
Dear Jacqueline, I feel the same as you. It has brought so much to life. Jane is clearly very fond…
How wonderful to hear the voices of the family..the daily life, the visits the boredom…first hand accounts from woman are…