As always, I am totally thrilled when I come across any photos of the Thorn family. I was contacted recently by an antique photography dealer to say that they had uploaded a photo of Ellen Thorn Kirkland taken in 1870 to her Find a Grave site. The photo is not taken from the best angle,... Continue Reading →
James Jancey Senior was deeply involved in New York politics. Below are examples of his activity and involvement with John Cruger and his title of Master of the Rolls: At a meeting of the freemen and freeholders of the city, in order to consult on the Propriety of re-electing the late 4 Members for this... Continue Reading →
I continue to collect snippets of information that weave into the tapestry of the Thorn's life. There is always the possibility that some of these are inaccurate, but it is worth recording in order to cross reference them. Herman and his family moved into "Elmwood" (Apthorp mansion) soon after William Jauncey died in 1828. Though... Continue Reading →
Both William Jauncey and Herman Thorn were, at one time, vestrymen at St Michael's Episcopalian church on 100th St (Bloomingdale) on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The church has been rebuilt on other locations since then, but Herman must have retained his faith during his lifetime as he began holding Episcopalian services at Hotel... Continue Reading →
The author of The Last of the Mohican's, James Fenimore Cooper was a friend of Colonel Thorn's and mentioned him often in his letters to his wife and friends. I have posted a couple of his comments previously, and here are a few more. I did not know about the Ludlow St rental, and it... Continue Reading →
Below is an account from the Gallica archives of what happened to Alice Thorn (de Ferussac's) fortune, which was mismanaged by her lawyer in Brooklyn. It's a sad story, made all the more poignant by the fact that Alice died in considerable pain from the results of surgery. From the NEW YORK HERALD of April 12: A document which... Continue Reading →
Have I mentioned that Archival Librarians Rule the World! Much of the research material I'm finding on Google Books is only available in snippet view. This has been a constant source of frustration to me, which I didn't know how to overcome. Lately, though I've taken to reaching out to the librarians where the book... Continue Reading →
I have found a few memories of what Colonel Thorn's final home in Manhattan was like, but this is a particularly informative and poignant recount. I didn't realise that he lost all of his French furniture in a fire. How devestating, to a man who was an aesthete. It was also great to garner a... Continue Reading →
I discovered something ultra cool today! Eugene Thorn, the youngest of the Thorn sons, and the only one to survive Herman, composed a polka for his love (and later wife) Mary Hyslop in 1851. I currently have a friend recording it for me and I will upload the file so you can hear it. I... Continue Reading →
I absolutely LOVE it when I come across these little mentions. Every tiny detail helps to paints a more vivid picture of their lives and times... So, it seems that Herman Thorn imported oysters from the very famous Oyster King in New York, Thomas Downing. Thomas was an admirable, hard working entrepreneur and abolitionist who... Continue Reading →
The Colonel and Mrs Thorn 
[…] is believed that the product will have exceeded the figure of 10,000 fr. The hero of the party was…
Will do
Hi Eugene, nice to meet you. Let me know if you find out something new.
I also believe that I have correctly traced my ancestry to Ots-Toch, through my mother, Claribel Ackart (via Solomon Eckert,…
[…] From 1858 – 1871, he was a councillor at the Canton of Saint-Aignan-sur-Roe in Mayenne. And deputy of Mayenne…