Love this description from the GAZETTE MUSICALE DE PARIS in 1835! Alice Thorn sang a duet by Handel.A wonderful musical evening took place this week at Colonel Thorn, with the aim of rescuing our unfortunate comrades-triotes from Guadeloupe, and it is believed that the product will have exceeded the figure of 10,000 fr. The hero... 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 →
Thanks to Serge, I did some digging around as to where Jane and Etienne (Stephan) lived in Paris and have found record of them at 16 Rue Montaigne in the 8th, near the Champs Elysees. The building now seems to be home to designer labels such as Armani and Cucinelli. This would have been in... Continue Reading →
This post is for those interested in the details of Colonel Thorn's real estate ventures in Manhattan. I've just pasted in the raw data for you to look though. The early purchases and inheritances were all in the Financial District, but later of course, he settled a bit further away when he built the brownstone.... Continue Reading →
I had always planned to post this is my last post on this website, but really, this blog will probably never end! So here are some interesting eulogies for Herman, who apparently died on July 31, 1959 from paralysis, which he had been suffering or two years prior to his death (stroke?). There was much... Continue Reading →
I am continuing to compile research on the ships owned or commanded by the Jauncey's in the early part of their business careers and have created a page in the website's top menu (Timeline - The Jauncey Ships) to keep a chronological record. Their privateers (and piracy) were how they amassed their wealth, and are... Continue Reading →
For those of you who are interested in New York politics of the time, here is a link to a letter addressed to James Jauncey senior, John Cruger and others in Congress, from a constituent. There is a hint from the below excerpt that James Sr may have been a Freemason. Trinity Church Then there... Continue Reading →
I just discovered that Colonel Thorn was a member of the Circle of Union club in Lyon. ( Cercle de l'Union), which in his day was known as Cercle du Divan.He was mentioned along with: M. Talbot, G. M. Talleyrand, Baron de Talbot, J. M. Talleyrand, Duc de Tarleton. Taylor, Général Temple Frencbe, Colonel Thorn, Colonel Townley,... Continue Reading →
I thought it would be interesting to delve some more into Colonel Thorn's various dinner companions, to paint a picture of the society and conversations he experienced. These are little snapshots that let us glimpse Thorn's world as it was just prior to the Gilded Age. For instance, at dinner at the residence of his... Continue Reading →
Below is a collage of most of the Thorn women (including their mother). It is sadly missing Angelina the eldest, and Zerlina who drowned when she was just twelve years old. Left to right: Jane Mary Jauncey Thorn, Mary Thorn de Varaigne, Jane Mary Thorn de Pierres, Alice Thorn de Ferussac, Ellen Thorn Kirkland, and... 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…