While researching this family story, I have begun to realise more and more just how subjective and incomplete history is. Take the legend of Ots Toch, Herman Thorn's great, great, great grandmother. Historical accounts differ on who her parents were and we may never know the truth. Ots Toch was a Mowhawk woman from the... Continue Reading →
I've been holding off writing about Herman Jr. His is such a sad story, just like the other male Thorn children - apart from Eugene. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Herman Jr was keen to become an officer in the US Army, but was not admitted to West Point. Once he had been... Continue Reading →
According to Jane Mary Jauncey Thorn's last will and testament, there are some paintings I have not been able to find. It is my deepest wish to at least sight a photo of the originals some day. Any help in tracking them down is greatly appreciated: Princess Esterhazy's natural pearl tiara Madame de Varaigne and... Continue Reading →
A strong theme of elopement runs through the Thorn family history. I suppose it is a reflection of the strict social expectations of the time, but I also sense a wild and slightly contrary flavour to their personalities. Firstly, Herman ran away with Jane Mary, much to the complete displeasure of old William Jauncey, who... Continue Reading →
So this is all rather intriguing. There are a few mentions in the New York papers about the "Thorn Champagne", which was being imported from France and distributed through Colonel Thorn's connection to the Livingstons. I'm wondering how best to try and find out what vineyard in Champagne this came from, and how successful it... Continue Reading →
Colonel Thorn apparently was mistaken for royalty after he purchased Charles X's coronation carriage. here is a description of it: On 28th May 1825, Charles X was crowned in Reims, thus reconnecting with the principles of monarchy by divine right. This grandiose ceremony demanded an exceptional coach. Designed from 1814 by the architect Percier and... Continue Reading →
Dear Friends, I am constantly updating the Thorn research and correcting my own errors as the story evolves. So, if you have a particular interest area/post, it's worth checking back every now and then to see if new information has come to light. I want to try and keep the research clustered, so there won't... Continue Reading →
I have copied this from The American Register newspaper article that published Jane Mary Thorn's last will and testament. I am most curious about the missing art she mentions, but I also believe her tiara was quite famous. I wonder whose collection it now sits in? The most important find from reading this, is the... Continue Reading →
I've known for a while that these engravings represented Herman and Alfred Thorn, but it was not until I recently read Jane Mary Jauncey Thorn's will that I realised the third engraving is James Jauncey Thorn who married Therese von Leykam. It' s one of the reasons I've enjoyed this research so much - finding... Continue Reading →
So, I'm a little confused over something. I'd love your thoughts! Which of the Thorn girls are in the first two paintings below with Ellen? Alice or Ida? The Frick collection notes say it's the Countess de Ferussac (Alice), but in his biography Healey refers to painting the two youngest Thorn girls, which would make... 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…