a splendid and tragic real-life nineteenth century family saga
Below is a series of biographical notes about James Jauncey senior - father to William, and Jane Mary's father, John. (Jane Mary then married Herman Thorn and they called one of their boys James. James Thorn was forced to change his name to James Jauncey to inherit his uncle's money). The elder Jauncey's (James and... Continue Reading →
This post is devoted to the details I have been able to find about the privateers (sloops, schooners and brigatines) owned by James and John Jauncey when they came from Bermuda to New York. As I researched, I found a long explanation of how James Jauncey fell into a propaganda battle with a Livingston over... 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 →
James Jauncey, warden of the Port of New York, merchant ship owner, and founder of the New York Chamber of Commerce, married Mary Smith in 1773. They had four children William, James Jr, John (Jane Mary's father), and Mary. Being Royalists during the revolution, their life was plagued with fear and politics. In 1776, the... Continue Reading →
Old William Jauncey, Jane Mary's uncle and legal guardian, deserves some space in this large family story. He was the source of Herman and Jane's great wealth, and the reason that they made many decisions in their early married life. Because of his disapproval, they eloped. And his desire to control who inherited his money,... Continue Reading →
Jane Mary Jauncey Jane Mary Jauncey (Herman Thorn's wealthy wife) was raised by her uncle, William Jauncey. He took her into his care, with the help of his sister, when his brother John, b.1755 approx. (Jane Mary's father), took his own life. I have not been able to ascertain who Jane Mary's mother was. Apparently,... Continue Reading →
I have already mentioned that one of the most rewarding aspects of this project is how it has acquainted me with new relatives. This week, I heard from Jacqueline who is a descendant of James Jauncey Thorn, Herman and Jane's second eldest son. As a memory jog, James Jauncey Thorn (b. 1814; d. 1845) is buried... Continue Reading →
Throughout this process, I want to spend some time detailing specific homes and their architecture. So much history is to be unearthed from 'place', and I feel that in order to honour past lives, it's necessary to visit the homes they built to value the lives they lived in them. The ghosts of lives and... Continue Reading →
This is an under-researched period for me so far. Most of the information I have gathered pertains to Thorn's decade in France and his subsequent return to New York. But it's time that I constructed some kind of timeline, which, at the very least, charts the arrival of their many children. (I will keep the... Continue Reading →
The Colonel and Mrs Thorn 
Hey Serge, can you please send it to me. The comments section wont accept the image
[image: DSC_0018 - Copie1.jpg] This is the coat of arms of Jauncey thorn as it appears on some silver plated…
Lovely to meet you. Do you have any more information to share? best Marianne
She was my 9th great grandmother. I am from Jacque.
Thanks