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 →
You can't imagine how thrilled I was to find this ghost story about Colonel Thorn. Even if the journalist denounces its veracity, it's quite a find! I love how this family saga has so many dimensions. It seems the Colonel loved having his big family all around him, and in latter years it was nothing... Continue Reading →
In researching Herman Thorn's life, I have found a rich composite of stories and snippets that paint a picture of the man. While clearly a spendthrift and a classist social climber, he was also gentlemanly, with a sense of humour and an inclination to host benefits for people in need, such as the impoverished German... Continue Reading →
The Colonel and Mrs Thorn 
[…] Mr Maurer […]
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…