John Moran auctioneers sold this lovely gold box below in 2024. It had been designed for Herman Thorn, who gifted it to Michael Moore, the owner of the Trenton Falls Hotel. This is the place that Zerlina Thorn sadly drowned, while on a family holiday in 1836 (some records state this is having happened in... Continue Reading →
I have purchased this letter on ebay and I am delighted to reveal its contents: Letter from Madame la Baronne de Pierres - Dame d'Honneur de l'Imperatrice Dear Miss Shore, I thank you for letting me know of your marriage and be assure that I shall certainly assist on Saturday at the ceremony and offer... Continue Reading →
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 →
I love encountering people who were in the Thorn's lives. It really helps to recreate the times, the way they lived, and the relationships that came and went. Recently, I discovered this mention of Vester Sandor, a dancer, musician, and leader of a dance troupe who played at Colonel Thorn's salon, who was later arrested... Continue Reading →
From time to time, I check eBay and various online sellers for any letters or art related to the Thorn family and their history. Today, I was able to purchase a letter to Jane Thorn congratulating her on her engagement to Baron de Pierres (coming soon!). But I also noticed this sketch and thought how... Continue Reading →
Here is some more commentary on Baron de Pierres' (husband of Jane Mary Thorn) involvement in breeding and racing horses in France. He clearly had a passion for French thoroughbreds. And how sweet that a horse (Pantalon) brought him and his wife together. It's also interesting to see that he reputedly and famously rode Pantalon... Continue Reading →
I was fascinated to come across a list of who was living on the Rue de Varenne during the time that the Thorns inhabited the Hotel Matignon. Interestingly, this record has them living at no. 23 not no. 57. This may have something to do with the street numbers changing over time (see below). I'm... Continue Reading →
I discovered a second report from the New York Herald on the matter of Alice (Thorn) de Ferussac's inheritance. This one was dated in June, while the other was from April, 1913. Though most of the details are the same, it does mention Thorn's run in with authorities for driving a coach and 8 horses.... Continue Reading →
I'm constantly surprised at how uncharitable people in the Parisian aristocratic social scene were. It's as though being rude is a sport of its own! Here, the Count Apponyi keeps a diary entry about a disastrous dinner at the Thorns. March 15. Mr. Thorn, the famous American, gave us a dinner for fifty people, boring... Continue Reading →
In looking back through some source material, I noticed that John Van Buren, an American politician, had written to his father, President Martin Van Buren about Mary Thorn (de Varaigne), Jane, and James on Thursday 21/2/1839 in Paris: Calling Mary "his old belle" is interesting, considering that she was fifteen or sixteen when she eloped... Continue Reading →
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