The Nobility in Chains

I've been reading a biography about Peg Woffington, an Irish actress and celebrity of the stage from the 1700's. The biography was written by Janet Camden Lucey, and in it I found the passage below. It resonanted deeply with all that I have uncovered about the Thorn's, and captures the essence of their lives. I... Continue Reading →

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Memories of the Sixteenth St Mansion

I have found a few memories of what Colonel Thorn's final home in Manhattan was like, but this is a particularly informative and poignant recount. I didn't realise that he lost all of his French furniture in a fire. How devestating, to a man who was an aesthete. It was also great to garner a... Continue Reading →

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Liszt Plays at Thorns #2

Below is a second reference to Franz Liszt playing at Colonel Thorn's and the reason behind it - the troupe of starving German musicians. You can read an entire academic paper about this story on academia.edu. For civilization, for colonization, the cross is better than the sword. Paris, which at this moment is almost depopulated of its beautiful... Continue Reading →

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The Oyster King – American oysters in Paris

 I absolutely LOVE it when I come across these little mentions. Every tiny detail helps to paints a more vivid picture of their lives and times... So, it seems that Herman Thorn imported oysters from the very famous Oyster King in New York, Thomas Downing. Thomas was an admirable, hard working entrepreneur and abolitionist who... Continue Reading →

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Manhattan Deed Titles and Real Estate

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 →

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The Death of Colonel Thorn

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 →

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Elizabeth Hait and the Court Case

I'm not going to recount the whole story behind this. You can read the court documents (page 702). But it seems as though, after William Jauncey died, Herman pressured Jane's cousin Elizabeth Hait into selling her share of the inheritance to him for a reduced price. It's hard to imagine why anyone would agree to... Continue Reading →

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The Jamaica Connection: James and John Jauncey’s Ships

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 →

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James Jauncey Sr – Part 2 (1st Generation)

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 →

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