People have been very generous, helping me out in researching this story, and it's been a joy to meet new people along the way. I'd like to thank Lynda, a descendant of George Healy's for sending me some memorabilia all the way from the USA. The mail is so slow at the moment, it took... Continue Reading →
Below are some of the images I have managed to find for the Thorn men. Missing are William (the eldest), Herman Jr and John who died as a baby. From these images, it would seem that James looks a lot like his father (Eugene possibly too, but the angle makes it hard to tell). Colonel... Continue Reading →
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 →
Below is a collage of most of the Thorn women (including their mother). It is sadly missing Angelina the eldest, and Zerlina who drowned when she was just twelve years old. Left to right: Jane Mary Jauncey Thorn, Mary Thorn de Varaigne, Jane Mary Thorn de Pierres, Alice Thorn de Ferussac, Ellen Thorn Kirkland, and... Continue Reading →
Lynda has kindly sent me some closeups from the original family portrait. It's hard to avoid the reflected light, but I am so grateful for these. I hope you enjoy pouring over them as I have. Ida Thorn Fox Ellen (Helen) Thorn Kirkland Eugene Thorn Herman Thorn
There is a reference to the Thorns living in Hamilton's home for a short time, but I have not been able to verify it. I wonder if this is a case of mis-remembering, or if they were really there? This would have been through the period they were living on Apthorpe farm on the Upper... Continue Reading →
I found it interesting to see that Antoine Raymond Camille de Varaigne, husband of Mary Thorn, became a favourite of Napoleon 111, considering his rather rocky start eloping with her. Colonel Thorn initially forbade them from marrying, but eventually relented, and de Varaigne became the Emperor's chamberlain. In 1860, he was promoted to Prefect de... Continue Reading →
With many, many thanks to the amazing Harvard Library, I managed to secure the only image around of Clot(h)ilde Barili Thorn(e) - a digital copy of a lithograph from 1854 by F. (Francis) D'Avignon. I am ecstatic to finally see her, and feel very fortunate to have had so many wins in the last week... Continue Reading →
Thanks to Lynda (a descendant of George Healy's), I have some precious photos of memorabilia connected to the Thorn family portrait. This is the flyer for the auction when the painting was sold sixty years ago. I had tried to track this down through the auction house, but they told me they had lost their... 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…