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 →
I am BEYOND excited to share with you a glimpse at the original Thorn family portrait painted by G.P.A. Healy in 1851. Until today (3 plus years into the research), I had only seen an old black and white photo of it in the Frick photo archives. And I had no idea who the current... Continue Reading →
This remains one of the great mysteries of my research. It seems that Colonel Thorn owned or rented a Chateau in Normandy. So far, I have not been able to identify which one! If any of my French relatives have a suggestion, I would love to hear it. This would have been between 1830 and... Continue Reading →
As I have mentioned before, one of the best things about this research is the people who have contacted me because they have a connection with the material. Sometimes, it's been by actual relatives and descendants of the Thorn's. Other times, it has been people undertaking associated research. This week, I got to meet a... Continue Reading →
In a series of letters that I found for sale or sold on Le Manuscrit Francais, we are able to get more insight into the lives of Jane Thorne, and her daughter Jeanne Marie. I have reproduced the details from the website. But if you visit it directly you can also find this information. Laurent... 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 →
In my research, I have come across some snippets about Herman Thorn's grandchildren. I thought I would collect them in one post, and will continue to add to this as I find more. Jane Mary Jauncey Cruger Jane Mary (or Mary Jane) Cruger (Jacqueline Dunn's ancestor - pictured above) is the daughter of James Jauncey... Continue Reading →
I've mentioned the story of how Alfred Thorn was arrested in Lima for stabbing a man to defend his wife's honour. Here is a newspaper account of the event, with some new information. It would seem that theirs was a very tempestuous relationship, fraught with jealousy and complicated by Clotilde's artistic temperament. A contretemps had... Continue Reading →
Here is a succinct snapshot by a Governor Robert M. McLane of his aquaintance with the Thorns. McLane was among other things a diplomat and friends with de Lafayette. It's interesting to hear that the married Thorn children and their families lived together at Rue de Varenne, forming their own little court. I'm not sure... Continue Reading →
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