Thanks to a fellow researcher, Philippe Grelat, I was alerted to the fact that there is an etching of Jane and Etienne out riding with Empress Eugenie and her son. If you read the caption below, it mentions their names. (Le Monde Illustré issue number 362 of March 19, 1864)
Unfortunately, I have misplaced the reference link for this one, but I'm pretty sure it came from Gallica. It's alway amusing to read observations about the Colonel's motivations and behaviours! : Colonel Hermann Thorn died in New York on Sunday, July 31 , at the age of 78 , after a long and painful illness. He leaves a considerable fortune to a large family. One... Continue Reading →
Thanks to Pascale Giraudon-Choppy who reached out to me about some letters between her ancestor, Catherine Eustace, and Jane and Alice Thorn and Therasine Jauncey from 1838, it would seem that the chateau the Thorns leased in Normandy was Château de Courteilles, of which only a small part of the buildings have survived: Château de... Continue Reading →
Love this description from the GAZETTE MUSICALE DE PARIS in 1835! Alice Thorn sang a duet by Handel.A wonderful musical evening took place this week at Colonel Thorn, with the aim of rescuing our unfortunate comrades-triotes from Guadeloupe, and it is believed that the product will have exceeded the figure of 10,000 fr. The hero... Continue Reading →
As I've been putting together the Thorn family story in non fiction form, I have repeatedly thought what a wonderful novel it would make... full of drama and colour and life. So, I have finally decided to adapt it into that form as well. From there, I hope to further adapt it into a TV... Continue Reading →
I have purchased this letter on ebay and I am delighted to reveal its contents: Letter to Madame la Baronne de Pierres - Dame d'Honneur de l'Imperatrice Dear Miss Thorn, 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 →
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 →
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 →
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…