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SIXTH GENERATION

690. Samuel Thorn was born on 27 Sep 1754 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Co, NY. He was buried in Aug 1823 in Flushing, NY at St George's Church. His Tombstone still stands in the churchyard of St George's in Flushing, LI, NY. His son was rector of the church at the time of his death. He died on 12 Aug 1823 in Flushing, NY. THIS SAMUEL THORN WAS A "MINUTE MAN" IN THE CONTENTAL ARMY.

He was married to Helena Van Slyck (daughter of Adam Van Sylck and Catharina Van Epps) on 26 Apr 1778 in Schenectady, NY. Helena Van Slyck was baptized on 5 Aug 1759 in Schenectady, NY. She died on 10 Jan 1845 in New York City, NY. Samuel Thorn and Helena Van Slyck had the following children:

child1245 i. Captain Jonathan Thorn was born on 8 Jan 1779 in Schenectady, Dutchess Co., NY. He was baptized on 10 Jan 1779 in Dutch Church. He died on 6 Jun 1811 in Nootka Harbor, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Capt Thorne's Ship, the TONQUIN, was at anchor on the west shore of Vancouver Island in Clayoquot Sound, when they were attacked & killed by local indians. Captain Jonathan Thorn was 32 years & 4 months of age at his death. He was buried in not buried. THIS IS THE FAMOUS CAPTAIN JONATHAN THORN OF THE SHIP THE TONQUIN. He was hired by John Jacob Astor to establish a trading post in the Pacific Northwest. Both he & his brother were killed by Indians on that expedition. It's a great story. The US Navy during WW II, commissioned a destroyer in his honor. The USS THORN. This young war hero was the first commandant of the Brooklyn Navy yard, where his picture hung for many years.

He was initially & most widely known for his exploits while in the US Navy, making daring raids into the harbor at Tripoli, side by side with the Famous Capt Stephen Decatur.

While on his initial trading expedition (Nootka Harbor, Vancouver Island) Captain Jonathan Thorn had gotten angry at a local Indian chief over the price of some furs. He tossed the old chief overboard, after having rubbed his face with the very furs he was trying to sell. The chief's son forced his way back on ship with a large group of Indians & attacked Jonathan Thorn. He was only armed with a clasp knife but he killed 7 Indians before he went down. The first he killed was the son of the old chief. He tore out his throat with his little knife. Captain Thorn was finally felled from behind with a war club & was stabbed to death. The Indians seized control of the ship, while trapping some of the crew below deck. After several days, the Indians on board heard a pistol being discharged below decks. The next thing eye witnesses recall were Indian arms & legs flying all over. One of the crew members had decided to end the siege once & for all, by exploding the ship's powder magazine. 200 Indians were killed in the explosion.

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Additional notes from Paul & Kaye Nottingham: At Astoria, OR Maritime Museum found a page from Capt.'s log of "Tonquin". Capt. Jonathan Thorn & James C. Thorne listed as "boy", from NY, 16 yrs. old, 5'5". The Tonquin & Jonathan Thorn are mentioned in a book I bought "Kanaka, the Untold Story of Hawaiian Pioneers in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest", by Tom Koppel.

child+1246 ii. Adam Van Slyck Thorn.
child+1247 iii. Robert Livingston Thorn.
child+1248 iv. Herman Thorn.
child+1249 v. Catherine Livingston Thorn.
child1250 vi. James Van Slyck Thorn was born on 21 Aug 1785 in Palatine, NY. Died as infant. He was baptized on 5 Sep 1785 in Dutch Church, Schenectady, NY. He died on 6 Jun 1811 in Nootka Harbor, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He was killed by the Clayquot indians on a trading expedition. He was killed aboard the TONQUIN with older brother JONATHAN.James Van Slyck thorne was 4th mate on the Tonquin.

James Thorn is said to have been on watch when the indians forced their way past him, boarding the TONQUIN & thus killing the crew & his brother.
child+1251 vii. Jane Van Slyck Thorn.
child1252 viii. Cornelia Thorn was born on 31 Mar 1792 in Palatine, NY. She was baptized on 6 May 1792 in Dutch Church, Stone Arabia, NY. She died on 17 Oct 1849 in New York City. She was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Family Vault, Brooklyn, NY. UNMARRIED
child+1253 ix. John Baptist Van Epps Thorn.
child+1254 x. Eliza Glen Thorn.
child+1255 xi. Helena Thorn.
child1256 xii. Gilbert Thorn was born on 26 May 1800 in Schenectady, NY. He was baptized on 1 Jun 1800. Died in infancy.
child1257 xiii. Samuel Gilbert Thorn was born on 16 Jun 1801 in Schenectady, NY. He was baptized on 2 Aug 1801. He died on 2 Oct 1817 in New York City, NY.