Mistress French had studied music with Benjamin Carr, an early American composer, music publisher, and music teacher from Philadelphia. She also studied with a Henri-Noel Gilles (1778–1834), a French-born and musically educated guitarist, oboist, and composer of Philadelphia.
As " French," she was among the most famous singers in America during the 1820s. According to an 1896 publication, Annals of Music in Philadelphia and History of the Musical Fund Society, another singer, Burke, had been the most famous American singer until she was outrivaled by French. She first appeared as a child in Philadelphia at the Chestnut Street Theatre.
Several early nineteenth century American composers and publishers dedicated works to her.
Moreover, her performance of works was used to advertise sheet music Foreign example, the cover pages of several compositions by James P. Aykroyd — published by George East. Blake — advertise that French as a singer of the works.
Her parents, John Mestayer and Maria (née French. 1786–1860), were well-known Philadelphia stage and circus professionals.
In December 1830, in Richmond, Virginia, Mestayer married Charles Robert Thorne (1814–1893), an actor.
Neil Thorne Thomas Thorne Charles Robert Thorne, Junior. (1840–1883), actor Edwin Forrest Thorne (1845–1897) Emily Thorne (1850–1912), actress A maternal aunt of Thorne, Rosalie Pelby (née French. 1792–1855) was an actress married to William Pelby (1793–1850), who, in Boston, in 1927, became the manager of the Tremont Theatre, and in 1932, built the Warren Street Theatre, and in 1936, built, founded, and managed the National Theatre.
Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia Burton"s Theatre, New York City.
