In 1845, she married Dr. Edward Thompson of Staten Island. However, by the time this photograph was taken she was living with her brother Martin either in Haledon or in Paterson. She appears in the 1900 census under her maiden name, and sharing residence with some young people in Kearny, New Jersey.
An amusing letter from Martin to his sister, written in 1837, survives, the other memories we have are that she inherited Dr. Henry's silver platter and that she was, in the recollection of James Jacob's three young daughters, a "rich old lady."
There are two other interesting facts about Sarah Jane worth mentioning. One is that she was courted in her youth by Cornelius Vanderbilt, long before he made his fortune. According to the story, he father, Dr. Henry, forbade the union because "he would not allow his daughter to marry a man who operated a scow." The other story is that her husband, Dr. Edward Thompson, was a wealthy associate of her father's, was much her senior, and already ill at the time of their marriage. Soon after, he became worse, and their fortune was exhausted in his care.
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