Joseph Williams Thorne (December 25, 1816 - 1897) was a politician in North Carolina. He was from the North. He was a Quaker. He served in the North Carolina House of Representatives and the North Carolina Senate. He was also a delegate at one of the state's constitutional conventions. He wrote poetry.
He was born in Pennsylvania. He succeeded a deceased member of the North Carolina House in 1874. He lived in and represented Warren County.
He was tried according to a statute against legislators denying the existence of almighty God. He was expelled from the North Carolina House of Representatives.
In a letter he stated he was for temperance and against all use of alcohol and never played cards.