- Frances Work
Frances Ellen Work (
October 27 ,1857 -January 26 ,1947 ) was an American heiress.Born in
New York City , she was a daughter ofFranklin H. Work , a well-knownstockbroker and protégé ofCornelius Vanderbilt (the Commodore Vanderbilt), and his wife, Ellen Wood.Williamson, D. (1981) "The Ancestry of Lady Diana Spencer" In: "Genealogist’s Magazine" vol. 20 (no. 6) p. 192-199 and vol. 20 (no. 8) p. 281-282]In 1880 at Christ Church, New York City, Frances Work married the Hon. James Boothby Burke Roche, who would become the 3rd
Baron Fermoy . They had four children: two daughters, Cynthia and Eileen, and twin sons, Edmund (later 4th Baron Fermoy, grandfather toDiana, Princess of Wales ), and Francis. She successfully sued her husband for divorce in 1891, before Burke Roche succeeded to the barony, on the grounds of desertion. Her lawyer wasThomas F. Bayard , the formerUnited States Secretary of State . ["The Times (London)" Friday, 27 March 1896, p. 7 col. F]On
August 4 1905 , the Hon. Mrs. Burke Roche married Aurel de Batonyi, a Hungarian-born society horseman and riding instructor. When he immigrated to theUnited States onboard the Majestic in 1891, Batonyi claimed to be a count. [United States Government. 1891 New York Ship's Arrivals Records Index. Washington, D.C.: National Archives. Series M237, Roll #571, July 8 1891] It was also said that his real name was Arthur Cohn."Oakland Tribune", September 8 1907, p. 17-18] She sued for divorce just two years after their marriage, reportedly on the orders of her father who threatened to disinherit her and her sons if she continued to live with her husband.She was a prominent figure in the
New York City andNewport, Rhode Island social sets, and was friends with Mrs Reginald Vanderbilt. Her sister,Lucy Bond Work was married toPeter Cooper Hewitt , the son of New York City MayorAbram Stevens Hewitt .She died in the city of her birth.
She was the great-grandmother of
Diana, Princess of Wales , and her great-great-grandchildren includePrince William of Wales ,Prince Harry of Wales , and the American actorOliver Platt .References
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