Frances Work
Encyclopedia
Frances Ellen Work was an American
heiress and socialite. She was a great-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales
, and her great-great-grandchildren include The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry
, and the American actor Oliver Platt
.
, she was a daughter of Franklin H. Work "Frank" (1819–1911), a well-known stockbroker and protégé of Cornelius Vanderbilt
, and his wife, Ellen Wood (1831–1877).
On September 22, 1880, at Christ Church, New York City
, Frances Work married the Hon. James Boothby Burke Roche, who would later become the 3rd Baron Fermoy
. They had four children: two daughters Cynthia Roche
and Eileen, and twin sons Francis and Edmund
. Edmund later became the 4th Baron Fermoy, and was the grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales
. Frances divorced Roche for desertion in 1891, before he had succeeded to the barony. Her lawyer was Thomas F. Bayard
, former United States Secretary of State
.
On August 4, 1905, the Hon. Mrs. Burke Roche married Aurel de Batonyi, a Hungarian-born riding instructor and society horseman. When he had immigrated to the United States
on the Majestic
in 1891, Batonyi claimed he was a count. It was also suggested that his real name was Arthur Cohn. Frances sued de Batonyi for divorce two years after their marriage, allegedly because her father threatened to disinherit her if she continued to live with her husband.
She was a prominent figure in the New York City
and Newport, Rhode Island
, social sets, and was friends with Mrs Reginald Vanderbilt
. Her sister, Lucy Bond Work married Peter Cooper Hewitt
, a son of New York City Mayor Abram Stevens Hewitt
.
She died in the city of her birth at the age of 89.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heiress and socialite. She was a great-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
, and her great-great-grandchildren include The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry
Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales , commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, and the American actor Oliver Platt
Oliver Platt
Oliver James Platt is a Canadian-American actor. He is currently starring in the Showtime original series, The Big C with Laura Linney.-Early life:...
.
Biography
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, she was a daughter of Franklin H. Work "Frank" (1819–1911), a well-known stockbroker and protégé of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
, and his wife, Ellen Wood (1831–1877).
On September 22, 1880, at Christ Church, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Frances Work married the Hon. James Boothby Burke Roche, who would later become the 3rd Baron Fermoy
Baron Fermoy
Baron Fermoy is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1856 for Edmond Roche, who represented County Cork and Marylebone in the House of Commons and also served as Lord Lieutenant of County Cork. His younger son, the third Baron, sat as Member of Parliament for Kerry East. He was...
. They had four children: two daughters Cynthia Roche
Cynthia Roche
Hon. Cynthia Burke Roche was a Newport, Rhode Island socialite and an art collector.-Life and work:She was born on April 10, 1884 in London to James Roche, 3rd Baron Fermoy and Frances Ellen Work. Her brothers were Maurice Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy, the maternal grandfather of Diana, Princess of...
and Eileen, and twin sons Francis and Edmund
Edmund Burke Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy
Edmund Maurice Burke Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy was an Irish peer, British Conservative Party politician and the maternal grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales.-Life and career:...
. Edmund later became the 4th Baron Fermoy, and was the grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
. Frances divorced Roche for desertion in 1891, before he had succeeded to the barony. Her lawyer was Thomas F. Bayard
Thomas F. Bayard
Thomas Francis Bayard was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served three terms as U.S. Senator from Delaware, and as U.S. Secretary of State, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.-Early life and family:Bayard was born in...
, former United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
.
On August 4, 1905, the Hon. Mrs. Burke Roche married Aurel de Batonyi, a Hungarian-born riding instructor and society horseman. When he had immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on the Majestic
SS Majestic (1890)
The SS Majestic was a steamship built in 1890 for and operated by the White Star Line.-History:A product of shipbuilders Harland and Wolff, the Majestic was launched on 29 June 1889. The ship spent the next nine months being fitted out for delivery to White Star in March, 1890...
in 1891, Batonyi claimed he was a count. It was also suggested that his real name was Arthur Cohn. Frances sued de Batonyi for divorce two years after their marriage, allegedly because her father threatened to disinherit her if she continued to live with her husband.
She was a prominent figure in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, social sets, and was friends with Mrs Reginald Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt family
The Vanderbilt family is an American family of Dutch origin prominent during the Gilded Age. It started off with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy...
. Her sister, Lucy Bond Work married Peter Cooper Hewitt
Peter Cooper Hewitt
Peter Cooper Hewitt was an American electrical engineer and inventor, who invented the first mercury-vapor lamp in 1901. Hewitt was issued U.S. patent #682692 on September 17, 1901. In 1903, Hewitt created an improved version that possessed higher colour qualities which eventually found widespread...
, a son of New York City Mayor Abram Stevens Hewitt
Abram Stevens Hewitt
Abram Stevens Hewitt was a teacher, lawyer, an iron manufacturer, chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1876 to 1877, U.S. Congressman, and a mayor of New York. He was the son-in-law of Peter Cooper , an industrialist, inventor and philanthropist...
.
She died in the city of her birth at the age of 89.