Frances Work

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Frances Ellen Work (27 October 1857-26 January 1947) was an American heiress and a great-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Born in New York City, she was a daughter of Franklin H. Work, a well-known stockbroker and protégé of Cornelius Vanderbilt (the Commodore Vanderbilt), and his wife, Ellen Wood.^[1]

In 1880, Frances Work married the Hon. James Boothby Burke Roche, who would become the 3rd Baron Fermoy, at Christ Church, New York City. They had four children: two daughters, Cynthia and Eileen, and twin sons, Edmund (later 4th Baron Fermoy, grandfather to Diana, 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 was Thomas F. Bayard, the former United States Secretary of State.^[2]

On 4 August 1905, the Hon. Mrs. Burke Roche married Aurel de Batonyi, a Hungarian-born society horseman and riding instructor. When he immigrated to the United States onboard the Majestic in 1891, Batonyi claimed to be a count.^[3] It was also said that his real name was Arthur Cohn.^[4] 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.^[4]

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 was married to Peter Cooper Hewitt, the son of New York City Mayor Abram Stevens Hewitt.

She died in the city of her birth.^[1] Three of Frances Work's great-great-grandchildren are the American actor Oliver Platt, Prince Harry of Wales and Prince William of Wales.

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