Ancestors of Princess Diana & Connection to the Gretzinger Family in America

by Richard Charles Gretzinger December 2012

Following is a brief description of the connection between Princess Diana and Richard Charles Gretzinger

Connection Princess Diana is the 1st cousin six times removed of the wife (Henrietta Cox Boude 1731-1792) of my 1st cousin eight times removed (Michael Hillegass 1729-1804)

Ancestors of Lady Diana Frances Princess of Wales Spencer

Generation 1 1.
Lady Diana Frances Princess of Wales Spencer, daughter of Edward JohnI Earl of Spencer VIII and Frances Ruth Burke Roche was born on 01 Jul 1961 in Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk, England. She died on 31 Aug 1997 in Paris, France. She married Charles Philip Arthur Prince of Wales Windsor, son of Philip Prince of Greece Mountbatten and Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor (1952) on 29 Jul 1981 in St. Paul's Catherral, London, England. He was born on 14 Nov 1948. Notes for Lady Diana Frances Princess of Wales Spencer: The Demise of English Country Manor & The Connection of Princess Diana to the Gretzinger Family On January 23, 2012, a local PBS TV documentary discussed the demise of the English Country Manor. The owners' wealth of these grand manors was due mainly to their vast holdings of land that produced numerous agricultural products. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s with the introduction of mechanized farm implements and refrigerated transportation facilities for food products, the English manors began to experience a loss of income from competition of cheaper and more available agricultural products. As their income decreased, the English aristocracy who owned these enormous county manors looked for much needed income to support their life style. Some looked across the Atlantic to America where there were a number of very wealthy Americans. Some of these wealthy Americans were interested marrying their daughters (with their inheritances) to the English aristocracy for English titles. The PBS documentary reported that in the late 1800 and early 1900s, about 100 American rich, society young women crossed the Atlantic to marry the English aristocracy. One of these wealthy, young socialites was Frances Ellen Work, the daughter of Franklin H. Work. Franklin was a banker, broker, speculator and his wealth was measured in the millions. He was a peer of Commodore Vanderbilt, and when he died in 1911 he was worth about $15 -20 million. Today (2012), his estate would be worth about $260-395 million. Franklin, however, did not approve of his daughter's "foreign" marriage and he did not want any of his estate going to any foreigners, no matter how titled. He had made his money in America and that is where he wanted the money to remain. "It's time this international marrying came to a stop, for our American girls are ruining our country by it. As fast as our honorable, hard-working men can earn their money, their daughters take it and toss it across the ocean. And, for what? For the purpose of a title and the privilege of paying the debts of so-called noblemen! If I had anything to say about the matter, I'd make an international marriage a hanging offence." This quote was made by Franklin Work that appeared in the 17 Mar 1911, New York Daily Tribune. Frances Ellen Work was born in New York City on October 27, 1857. In spite of her father's objections, in 1880 at Christ Church, New York City, Frances (age 23) married the Hon. James Boothby Burke Roche (age 29), who would later become the 3rd Baron Fermoy. They had four children: two daughters Cynthia and Eileen, and twin sons Francis and Edmund. Edmund later became the 4th Baron Fermoy, and was the grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales. Edmund's grandchildren include Prince William and Prince Harry 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, Frances married Aurel de Batonyi, a Hungarian-born riding instructor and society horseman. When he had immigrated to the United States on the ship 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
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years after their marriage, allegedly because her father threatened to disinherit her if she continued to live with her husband. The Gretzinger Family Tie to Princess Diana Michael Hillegass, born 1729 in Philadelphia, was my 1st cousin, 8 times removed. He married Henrietta Cox Boude, the daughter of Samuel Boude, born in 1694. Our family connection to the Boude family is through Henrietta. It is not a blood connection as she was the wife of my 1st cousin 8 times removed, Michael Hillegass. Samuel's brother, Thomas born 1702--Henrietta's uncle, had a son Joseph born 1740 whose daughter Sarah Boude who married John Work. Their son was Franklin H. Work, born in 1819. Franklin was the 1st cousin twice removed of the wife of my 1st cousin 8 times removed. As shown above, it was Franklin's daughter, Frances, who married into English aristocracy. Her marriage did not last, but her son, Edmund, became the great-grandfather of Princess Diana. Here is the connection of the Gretzinger family to English aristocracy: Princess Diana was the 1st cousin six times removed of the wife of my 1st cousin 8 times removed, Michael Hillegass.

Generation 2 2.
Edward JohnI Earl of Spencer VIII, son of Albert John Earl of Spencer VII and Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton Lady Abercorn was born on 24 Jan 1924 in England. He died on 29 Mar 1995 in England. He married Frances Ruth Burke Roche, daughter of Edmond Maurice Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche IV and Ruth Sylvia Lady Fermoy Gill in 1954 in Westminster Abbey, London, England. Frances Ruth Burke Roche, daughter of Edmond Maurice Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche IV and Ruth Sylvia Lady Fermoy Gill was born on 20 Jan 1936.

3.

Frances Ruth Burke Roche and Edward JohnI Earl of Spencer VIII had the following children: i. Elizabeth Sarah Lady Spencer, daughter of Edward JohnI Earl of Spencer VIII and Frances Ruth Burke Roche was born in 1955. ii.
Cynthia Jane Lady Spencer, daughter of Edward JohnI Earl of Spencer VIII and Frances Ruth Burke Roche was born in 1957. John Spencer, son of Edward JohnI Earl of Spencer VIII and Frances Ruth Burke Roche was born on 12 Jan 1960. He died on 12 Jan 1960. Lady Diana Frances Princess of Wales Spencer, daughter of Edward JohnI Earl of Spencer VIII and Frances Ruth Burke Roche was born on 01 Jul 1961 in Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk, England. She died on 31 Aug 1997 in Paris, France. She married Charles Philip Arthur Prince of Wales Windsor, son of Philip Prince of Greece Mountbatten and Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor (1952) on 29 Jul 1981 in St. Paul's Catherral, London, England. He was born on 14 Nov 1948. Charles Edward Maurice Earl of Spencer IX, son of Edward JohnI Earl of Spencer VIII and Frances Ruth Burke Roche was born on 20 May 1964. He married Catherine Victoria Lockwood about 1984. She was born about 1966.

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Generation 3 4. 5.
Albert John Earl of Spencer VII was born on 23 May 1892. He died in 1975. He married Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton Lady Abercorn about 1920. Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton Lady Abercorn was born on 16 Aug 1897. She died in 1972.
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Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton Lady Abercorn and Albert John Earl of Spencer VII had the following child: 2. i. Edward JohnI Earl of Spencer VIII, son of Albert John Earl of Spencer VII and Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton Lady Abercorn was born on 24 Jan 1924 in England. He died on 29 Mar 1995 in England. He married Frances Ruth Burke Roche, daughter of Edmond Maurice Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche IV and Ruth Sylvia Lady Fermoy Gill in 1954 in Westminster Abbey, London, England. She was born on 20 Jan 1936. 6.
Edmond Maurice Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche IV, son of James Boothby Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche III and Frances Eleanor Work was born on 15 May 1885 in Chelsea, Middlesex, England. He died on 08 Jul 1955 in King's Lynn, England. He married Ruth Sylvia Lady Fermoy Gill, daughter of William Smith Gill and Ruth Littlejohn on 17 Sep 1931 in Devenick's, Bielside, Scotland. Ruth Sylvia Lady Fermoy Gill, daughter of William Smith Gill and Ruth Littlejohn was born on 02 Oct 1908 in Dalhebity, Bieldsied, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She died on 06 Jul 1993.

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Ruth Sylvia Lady Fermoy Gill and Edmond Maurice Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche IV had the following children: i. Mary Burke Roche, daughter of Edmond Maurice Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche IV and Ruth Sylvia Lady Fermoy Gill was born on 19 Aug 1934. 3. ii.
Frances Ruth Burke Roche, daughter of Edmond Maurice Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche IV and Ruth Sylvia Lady Fermoy Gill was born on 20 Jan 1936. She married Edward JohnI Earl of Spencer VIII, son of Albert John Earl of Spencer VII and Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton Lady Abercorn in 1954 in Westminster Abbey, London, England. He was born on 24 Jan 1924 in England. He died on 29 Mar 1995 in England. She married Peter Shand Kydd after 1950. He was born about 1920. Edmund Baron of Fermoy Roche V, son of Edmond Maurice Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche IV and Ruth Sylvia Lady Fermoy Gill was born on 29 Mar 1939.

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Generation 4 12.
James Boothby Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche III, son of Edmund Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche II and Elizabeth Caroline Boothbay was born on 28 Jul 1851 in Twyford Abbey, Middlesex, England. He died on 30 Oct 1920 in Westminster Abbey, London, England. He married Frances Eleanor Work, daughter of Franklin H. Work and Ellen Wood on 22 Sep 1880 in Christ Church, NYC, NY. Frances Eleanor Work, daughter of Franklin H. Work and Ellen Wood was born on 27 Oct 1857 in NYC, NY. She died on 26 Jan 1947 in NYC, NY. Notes for James Boothby Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche III: 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 succeeded by his son, the fourth Baron. He notably represented King's Lynn in Parliament. As of 2009 the title is held by his grandson, the sixth Baron, who succeeded his father in 1984. Diana, Princess of Wales, was a great-great-granddaughter of the first Baron Fermoy through her mother, Frances Shand Kydd. She was the daughter of the fourth Baron Fermoy, a friend of King George VI and the elder of the twin sons of the American heiress Frances Work and her first husband, Hon. James Boothby Burke Roche, who, after their divorce, became third Baron Fermoy. Her maternal grandmother Ruth Roche, Baroness Fermoy (ne Ruth Sylvia Gill), was a confidante
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Her maternal grandmother Ruth Roche, Baroness Fermoy (ne Ruth Sylvia Gill), was a confidante and lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), and founder of the annual King's Lynn Festival (of classical music) in Norfolk, England. Barons Fermoy (first created in 1856) Edmond Burke Roche, 1st Baron Fermoy (1815-1874) Edward FitzEdmund Burke Roche, 2nd Baron Fermoy (1850-1920) James Boothby Burke Roche, 3rd Baron Fermoy (1852-1920) (Edmund) Maurice Burke Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy (1885-1955) Edmund James Burke Roche, 5th Baron Fermoy (1939-1984) (Patrick) Maurice Burke Roche, 6th Baron Fermoy (b. 1967) References Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990. Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_Fermoy"

Notes for Frances Eleanor Work: Frances Ellen Work (October 27, 1857 - January 26, 1947) was an American heiress and socialite. She was a great-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her great-great-grandchildren include Prince William of Wales, Prince Harry of Wales, and the American actor Oliver Platt. Born in New York City, she was a daughter of Franklin H. Work, a well-known stockbroker and protg of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and his wife, Ellen Wood. In 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 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. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Work

Frances Eleanor Work and James Boothby Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche III had the following children: i. Eileen Burke Roche, daughter of James Boothby Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche III and Frances Eleanor Work was born in 1882. ii.
Cynthia Burke Roche, daughter of James Boothby Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche III and Frances Eleanor Work was born on 10 Apr 1884.
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Edmond Maurice Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche IV, son of James Boothby Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche III and Frances Eleanor Work was born on 15 May 1885 in Chelsea, Middlesex, England. He died on 08 Jul 1955 in King's Lynn, England. He married Ruth Sylvia Lady Fermoy Gill, daughter of William Smith Gill and Ruth Littlejohn on 17 Sep 1931 in Devenick's, Bielside, Scotland. She was born on 02 Oct 1908 in Dalhebity, Bieldsied, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She died on 06 Jul 1993. Francis Burke Roche, son of James Boothby Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche III and Frances Eleanor Work was born on 15 May 1885 in Chelsea, Middlesex, England.

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William Smith Gill was born in 1865. He died in 1957. He married Ruth Littlejohn, daughter of David Littlejohn and Jane Crombie on 30 Jun 1898 in Queen's Cross Free Ch., Aberdeen, Scotland. Ruth Littlejohn, daughter of David Littlejohn and Jane Crombie was born on 04 Dec 1879 in Cotton Lodge, Woodside, nr. Aberdeen, Scotland. She died on 24 Aug 1964 in Dalhebity, Bieldsied, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

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Ruth Littlejohn and William Smith Gill had the following child: 7. i. Ruth Sylvia Lady Fermoy Gill, daughter of William Smith Gill and Ruth Littlejohn was born on 02 Oct 1908 in Dalhebity, Bieldsied, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She died on 06 Jul 1993. She married Edmond Maurice Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche IV, son of James Boothby Burke Baron of Fermoy Roche III and Frances Eleanor Work on 17 Sep 1931 in Devenick's, Bielside, Scotland. He was born on 15 May 1885 in Chelsea, Middlesex, England. He died on 08 Jul 1955 in King's Lynn, England.