Although her married name was Powlett (or Paulet), she is generally known by her maiden name of Vaughan, under which name she was a signatory to Thomas Coram's petition of 1729, which led to the foundation of the Foundling Hospital.

It was said of the duchess that "crammed with virtue and good qualities, she thought it impossible not to find gratitude, though she failed to give passion; and upon this she threw away her estate, was despised by her husband and laughed at by the public".

[5] She retired from public life, while her husband used her inheritance to fund a lavish lifestyle and support his illegitimate family.

[1] Anne's noted philanthropy made her a good candidate for Coram to approach, since the aristocratic ladies lent their cachet to the project as well as supporting its 'Christian, virtuous and humanitarian aspects'.

[8] Anne's portrait, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, is held by Carmarthenshire County Museum.