She was a younger daughter of George Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney, and his wife, the former Elizabeth Villiers.
[1] On 27 June 1724, Frances married Thomas Lumley-Saunderson, 3rd Earl of Scarbrough, the third son of Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarbrough and Frances Jones of Aston.
They had five children: Following her marriage, she was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Caroline of Ansbach, then-Princess of Wales (later Queen of Great Britain and Ireland) and to Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha (from 1745; also Princess of Wales at the time).
[2][3] As a Lady of the Bedchamber, the countess received a salary and was in a position of some influence.
She remained friendly with Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, at times when the latter was out of favour at court.