FRANCES COREA (NEE AMERESEKERA) was a daughter of Don Conrad Ameresekera, who was a Proctor of the Supreme Court of Kurunegala. According to family tradition, her mother was a Burgher lady.

In 1888, she married Gate Mudaliyar James Edward Corea, who was the eldest son of Johannes Christoffel Corea and Sophia Ameresekera. Johannes was the Mudaliyar of Chilaw, and his father Abraham was a Mohandiram. J. E. Corea was appointed Mudaliyar of Pitigal Korale North in 1899, and became Gate Mudaliyar of the Chilaw District.

Frances and Edward Corea had ten children: Letitia, Drayton, Melita, Stanley, Aelian, Ouida, Acland, Ariel, Leslie and Edward. Their official residence was Walauwa, at Chilaw.