Little is known of the early life of Frances Noah. She appears to have emigrated to New York in the company of her older brother Elias, from somewhere in Germany. In 1783, at age 15, she married merchant Ephraim Hart, an immigrant from the town of Fürth (Bavaria) who was some 20 years her senior, at Congregation Mikve Israel in Philadelphia. Ephraim later moved the family to New York, where he would engage in high finance. Ephraim Hart soon emerged as one of the most successful stockbrokers in New York City, and helped to found the Board of Stock Brokers, precursor to the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, he held political offices—as state senator, canal commissioner and member of the Council of Appointments—which solidified his public respectability. In 1799, Ephraim was listed among owners of houses in New York valued at more than ₤2,000. Accordingly, Frances and her children enjoyed the trappings of wealth and social position.

Frances and Ephraim had four children, and the family maintained close ties to the Hart family of Trois-Rivières in Quebec. The two families were joined when Ephraim and Frances’ daughter, Harriot, married Benjamin Hart of Trois Rivières in 1805. Frances survived her husband by some eighteen years, as well as all three of her sons. Though she died in New York, she was buried in Montreal near her daughter.