... Long Point, patented by David Jones under a survey dated June 16, 1682, lay on the west side of the main branch [Herring Run] of Back River. Although no transfer of this tract appears among the Baltimore County deeds prior to 1728, when it was sold by John Cromwell [son of Richard] to Thomas Sheredine (Balto. Deeds IS: I; 239), the Baltimore County Rent Roll for 1700 and a somewhat later Rent Roll, about 1706 (Md. Hist. Soc. MSS.), give the tract as in the possession at these dates of Richard Cromwell.
It would therefore seem that Frances Todd may have become the wife of Richard Cromwell*, a wealthy planter and the founder of the Baltimore County family of Cromwell. It should be remembered however that prior to about the year 1715 property was sometimes conveyed without record by seisin. If so, Richard Cromwell had more than one wife, as at the time of his death in 1717 he refers in his will to his wife Elizabeth and his mother-in-law Besson. His wife Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas Besson, Jr., and his wife Margaret Saughier. There is no direct evidence however that Richard Cromwell had a former wife named Frances, nor has any mention of this Frances Todd been found in the Maryland records after 1686-7.
