Mary Frances Crouton (nee O'Neil) was the wife of Thomas Simon Crouton.
Mary was born in 1827 and married Thomas in 1848. Mary and Thomas had two children, William (1851-1851) and Sarah (1854-1871). Mary died during the American Civil War along with her husband.
Prior to her death, Mary left several clues for her daughter (who was sent away during the war) at Misty Acres with the hope she would find a family cache of jewels that would let her live comfortably. This cache was not found by Sarah before she died, destitute, in 1871.
The cache was found by Laura Bow, who was permitted to keep it by Colonel Henri Dijon as a reward for saving his life.