In 1730, Mary Rowland (Crow) married Francis Crane, but their marriage was not successful. On 15 Jun 1731 she sued Francis Crane for separate maintenance on the grounds that "he beat and abused her so unmercifully that she could not live with him". The court agreed with her and awarded her separate maintenance of one-half the rents belonging to Francis Crane. (OB 1729-33, p. 158, Essex Co. Records) The rents were to be paid to William Covington "for just support of the aforesaid Mary Crane".