Francis Davey was mentored by Doctor Syn
Before becoming the vicar of Altarun, he was a curate in Dymchurch. It was there that he learned how to be a kindly parish priest by day and a ruthless smuggler leader by night, although after moving to Cornwall he turned to wrecking instead.
Mary is descended from Dona St. Columb, the heroine of Frenchman's Creek
Both ladies have a sense of adventure that leads to them
running off with the Lovable Rogue at the end. Mary's from Helford, which isn't far from the St. Columbs' country estate (the titular Frenchman's Creek being a creek on the Helford River).
