"Could this Captain Randall possibly be Frank's ancestor, the soldier with the sterling record, gallant, on the field of battle, recipient of commendations from dukes? And if so, could someone related to my sweet gentle Frank possibly be capable of inflicting the horrifying marks on this lad's back?"
Seriously? You are shocked that your husband's great-great-great (how many greats do you need for about 200 years?)-father might not have been a nice guy? Do you also think that all your ancestors only ever did the right thing and you have no robbers (or worse) somewhere in your family-tree?