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The LANE Family with C18th Taunton, Somerset origins>
Descendant families in C19th-C20th Bristol & Plymouth, SW England, Canada & US

Origin of surname: Possibly Old Gaelic or Cornish, 'Llane', meaning a plain or barren sandy level lands, or simply a geographical reference to a family living in a lane.

General Synopsis - Updated October 2009:

The family has known early C19th origins in the Taunton & Wellington area of Somerset, SW England. Ancestral families probably exist in the area in the C18th as there are numerous LANE references, with the name present in  Taunton as far back at the C16th. Records do not provide an integrated picture, so any researchers who can trace their LANE families back to the area are of interest.

Until the C20th, the main family trade of the LANEs was iron foundry or iron (sometimes brass) moulding, so this long established tradition suggest the same in the C18th Taunton area. Later, some family members were linked with careers at sea and in the C19th the army.

While some descendants probably remained in the Taunton area, my main family branch migrated first to the north coastal Somerset towns of Watchet (by 1860) and Dunster (by 1861), back to Taunton (1870/71) and then the Bristol districts of Totterdown (1871) and Bedminster (1874 until the 1900's) and Easton in 1901. Other Taunton family members also migrated to Bristol, and due to the size of families a large numbers of relatives and their descendants will still live in the greater Bristol area. One sub-branch is known to have gone to Plymouth & Devonport, Devon, and there may still be an extended family there. At least one son of this branch emigrated to the US.

At some stage before 1904 my sub-branch of the family was in Walsall (STS) and then Birmingham by the 1930's.

Note on family names:

The LANE family, as many others in the Victorian period, often have the order of their first and second names reversed in census returns compared to their official birth registry, which can cause confusion when searching for them in the BMD versus census. Where found, both are given (and on rare occasions all three names), but it appears in life they were mostly known by their second names within the family.

Current heads of this LANE family tree are my 4xGGF John LANE, who was probably an iron moulder born around 1775 in the Taunton area, and his wife Mary of unknown surname. John probably married one or both of Mary PHILLPOTT (6.10.1801) and Mary OXENHAM (22.9.1808) at Taunton St Mary. Baptismal records suggest there were two children born after 1808:

• William LANE (1809-89), whose career was at sea, heads the "Maritime branch" of the LANEs. He married a Susan of unknown surname (1810-88)  from Lawhitton, Cornwall, sometime between 1826 & 1837. The marriage is not found in England, so may have occurred overseas or onboard ship. The birth records of their children provide the maritime connection. The family are not present during the 1841 census (their son John born overseas in 1840) and in 1851 East Stonehouse, Devon, William is away from his family, presumably at sea. He retired sometime before 1861. In 1871, William was a land-based smith, with the 1861 & 1881 census confirming his status as a Greenwich Pensioner. Admiralty records may reveal more history of William's career and where his family were in the period around 1840:

  • Jemima Elizabeth LANE (1838 Stonehouse, DEV), m. James PAVEY of Hambridge, SOM, a labourer/mason in 1857 Taunton;

  • John LANE (1840 Ascension island). In 1861, John  was a gunner in the Royal Marine Artillery based at Portsea, HAM. By 1871 he was a stonecutter living in Whitchurch, DEVON, after which he disappears from records. He may have rejoined the Navy or emigrated;

  • Charles Robert LANE (1848 Stonehouse). In 1871 Charles was registered as a seaman onboard RN vessel "Nimble" in Zanzibar. In 1875 Tavistock, DEV, he married Mary Elizabeth CRUSE (1848-92). They appear to have been childless. In 1881, Charles is recorded as RN Seaman, a member of Ships Police, in Tranmere, Cheshire and in 1891 an Admiralty Messenger living in Battersea London. In 1901 Fulham, London, he was a messenger and confirmed Naval pensioner. In 1893 Wandsworth, London he married Fanny, widow COBB. Her son Leonard Francis COBB (1889) was recorded as adopted Francis L LANE in 1901;

• Robert LANE, the son of Robert & Mary, (1811-71) was c. 30.6.1811 at the Octagon Chapel, Taunton. [Note: Another Robert LANE, child of Robert & Hannah LANE c. 3.3.1813 at Taunton is confirmed as a different descendant family, however the parents of both Roberts (John & Robert) may be related]. Robert LANE, Ironfounder, and my 3xGGM Elizabeth LOCK (1809-72) m. 21.7.1831 at the C15th Church of St Mary Magdalene, Taunton. They appeared to have had at least six children according to baptismal records and census returns. They were in Taunton throughout their lives:

  • Anna Mary LANE (1832-xx). Not on 1841 census, some presumed to have died young in the 1830's;

  • Walter William LANE (aka William Walter LANE, 1835 Taunton -1907 Bristol) my 2xGGF. His story is below; 

  • Jane Maria LANE (1836-40);

  • Mary LANE (c1838 Taunton). In 1841 she is recorded with member of the LOCK family. She married Edwin John Beaton SULLY in 1858 Taunton and continued to live in the town;

  • John LANE (c1843 Taunton). His story is below;

  • Charles LANE (1848 Taunton - 1899 King's Norton, Birmingham). Charles was an Ironmonger's clerk in 1871 Bedminster (Bristol) and was shortly afterwards involved in the iron trade (as a commercial traveller) based in Birmingham. In 1875 Birmingham he married Sarah Ann HALEY. The couple were childless and lived in Edgbaston;

William Walter LANE aka Walter William LANE , my 2xGGF, Iron Founder & Iron Moulder, married Emma COTTRELL on 31.12.1855 at St Mary Magdalene, Taunton PC (the Mary LANE witness was likely to be his sister as it took place a couple of years before her own marriage in 1858). Both were of Church Square, Taunton. Their known children, with an extensive extended family in the Bristol area, are:

• Emma Josephine LANE (1856, Appley/Stawley  SOM - 1932 Bristol), m. 1879 = Thomas George CHAPMAN in Bedminster. The CHAPMAN family were in Bedminster in 1901;

• Eva Lavinia LANE (1860 Watchet SOM - 1933), m. 1881 = Thomas Charles THATCHER at Bedminster. The THATCHER family were in Bristol St. George in 1891 & 1901;

• Mary Elizabeth LANE (1862 Dunster, SOM - 1939), m. 1889 = Frank GOLDSWORTHY at Bedminster. The GOLDSWORTHY family were in Bedminster in 1891 & 1901;

• Walter Robert LANE (1863 Dunster - 1940 Birmingham), my GGF - see family below;

• Francis Herbert LANE aka Herbert F LANE (1865 Dunster). In 1891 he was a private in the Ordnance Corps at the Anglesea Barracks, Portsea, Hants. Based on family stories, he is likely to be one of two brothers who may have been killed in the Boer War (1899-1902) as he is missing from subsequent records;

• Henry Frederick LANE (1867 Dunster - 1951 Bristol), m. 1892 = Amelia Emma BIRD at Barton Regis. In 1901 the family (with Amelia referenced as America E.) were in the Ashley area of Bristol with their two sons:

  • George Frederick LANE (1893 Barton Regis - 1977 Cheltenham, GLS), m. Daisy TURNER (1887) in 1923 Cheltenham. Child:

    • Margaret Rowena Shergold LANE (1927), m. Derek H F FORBES in 1953 Cheltenham;

  • Reginald James LANE (1895 Barton Regis-1995 Cornwall), m. 1922 = Alice Victoria CARVETH (1901-87). Children:

    • Donald Henry LANE (1924 Bristol), m. Norah Myfanwy Mary HOWELLS in 1952 Bristol. Children:

      • Patricia Myfanwy Mary LANE (1953 Plymouth), m. John G BRYCELAND in 1973 High Wycombe, BKS;

      • David C LANE (1958 Plymouth);

    • Jean Carveth LANE (1927 Bristol);

    • Malcolm Reginald LANE (1932 Bristol - 1966 Slough, Berkshire), m. Madeleine BRAY in 1955 Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Children:

      • Christina Madeleine LANE (1957 Banbury, Oxon);

      • Jeremy Gordon Malcolm LANE (1960 Colchester, Essex), m. Helen B DER AVEDISSIAN in 1984 Bracknell, Berkshire;

        • Oliver Kieran LANE (1988 Bracknell);

  • Clifford Pullin LANE (1901 Bristol), m. Janet SUTHERLAND c1925 in BC, Canada. Child:

    • Donald Frederick LANE (1927 Canada), m. Vivian McINDOE in Canada. Child:

      • Pamela LANE (c1950's Canada);

  • Vera Doreen Minnie LANE (1905 Bristol - 1974 Poole, Dorset) m. Arthur Clifford WARREN (1903-92) in 1931 Bristol;

• Oliver Cromwell LANE (1868 Dunster), d. unmarried in 1893 Bristol, aged 24;

• William Ernest LANE (c 1.1871 - Q3 1871 Taunton);

• Beatrice LANE (1872 Totterdown, Bristol), d. 1893 Bristol, aged 21;

• Reginald LANE (1874 Bedminster, Bristol). At home in 1891 but not found on 1901 census. Based on family stories, he is likely to be one of two brothers who may have been killed in the Boer War (1899-1902) as he is missing from subsequent records;

In 1901 census Walter William & Emma LANE were in Easton, Bristol at 31 Church Road. Walter was a  home-based employer of an iron foundry.

My GGF Walter Robert LANE married Emily BATEMAN in Barton Regis, Bristol in 1884. The family moved from Bristol after 1891. In 1901 they were already at 90 Rutter Street, Walsall, with two surviving children of their 17 year marriage to date; Fred LANE (1889-1926) and Adeline Elizabeth B LANE (9), both born Bristol. By 1911 in Regent Road, Handsworth the two surviving children were Fred & Nora, Adeline having died in 1910 aged 18. Walter was boarding in Chilvers Coton, Nuneaton in 1911, a newspaper advertisement canvasser.

Based on a single family picture and length of marriage, it assumed that the majority of children of Walter & Emily died in childhood and only Fred & Nora survived to adulthood, and then only Nora to old age. Many infant deaths are recorded for LANE in the Walsall & West Bromwich RDs with possible naming patterns. A Walter William LANE in 1899-1900 Walsall suggests the family were there by that time.

The key reference photo is show below. Taken in the period leading up to 1910, it appears to show Walter & Emily with 5 children. The girl standing is assumed to be Adeline, who died shortly after this picture was taken. It is not clear whether the oldest son, Fred, is in the picture (sitting left, or taking the picture), however there are two other sons and two daughters. The girl sitting right is the spitting image of Nora, however she would have been only six (maximum in 1910) and she would have to be a look-alike older sister. Other family photos suggest the youngest girl sitting would be Nora. By 1911 only Fred & Nora will be alive. It is also possible, the photo is after 1910 and shows Nora visiting unknown relatives sometime in 1920's. My grandmother recalled finding at least a couple of her siblings dead in bed, however the detail was never obtained before her death:

• Fred LANE (1889-1926) married Ada SMITH in 1917 West Bromwich. BMD suggests the following possible children (the history of only one is known):

  • Edith LANE (Aston, 1918);

  • Betty J LANE (King's Norton, 1921), was the niece and bridesmaid at my grandmother's wedding in 1927 and married Reginald Geoffrey CLARKE (1921-97) in 1948 having daughters Bryony CLARKE (= Stephen BROOKER) & Lucinda CLARKE;

  • George E LANE (King's Norton, 1922);

  • Sheila M LANE (King's Norton, 1923);  Their daughter Betty LANE 

• Adeline Elizabeth Bateman LANE (1891-1910);

• William Walter LANE (1899-1901);

• Elsinora Alicia Patricia LANE, (1904-85) my grandmother, was born in Rutter Street, Walsall in the West Midlands and married William Sanders GRACE in 1927. They had only one child, my father. 

The Family of John LANE & Fanny PROCTOR of Taunton:
[Taunton until c1870, then Bristol (1881), Plymouth (1891) & Devonport (1901)]

John LANE (c1843 Taunton), Iron Moulder, & wife Fanny PROCTOR (1844 of Wellington, Somerset) married in Taunton in 1864. BMD & baptism records show that the couple had at least 13 children, suggesting significant descendants in the SW of England and possibly overseas. 5 of their children were baptised on the same day in 1886 at Redcliffe St Mary:

• William Robert LANE (1865 Taunton), Iron moulder m. 1883 Bristol = Eliza Jane WHITROW. Both sons, Iron moulders, were lodging separately in Twerton, SOM. Children included those deceased by 1911 census:

  • Unknown child #1 LANE (n. after 1883, d. by 1911);

  • Unknown child #2 LANE (n. after 1883, d. by 1911);

  • Unknown child #3 LANE (n. after 1883, d. by 1911);

  • William George LANE (1884 Barton Regis), Iron moulder, m. Mabel Margaretta LUKINGS c1906 (marriage not found). Bristol children:

    • Rosie May LANE (1907);

    • William George LANE (1908-76), Iron Moulder, m. Martha Ann COLLINS in 1905 Bath. Family settled in East Twerton, Bath for all their children:

      • Florence Annie LANE (1906);

      • William John LANE (1908);

      • Thomas James LANE (1909-10) - confirmed by 1911 census;

      • Violet May LANE (1910);

      • Alfred E LANE (1912);

      • Rose E LANE (1913);

      • Nellie I LANE (1917);

      • Emily M LANE (1918);

      • Frederick H LANE (1920);

      • Doreen P LANE (1924);

    • Thomas LANE (1911);

    • Frederick LANE (1914);

    • daughter LANE (1918);

    • Mabel M LANE (1919);

    • Stanley D LANE (1921), m. Minnie E LUCAS in 1941 (no known children) & Doreen B DERRICK in 1946 Bristol. Children:

      • Michael D LANE (1949);

      • Robert J LANE (1950);

    • Raymond LANE (1923-90);

    • Dorothy V LANE (1926), m. Thomas H COOPER in 1946;

    • Arthur LANE (1928);

  • Thomas Edward LANE (1885 Barton Regis - 1976), Iron Moulder, m. Julia LLOYD (1885-1927) in 1910 Bristol. Children include (post 1911 BMD):

    • Irene F LANE (1915);

    • Evelyn M LANE (1921), m. Ivor Emmanuel MARSHALSEA in 1941;

    • Violet J LANE (1924)

  • Alice Maud LANE (1887);

  • John James LANE (1892);

  • Emily A LANE (1896- <1911);

  • Rose LANE (1897);

  • Frederick Charles LANE (1898);

  • Henry Arthur LANE (1900);

  • Robert Alfred LANE (1902);

  • Florence Mabel LANE (1907);

• Walter Charles LANE (1867 Taunton), domestic coachman, m. 1900 Barton Regis = Daisy HATHWAY. The couple were at Filton in 1901 with no children at that time;

• Elizabeth Fanny LANE aka Fanny Elizabeth LANE (c1869 Taunton, possibly indexed as Emily Elizabeth in 1869). Indexed as Elizabeth Fanny in 1881, nothing is further known;

• Florence Helena LANE (1870 Taunton) m. 1892 Plymouth = William Henry CLEMENTS. The couple were resident in Widecombe in the Moor, DEV in 1901;

• Rosa Louisa LANE (1871 Bedminster), m. 1894 Bedminster Walter John FILER.  and living in 1901 at Uplands, Stroud, GLS (her POB incorrect);

• Henry John LANE (1874 Bedminster) - not on 1891 or 1901 census so may have been in the military and outside England. Last recorded in 1881;

• Frank Henry LANE (1876). Known from Redcliffe St Mary baptisms only, where he was baptised in 1882. The year of birth at baptism appears as 1875 instead of 1876 (BMD). He is not  at home in the 1881 census and may have been away at school. In 1891 he appears to be a scholar "under detention" on the vessel "Formidable" in Redcliffe, and a labourer in 1901;

• Albert Edward Proctor LANE (1877 Bedminster), m. 1898 Plymouth = Ellen Ann W FOLEY. Albert widowed in 1900 & with Arthur in 1901. He remarried in 1901 Liskeard, Cornwall = Elizabeth HONEYWILL. Children include (pre 1910 unknown):

  • Winifred B LANE (1915 Plymouth), m. Frederick J H WAKEHAM inn 1939 Plymouth;

  • Violet M LANE (1920 Plymouth), m. Reginald A STALLARD in 1942 Plymouth;

• Arthur James Proctor LANE (1878 Barton Regis), m. 1898 Plymouth = Louisa HEALY. The 1901 census in Plymouth had Arthur & Louisa LANE present with their ages but then a list of LANEs and an Elizabeth HEALY all crossed out. In order, they were William, Walter, Fanny, Florence, Rose, Harry, Albert, Nellie, Ernest, Harold & Frederick, which match the age order of Arthur's siblings, excluding Frank. This was probably an error by Arthur to fill out his entire family as the siblings were elsewhere. It does, however, independently confirm the full list of his siblings. Why Frank was left out is unknown. Perhaps he was institutionalised?. Sometime after 1901 the couple must have emigrated to the US, as Arthur (with his full 3 names) is documented as drafted into the US military for WW1 (1917-1918), a resident of Stark County, North Dakota;

• Lillie Nellie LANE aka Nellie LANE (c1880 Barton Regis), m. 1906 Plymouth to William COBBLEDICK;

• Alfred Ernest George LANE aka Ernest LANE (c1882, Bristol), Butcher's Assistant, m. Maud Beatrice MILTON in 1906 Plymouth. Children include:

  • Beatrice V LANE (1920);

  • Rosa D LANE (1924);

• Harold Edgar Proctor LANE (c1884 Bristol), Barman, m. 1906 Swindon, Wiltshire to either Josephine SABBATELLA or Beatrice TRUMAN;

• Frederick Thomas LANE (c1886 Bristol), Barman. Nothing further known. If he was in Swindon like his older brother, he have married there in 1908 (Beatrice Kate GLASS & Beatrice Elizabeth REEVES (2 of 3 females listed, the third missing)) or Bristol in 1915 to Ethel G ALMOND;

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