1. George LANE
George Lane was born about 1760 to 1770 in Ireland. His birthdate is based on and calculated from his marriage date which occurred the 30th of March 1793. George most likely was 23 to 33 years of age at the time he married his bride Margaret. This assumes that he did not get married when he was older.
The English and the Irish had a tradition of naming the firstborn son after the paternal grandfather; therefore, it is believed that William Lane was the name of George's father. George and Margaret named their first child William, born May 19, 1795.
A letter written to Mrs. Margaret Lane in 1809 lists both George and his wife Margaret's name and states their marriage date. In addition, the letter lists the names and birthdates of their first seven children: William, Matilda, Eliza Ann, Robert, Alexander, John William and Margaret. The letter was sent to George and Margaret's domicile in the town of Woodrook, Newtown Stewart, Ireland.
In a letter written from Portsmouth Harbor on 4 August 1838 by Alexander Lane, George's son, to his wife Dorothea, Alex makes reference to his father:
"My dearest Dora and most beloved wife, I did not think I should have had an opportunity of sending this to you when I commenced it; however, Miller, the surgeon of the Victory, has promised either to send it safe or take it himself. It seems he is acquainted with some ladies in ______________________. One of them is married to John Wilson of _____________________. He is from Newtown Stewart and it seems knew my father. He is a kind hearted old man. Give my love to my mother and kiss our sons for their father. Keep me in their constant rememberance and they may know me on my return and believe me to remain your most affectionate husband".
Further evidence from this portion of a letter indicates that his father did live in Newtown Stewart. One can also infer that George had passed away before 1838, and that George's wife Margaret was still living. Alex speaks in the past tense when he states "knew my father".
It is possible that George had an older brother named Benjamin who married Rosanna Dillon. Benjamin would had been named after his grandfather Benjamin Lane who married Miss Ogilby. Evidence is not conclusive that Benjamin was a brother.
One other source, a letter written from London, England on September 7, 1812 by William Ogilby addressed to George Lane, further indicates the existence of George Lane. The Letter was addressed to George Lane, Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland. Omagh is near Newtown Stewart. Apparently the family moved from Newtown Stewart to Omagh.
The letter reads as follows:
Mr. George Lane London 7 September 1812
Dear Sir,
I have this morning your letter of the 31st ____. In reply your son advised in the letter I offered my services in procurring a lodging & as you requested gave him some prudent council respecting the inducements to indiscretion so prevalent in London which he promised to attend to, but having met with a fellow student or apprentice immeidately an _______ from the crack he had turned his attention I promised him a lodging in Compton St., Soho #13 at the house of an apothecary, he dined with me about a fortnight ago. Since _____ I have not seen him until this moment on receipt of your letter this morning. I sent him a note exclaiming much against his not writing, he says he has written home by private hand and _____ by fort he is very well and gives satisfactory account of his proceedings. On your expressing your thoughts of doing something with this market I requested Lefty Alexander to write you. In addition to our relationship the greatest friendship reciprocal wishes for each others welfare prevails between us. My services here you may truly command and believe me yours truely.
William Ogilby
Should you have the opportunity of sending a note to my father let him know the Cape of the Lenok's ship of war inform he took my brother Alex and is from Maderia to Lisbon left him well middle of last month.
Notes from Laura Cogswell indicate that George Lane was from Devon, Ireland. I do not have any evidence that proves the statement true.
Margaret was born about 1770 and married the 30th of March 1793. She lived for a time with her husband George in Newtown Stewart, County Tyrone, Ireland (1809) and Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland (1812).
Letters written by her son Alexander Lane to his wife Louisa Dorothea indicate that Margaret was still living in 1839. In a letter dated 1838, Alexander asks his wife Dorothea to give his love to his mother. In a letter dated August 6, 1838 written by Louisa Dorothea, Margaret's daughter-in-law, Dorothea mentions Alexander's mother. Apparently Margaret was helping Dorothea while Alexander was away at sea. Dorothea was pregnant with her third child. She resided in Coleraine, Irelandat the time. At the conclusion of Dorothea's remarks, she mentions that Margaret may finish the letter.
Margaret's son Alexander recalls a dream that he had about his mother and gives an account of it in a letter that he wrote to his wife on August 14, 1839:
"I dreamed last night that I saw my mother going to a very large party at Guthries. I do not recallest seeing you there at all, or any of the children, and I thought I heard an _____ woman whom I did not know, because she hid her face, say there goes old mother Lane. The party was Mormons and I thought it strange. I was too ill to go and had decided on not going, but I was there with dirty shirt and trousers. You will think me stupid in writing such nonsence to you, particularly as you know my opinion full well on such matters; however, I trust my mother will live till I get home and longer if God pleases".
2. William LANE
Uncertainty exists about the life of William Lane, son of George and Margaret Lane. It was thought that William married a woman named Matilda by whom he had several children (Benjamin, George, Alex, Matilda Ann, William, Rosina, Hugh and Albert Edward); however, certain evidence indicates that Matilda was William's younger sister and that she married a William Lane from a different Lane family.
The first evidence that started my investigation into this theory is the name of William and Matilda Lane's children. I noticed that the firstborn child was a male who they named Benjamin. I thought it strange that they did not follow the tradition of naming the first male child after the paternal grandfather George. I also noticed that the name of one of the other children was Rosina Dillon Lane. In my research I had found another family headed by Benjamin Lane and Rosanna Dillon. I thought that perhaps Benjamin Lane and Rosanna Dillon were brother and sister-in-law to George Lane, William's father, and that William named some of his children after his relatives. I felt uneasy about this theory and was still perplexed as to why William would name his children after an uncle's family rather than his father.
In the spring of 2000 I received a box of files that had been maintained by Laura Cogswell, a second great-grandaughter of George and Margaret Lane. Laura had passed away in 1998 and the files had been left in a box in the basement of her brother's home, Walter Cleveland Cogswell, in Nashua, New Hampshire. Walter sent me the files sometime in May 2000 and I immediately began reading each of the letters and scraps of paper.
On the back of an old business card found with the genealogical treasures the following was written:
"William Arbuthnot Lane M.D. Baronet, son of Benjamin Lane who was full cousin of my mother, as Benjamin's mother was sister to Alex Lane R.N. (my maternal grandfather). Arbuthnot's Aunt Matilda was my Uncle John's wife. Arbuthnot's father was a Brigade Surgeon in the British Army ____ rank of _____."
I believe the individual that wrote this note was Rose Dillon Street Cogswell, the mother of Laura Cogswell. Rose was the daughter of Frances Margaret Lane, who is referred to as "my mother" in the note above. Frances Margaret was the daughter of Alex Lane R.N., who is referred to as "my maternal grandfather" in the note above. The Benjamin Lane stated above was son Matilda Lane, sister to Alex Lane R.N..
Finally it all seemed to make sense. Matilda Lane, daughter of George and Margaret Lane, married William Lane, son of Benjamin Lane and Rosanna Dillon. Previous research had already proven that Benjamin Lane, son of William and Matilda, had served as a Brigade Surgeon in the British Army and that he had a son by Caroline Arbuthnot Ewing who was named William Arbuthnot Lane who later became a Medical Doctor. This explained why William and Matilda named their first child Benjamin after William's father and why they later named a daughter Rosina Dillon after William's mother Rosanna Dillon.
I have not discovered any sources pertaining to the relationship between George Lane and Benjamin Lane. At one point I thought that they might be brothers or cousins. At present, I am more inclined to say that there is not a family relation.
Alexander Lane made reference to his nephew Albert, son of his sister Matilda and her husband William Lane. He mentions that Albert had asked for the hand of his eldest daughter in marriage. Alex makes note in his journal that he does not approve of the close alliances of blood marrying. He notes that his son John William Lane married Albert's sister Matilda Ann Lane, daughter of William Lane and Matilda Lane.
After all has been said, what do we know about William Lane? We know that he was the son of George Lane and Margaret born the 19th day of May 1795.
note: William was alive in 1874 at age 78 - source was a letter dated December 13, 1874 from Alexander Lane to Henry Stanley Lane. (Take note that this may had been William Lane, husband to Matila, rather than William Lane brother of Matilda). William died 13 January 1876 according to Wilson's chart. This may be the death date of Matilda's husband rather than her brother William. I am inclined to state that the statment from the letter and the death date are those of William Lane, son of Benjamin Lane and Rosanna Dillon, husband to Matilda Lane.
Nothing is known about the life of Eliza. Her name is mentioned once by her sister-in-law Louisa Dorothea Stanley Lane in a letter written to Dorothea's husband Alexander Lane.
5. Robert LANE
Nothing is known about the life of Robert Lane.
John William Lane served in the Royal Navy. He was assigned to "Her Majesty's Ship Callenger" for a time and died either at the time H.M.S. Challenger shipwrecked off the coast of Chile or shortly thereafter. His death date May 19, 1835 is the date the Challenger shipwrecked and was taken from a December 1835 Navy list which had John reported as dying. He most likely died in Chile, South America or off the coast of Chile.
The following is a letter written by John William Lane to his brother Alexander Lane:
to Alex. Lane Esquire R.N.
Newtown Limavady, Co. Derry
IrelandMy dearest Brother Challenger, Guaraquil June 15, 1834
I wrote you a long letter from Callas a few days ago, and explained the great advantage of your coming out immediately to Lima to practice as Surgeon. I have understood from yourself that you are a good Spanish scholar. If so you would at once get charge of the Military Hospital 5,000 dollars a year and give two courses of clinical lectures in Spanish. There is not one moment to be lost. You might come out by the West Indies and Chagras, cross at Panama and you would be in Lima very soon. If you come bring with you a supply of medicines, in a small box which will be enough for all present purposes. We sail in a few days from here for the Sandwich Islands. From thence to the Society and Friendly Islands, and thence to Valparaiso. I have written home long details of circumstances which they will communicate to you on receipt of my letter. Loose not one moment in hesitation, get leave of absence to travel on the continent for the benefit of your health and delay not, it is dangerous. I have written to Galt to send me out by the Packet via Rio, some clothes which I stand highly in need of as you cannot go comfortably on shore in uniform. Gallagher, late assistent Surgeon R.N., now enjoys a comfortable practice in Arequipa in Peru where he has been about one year, and in pocket about 800 dollars besides a house furnished, and two good saddle horses. I went up to see him some time ago and was very much pleased with my trip of 120 miles on shore. I can see great success for any medical man who will come who will halt in any of these provinces, but he must bring his qualifications with him. You might bring Dora with you, if you considered it prudent, as English women are exceeding scarce here and particularly accomplished women like her. I as you know have got over my prejudices in consequence of a F-P-. If you establish here it would answer well to emigrate here. Chamberlain brought out a servant maid who I am convinced was on London, and she got well married here. There exists in the minds of man a mania for change and I hope that if I have any of it, it may be for the better. Write home and let me know if Wm Lane got my last letter, as it is important - if so they will let you know many valuable things. Believe with my kindest remembrance to my friends your ever attached and beloved Brother.
John Wm. Lane
Having gone this far into detail you must perceive the vast advantage to be gained by risquing a little. With some it would be risquing everything. I called on the Consul General, the American Counsul & c. and they all strongly pointed out the opening that now is for the benefit of medicine, I doubt whether this may ever reach you. If it does, you have my opinion and proceed as you may best judge: should a doctor have arrived in Lima there will still be Cuzco - and Puno (both in Peru) open for the wandering pill builder. How many years must I remain as I am, and have no chance of promotion. Young Crouch, your old ship mate & Richard Hoops one eye are my messmates. G.T. Maxey was a good friend of mine, he is a worthy good fellow and I wish him well with all my heart. There is no doubt that John Kay is a most worthy good man he is a good friend to me on every occasion. If ever I have an opportunity I will show that I was not unworthy of such friendship. I have written to N. Limavady by this same post as I am most anxious to get matters to conclusion. I want a stomach pump.. It is a most useful instrument, on many occasions. Cape Frio Prize money! How is it settled? If you can make out a letter of attorney or get it by any means, making use of this date, do it and send the cash to a certain quarter for the benefit of the sick & wounded. The merchants in Lima are very good fellows. I have got into their good graces and I think they will give you a warm reception. We may be in Valpariaiso about October or November next, after the Challenger will visit Coquimbo, Copriap, Africa, Cobiqua and Islay. Write to me immediately and say what you will do! As such an opportunity ought not to be thrown away, but maturely considered. May God Almighty bless you. Your only brother's wish
John Wm Lane
The above letter arrived in Portsmouth 5 Dec 1834.
Nothing is known about the life of Margaret Lane.
9. Henry LANE
It is unknown if Henry is actually the son of George and Margaret Lane. In a pedigree chart created by George and John Wilson it indicates that he was a son and that he had two sons that died young. No other information is available. Nothing is available to prove Henry's relation to George and Margaret. Henry's inclusion in this record is merely for keeping a note of his possible relationship. The record may be excluded in the future.
10. Edward LANE
It is unknown if Edward is actually the son of George and Margaret Lane. In a pedigree chart created by George and John Wilson it indicates that he was a son and that he had two children that died young. No other information is available. Nothing is available to prove Edward's relation to George and Margaret. Edward's inclusion in this record is merely for keeping a note of his possible relationship. The record may be excluded in the future.
It is unknown if Benjamin Hugh is actually the son of George and Margaret Lane. In a pedigree chart created by George and John Wilson it indicates that he was a son and that he had three sons: George, John William and Benjamin Hugh. No other information is available. Nothing is available to prove Benjamin Hugh's relation to George and Margaret. Benjamin Hugh's inclusion in this record is merely for keeping a note of his possible relationship. The record may be excluded in the future.