LANE FAMILY. Job Lane, the immigrant ancestor of the Lane family of Ashburnham, to which Frederick Douglass Lane belongs, was born in Lancashire, England, in 1620, and came first to New England, where he settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1835. Twelve years later, having made a home in the wilderness, he returned to England to marry and to look after his property. He gave a power of attorney, November 20, 1047, to Mr. Lenthall. minister of Little Haunden, Bucks county, with reference to the lands at Rickmansworth in the same county, now or lately in possession of Henry or John Lane, but which should have descended to Job as the eldest son. Various letters relating to this English property of Job Lane are published in the Genealogical Register, Volume XI. The father of Job Lane was James Lane, of Great Misenden, Bucks county, where a number of the pioneer settlers of New England came from. Part of the property owned by Job Lane in England was from the estate of his second wife, whose brother, Boyes Rayner, was slain in battle in 1643 fighting under Cromwell.

Job Lane's brother James came to Maiden where Job was then living, in 1660, and settled finally at Falmouth (Portland), Maine; he was a turner by trade and was at first employed by Job ; he was killed by the Indians and his family driven to Gloucester. 

Another of Job's brothers, Edward, came to Maiden in 1651, began business as a merchant and married there a daughter of Governor Dudley, but his marriage was unhappy. Another brother of Job Lane settled in Virginia, another in New Jersey. It is believed that Job was related to William Lane, of Dorchester, from whom many of the American families are descended.

In 1654 Job Lane was living in Maiden, where he settled soon after his return to the colonies. He built a house at New London, Connecticut, and took in payment a tract of fifteen hundred acres of land of the Winthrop farm, Billerica. He got possession of this property in 1664 and removed tn Billorica in 1668. He built the great bridge across the Concord river there. After living twenty years in Billerica he returned to Maiden, where he died August 23. 1697. He left his English estates to his son. John Lane. His house in Billerica was isolated. It was the only one at that time beyond Ralph Hill's on the way to Concord. In 1675 he was permitted to estab'ish a garrison in his house for protection against Indian*. The place was lately owned by Hiram Dutton, Billerica, and is situated on the east side of the road a few rods from Huckins street. The old house may be the one he built himself and used for a garrison. He bought in Maiden Coytmore mill of Mrs. John Coggin and bequeathed it to his son-in-law, Edward Sprague. Mrs. Coggin's first husband was Thomas Coytmore and her second was Governor John Winthrop. Job Lane was a man of high standing socially, of wealth and influence among his fellow citizens. He was deputy to the general court in 1678 and 1679 from Billerica and in 1685 and 1693 from Maiden. He was a member of the Dorchester Church. He was admitted a freeman May 14, 1656.

His first wife Sarah died about May 19. 1659, and he married (second), September, 1660, Anna Reyner, daughter of Rev. John Reyner, minister at Plymouth, and at Dover, New Hampshire. She died August 30, 1704. Children of Job and Sarah Lane were: I. Sarah, baptized May 28, 1648, married, October, 1655, died October 2, 1679. 2. Mary, baptized August 7. 1653, married William Avery, of Dedham. 3. Rebecca, born at Maiden, May, 1658, baptized at Dorchester, July 4, 1658; died April 6, 1674. Children of Job and Anna Lane : 4. Elizabeth, married, April 3, 1677, Robert Avery, of Dedham. 5. John, see forward. 6. Anna, born and died 1662. 7. Anna, married James Foster, of Dorchester, died five days before husband, September 29, 1733, aged sixty-seven years. 8. Jemima, born August 19, 1666, married Matthew Whipple. io. Dorothy, born July 24, 1669, married, November 24, 1693. Edward Sprague, of Maiden.

(II) John Lane, only son of Job Lane (i), was baptized November 17, 1661, "above one fourth of a year old, their dwelling soe remote," making his birth about August, 1661. He inherited half of the Winthrop farm in Billerica. He was prominent 1n the colonial wars and Indian troubles, appointed captain October 4, 1699, by Richard, Earl of Belmont, and major of the West Regiment of horse and foot militia, January 22, 1711, by Governor Dudley. He is called colonel in the records later. He was-selectman of Billcrica eleven years and held other offices of trust and honor. He married, March 20. 1681-82, Susanna Whipple. daughter of John Whipple,' of Ipswich. She died August 4, 1713, aged fifty-one years. He died January 17, 1714-15. Their children: Susanna, born January 24, 1682-83, married Nathaniel Page; Job, born November 19, 1684; Jemima, born June 27. 1688, died July io, 1688 ; Job, see forward : John, Jr.. born October 20, 1691; Martha, born October i. 1694, married Colonel James Minot. died February 6, 1759; she died January 18, 1735; James, born August 12, 1696; Joseph, born January 18, 1698-00.

(III) Job Lane, son of John Lane (2), was horn in Billerica, Massachusetts. June 22, 1689, died 1762. He is an ancestor of Hon. W. H. Whit- more, the historian! of Boston. He had the Winthrop farm in Billerica and lived on the old homestead all his life. He married, December 16. 1713. Martha Ruggles. born in Roxbury, daughter of Samuel and Martha (Woodbridge) Ruggles,. and sister of Rev. Samuel Ruggles, of Billcrica. He IT. 1783. Children of Job and Martha were: Martha, born June 22, 1716: Job, born September 27, 1718: John, born October 2, 1720. see forward; Timothy born July io, 1722, died December 3. 7703: Mary, born February 24. 1724-25, married Jonathan Hill ; Whipple. born September 5, 1727, died October 4, 1728; Benjamin, horn August 29, 1729; Lucy, born May 3, 1732; Hannah (twin), born September 22, 1733, died October, 1733; Sarah (twin), born September 22, 1733. died December 11, 1733.

Ref: Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County ... By Ellery Bicknell Crane, By Ellery Bicknell Crane
Published 1907, The Lewis Publishing Company

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Job Lane was distinguished as "master-carpenter," "house-wright," "artificer" and "bridge-builder." He first appears at Sekonk, Mass., in 1643, where he was estimated worth fifty pounds for the purpose of receiving subsequent grants of land, and where he joined the Sekonk Combination, 3d 5 mo. 1644. He was at Rehoboth, Mass., 9th 4 mo. 1645, and drew lot No. 28. He was of Dorchester, Mass., and returned to England and was married there in 1647. He died aged 77 years -- according to his tombstone. His will, signed 28 Sep 1696, was presented for probate at Charlestown, 21 Oct 1697.