Alonso Lane

Alonzo (also 'Alonso') was the youngest surviving child of Thomas and Sarah Lane. According to the information provided by his father on the 1911 Census, Thomas and Sarah had been married for 49 years and had had 16 children of whom only nine were still living. Twelve children were named on the census between 1871 and 1911: Harry b. 1863 (O/N/D Basford), Fanny b. 1865 (J/A/S Basford), John Thomas b, 1868 (A/M/J Nottingham), Annie Maria birth registered 1869 (J/F/M Basford), Caesar b. 1870 (O/N/D Radford), Florence birth registered 1874 (J/F/M Radford), Jonathan b. 12 March 1876, Ada b. 1878 (O/N/D Basford), Wallace b. 1880 (O/N/D Basford), Clara Ethel b. 21 December 1883 (1884 (J/F/M Basford), Arthur Leonard b. 1886 (O/N/D Basford) and Alonzo b. 1890 (J/A/S Basford). With the exception of Caesar and Florence who were both born in Radford, the children were born in Arnold. The three children who died before the 1911 Census were: Wallace in 1882, Florence in 1903 and Annie Marie in 1908. In 1871 Thomas (32), a shepherd, and Sarah (27) were living on St Peter's Street, Radford, with their five children Harry (7), Fanny (5), John T. (3), Annie M. (2) and Caesar (6 months). The family had moved to 46 High Street, Radford, by 1881. Thomas was working as an agricultural labourer. Eight of their nine children were in the home on the night of the census: Fanny (16) a laundress, John (14) a gardener, Annie (12), Caesar (10), Florence (7), Jonathan (5), Ada (2) and Wallace (5 months). Alonzo was born in 1890 and in 1891 his parents were living on High Street, Arnold. His father was now working as a coal miner. In the home on the night of the census were Thomas and Sarah and nine of their children: John Thomas (23) a lace worker, Annie (22), Caesar (20) a coal miner, Florence (17) a cotton winder, Jonathan (15) a blacksmith's apprentice, Ada (12), Clara (7), Arthur (4) and Alonso (8 months). Also in the household were two grandchildren, Wallace Lane (3, b. 6 January 1888, J/F/M Basford) and his sister Alice Lane (1). The family was still living on High Street, Arnold, ten years later in 1901. In the home on the night of the census with Thomas and Sarah were their children Caesar (30) a bricklayer's labourer, Ada (22) a laundress, Clara (17) a lace dresser, Arthur (14) a laundry van boy, Alonzo (10) and four of their grandchildren, Walter Lane (19, b. 1882 J/A/S Basford) a carter, Wallace Lane (13) a bottle washer at a brewery, Alice Lane (11) and Alfred Lane (1 month). Thomas and Sarah were living at 21 High Street, Arnold, in 1911. Only two of their children were still living at home, Caesar (41) and Alonzo (21) a wagoner. Also in the household were two of their grandchildren, Alice Lane (21) a sewing machinist, and Harry Lane (18, b. 1893 J/A/S Nottingham) who was out of work. Alonzo's father, Thomas Lane, died in 1914 (O/N/D Basford) aged 71. Alonzo was living on Cross Street, Arnold, when he died in 1919 and it is likely that he shared the home with his widowed mother, Sarah. Of Alonzo's siblings: Harry married Emma Oscroft Bingham in 1883 (J/A/S Basford) and by 1901 they were living at Red Hill, Arnold. Harry (37) was a 'washhouse man' in a laundry. He and Emma (38) had seven children who were all living at home in 1901: Gertrude (16), Harry (15) and Florence (13) who were all in work, and Lottie (11), Nellie (8), John Thomas (5) and Arthur (1). His son John Thomas was to die in the war. The family was still living at Red Hill in 1911. Harry died in 1937 (Mar Basford) aged 73. Fanny married George Court in 1885 (J/F/M Basford) and in 1891 George (46) a general labourer, and Fanny (25) were living at 35 Citadel Street with their son Walter (8, b. Arnold). John Thomas, a lace maker, married Sarah Ann Brunt in 1893 (J/A/S Basford) and in 1911 they were living at 41 Edwin Street, Daybrook, with their five children: Ethel (16) a lace dresser, William (15) an errand boy, Ernest (13) a bottle washer at a brewery, Ada (10) and George (7). His son William was to die in the war. John Thomas died in 1918 (Jun Basford) aged 50. Annie Maria married Thomas Gretton in 1896 (J/A/S Basford) and in 1901 they were living on Front Street, Arnold. Thomas (36) a gardener, and Annie (32) had four children; Harry (8), Thomas (3), Fanny (2) and Arthur (8 months). Annie died in 1908 (A/M/J Basford) aged 39. Caesar probably did not marry and died in 1923 (Dec Basford) aged 54. Florence married William Varley in 1895 (J/F/M Basford) and in 1901 they were living on Furlong Street Avenue (sic), Arnold. In the home on the night of the census were William (29) a framework knitter, Florence (27), William (5), Arthur L. (4), Florence (3) and Thomas P. (1). Florence died in 1903 (J/A/S Basford) aged 29. Jonathan married Mary Eliza Hallam (b. 22 April 1874) in 1896 (A/M/J Basford). In 1901 they were living on Front Street, Arnold, but had moved to High Street, Arnold, by 1911. According to the 1911 Census Jonathan (35) a blacksmith at a colliery, and Mary (36) had had nine children of whom only six survived: Jonathan Thomas (14) a banksman at a colliery, Maud M (12), Walter (10), Caesar (7), Alonzo (2) and Fanny (10 months). Another daughter, Edna M. was born on 26 March 1917. His son Jonathan Thomas served in the war, initially in the Sherwood Foresters (114927 Private) and latterly with the Essex Regiment (49655) from which he was discharged on 4 March 1919 aged 22. He had suffered gunshot wounds to his left leg which left him partially disabled. The family home was at 51 High Street when Jonathan attested in April 1916 (mobilized 24 April 1918) but he was discharged to 21 High Street, Arnold. At the time of the national register in 1939, Jonathan, an unemployed blacksmith, and his wife Mary were still living at 21 High Street, Arnold; also in the home was their youngest daughter Edna, a hosiery cutter. Jonathan died in 1950 (Dec Basford) aged 74. Ada has not yet been traced after the 1901 Census. Wallace died in 1882 (J/A/S Basford) aged one year. Clara Ethel may have been housekeeper to Arthur Ducker, a lace dresser, and his family in Nottingham, at the time of the 1911 Census. She married Charles Sumner in 1919 (J/A/S Basford) but was widowed by the time of the 1939 national register when she was living with her unmarried daughter Clara Lane (b. 10 December 1918) a flat locker (hosiery) who married Eddie Pickard in 1941 (A/M/J Basford) and died aged 86 in 2005 (Oct Basford). Clara (Sumner) married William A Terzza in 1940 (O/N/D Basford) and died in 1960 (Jun Basford) aged 76. Arthur Leonard died in 1939 (Mar Basford) aged 53. Three of Alonzo's nephews died in the war: Wallace Lane joined the Royal Navy in 1905 and was killed at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 while serving in HMS Black Prince (233342 Leading Seaman). He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. (See T2T record). William Lane, the son of his brother John Thomas, served in the 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (799255 Private) and was killed in action on 30 July 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. (See T2T record) John Thomas Lane, the son of his brother Harry, served in the 7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (265950 Private) and was killed in France on 27 May 1917. He is buried in Loos British Cemetery. (See T2T record.)