Robert Lane (1780/84-1830/40) of Marion and Barnwell Co, SC

Robert Lane was born ca 1780/84 (per an analysis of census records). In 1810 he was age 26-44 (born ca 1765/84), in 1820 he was age 26-44 (born ca 1775/94), and 1830 age 40-49 (1780/90) These all combine to show he was born between ca 1780 and ca 1784.

I suspect he was born in that part of old Georgetown District that is now Marion County, SC, probably in the Buck Swamp region.

Robert Lane is a proven son of Osborne Lane and Hepsabeth Crawford, and was named as such by Sellers in his book, and also named as a son in Osborne Lane's probate records as an heir.

W. W. Sellers said very little about Robert Lane. Other than stating he was a son of old Osborne Lane, he said "Robert moved to Barnwell". No other data was given by Sellers. ("A History of Marion County, South Carolina", 1902, page 395, by W. W. Sellers, Esq)

Robert Lane appears to have been home with his parents for the 1790 census, listed in the age "under 16" category (born 1774/90).

By 1800, Robert did not seem to be at home any longer. He was as old as 20 years by then (or as young as 16), so he could have been residing elsewhere, as a laborer, or attending school. He may also have already moved to Barnwell Dist, SC by then. Barnwell District was southwest of Marion, on the opposite side of the state, along the Georgia border (which is the Savannah River).

There were no Lanes listed in Barnwell on the 1800 census, so if Robert was there by then, he was living with another family. He may just as easily still been in Marion in 1800.

Robert Lane married someone, name unknown, before 1810. I can't say yet if he married in Marion, then moved to Barnwell, or if he moved to Barnwell, then married there. She was born ca 1765/84 per her age on the 1810 census.

Robert Lane was listed on the 1810 census in Barnwell District, SC. He was next door to his brother Joseph Lane (c1770). Brother Osborne Lane Jr was listed also, but a few pages away. Robert was listed as "Robin", which is a known nickname for "Robert".

Robert Lane was still in Barnwell for the 1820 census. It looks as though his wife had died, as the apparent wife with Robert this year was much younger, born ca 1790/94 (approximate birth years based on this entry and the 1830 census). I don't know the name of his second wife either.

This census was listed alternately in natural order and alphabetical order, and unfortunately, the "L" section was alphabetical, and all the Lanes listed together, therefore, I can't determine who the neighbors were.

Robert Lane was listed on the 1830 census in Barnwell Dist, SC. He was on the page with an apparent widow "Mary Layen", which is probably meant to say "Lane" (or perhaps not).

Robert Lane was not listed on the 1840 census in Barnwell, nor were any apparent Lane widows. I think he died in the 1830/40 timeframe. He was listed in his father's estate records dated June 1840, but it is possible they didn't know he was dead then. There was a Robert Lane listed in Union Dist, SC for the 1840 census. I don't have the enumerations yet, so I don't know if this could be the same Robert or not. Union District was not particularly close to Barnwell District. If it is the same Robert, then he was obviously still alive in 1840.

I didn't find Robert Lane on the 1850 census. He was certainly dead by 1854, as a Marion deed listed him as such (see notes for some of his children).

Children

Robert Lane and his two wives had several children, based on census analysis. Two children are proven by a Marion Co, SC Deed, but the rest are unknown.

Unknown Son (1804/10). Robert Lane had an apparent son this age with him in the 1810 census (age "under 10", born ca 1800/10) and also with him in 1820 (age 10-15, born ca 1804/10), but not home in 1830, so possibly married or dead by then.

No male Lanes of this age were listed as head of household in 1830 Barnwell Dist, SC, so it does not appear he was a head of household then.

The 1840 census index for Barnwell (I don't have the actual enumerations yet) show an Elijah, Bryant and John Lane (and also Osborne Sr and Jr), any one of these first three could be this son of Robert Lane.

No male Lanes of this age were listed as head of household in 1830 Barnwell Dist, SC.

Unknown Daughter (1804/10). Robert Lane had an apparent daughter this age with him in the 1820 census (age 10-15, born ca 1804/10), however, he had no apparent daughter this age back in 1810, so that may indicate she was not his child, but a niece, or step-daughter perhaps. It is possible that if she was born in the year 1810, she was not listed in 1810 (not born quite yet), but was just old enough in 1820 to be in this age category.

Unknown Son (1810/15). Robert Lane had an apparent son this age with him in the 1820 census (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20) and also with him in 1830 (age 15-19, born ca 1810/15). I do not have a listing for Robert Lane in 1840, so I don't know if this person was still home or living elsewhere.

Unknown Daughter (1820/25). Robert Lane had an apparent daughter this age with him for the 1830 census (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25). Since I don't have him on the 1840 census, I don't know where she might have been that year.

Unknown Daughter (1825/30). Robert Lane had an apparent daughter this age with him for the 1830 census (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30). Since I don't have him on the 1840 census, I don't know where she might have been that year.

I suspect that this might be Mary M. Lane who (by 1854) was married to James W. Burt. Without additional data though, I can't be sure.

Unknown Son (1825/30). Robert Lane had an apparent son this age with him for the 1830 census (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30). Since I don't have Robert on the 1840 census, I don't know where he might have been that year.

I suspect that this might be James R. Lane, who is a proven child of Robert, but I don't know his age yet.

James R. Lane was probably born in Barnwell Dist, SC. He is a proven child of Robert Lane. I don't know his birth date (or approximate) yet, but I suspect he was the same apparent son born ca 1825/30.

In her book on the Lane family, Marilyn Lane Sirmon quotes Marion Co, SC Deed Book W page 328, dated 11 Jan 1854, which contains two affidavits stating that James R. Lane and Mary M. Burt, wife of James W. Burt, are children and lawful heirs of Robert Lane, deceased. The affidavits were signed by Anderson Morgan, a Magistrate for Barnwell Dist, SC. ("The Ancestry and Known Descendants of Joseph Lane (1770-1850) of Marion County, South Carolina and Simpson County, Mississippi", page 28, 29, Marilyn Lane Sirmon, William Arnold Sirmon, Privately published, 1986.)

Other than the above, I have no additional data on James R. Lane at this time. There is a "James Lane" on the 1850 census index in Barnwell District. This may be the same person. I have not checked the actual enumerations yet.

This could be the same James Lane who married Phereby Thomas in Marion Dist, SC, before 1846. Equity records show that they were residents of Barnwell at that time, though her family was from Marion. More research is needed to see if this James and James R. are one and the same.

Mary M. Lane was probably born in Barnwell Dist, SC. She is a proven child of Robert Lane. I don't know her birth date (or approximate) yet, but I suspect she was the same apparent daughter born ca 1825/30.

The above record shows that Mary M. Lane married James W. Burt sometime prior to 1854, presumably in Barnwell District, SC.

Researcher List

1. Robert¹ Lane , born 1780/84 in Georgetown Dist, SC (now Marion Co, SC); died 1830/40 in Barnwell Dist, SC, son of Osborne Lane and Hepsabeth Crawford . He married (1) in 1800/10 in Barnwell Dist, SC (---) ? , born 1765/84; died 1810/20 in Barnwell Dist, SC; (2) in 1810/20 in Barnwell Dist, SC ? (---) , born 1794/1800.

Children of Robert Lane and ? (---) were as follows:

2 i James R² Lane , born in Barnwell Dist, SC.

3 ii Mary M² Lane , born in Barnwell Dist, SC. She married bef 1854 in Barnwell Dist, SC James W Burt .