Illustration Christine Fuller
The illustration is creative interpretation and intended for humour only. No offence is intended or implied.
Before dating apps and social media, people had to look at other ways to meet new partners. This included face-to-face interactions and gatherings within their immediate communities. However, some people also chose to advertise for a partner in local newspapers.
The following notice was published in the Yarmouth Independent on the 24th February 1934:
PERSONAL
GENTLEMAN, single, aged 30, wishes to meet lady, with view matrimony; age 25 to 35; send photo. A. Lain, Long Street, Great Ellingham
I believe ‘Mr A Lain’ is Arthur William Lain who, in February 1934, was actually 39 years of age and not 30 as mentioned in the advertisement!
Did Arthur Lain have any success in meeting a lady?
1939 Register
The 1939 England & Wales Register lists the Lain household in Long Street, Great Ellingham. The household comprise of widow Elizabeth Lain (born 30 October 1864), Mabel A Lain (born 7 September 1900) and farm labourer Arthur W Lain (born 29 October 1894).
Even if Arthur received some replies to his advertisement, none of them led to matrimony. The 1939 Register confirms that he is still single!
Early Life
Arthur William Lain was born in Wreningham to team-man William Lain and his wife Elizabeth Mary nèe Barber.
Elizabeth Barber had given birth to Bertie John Barber in 1888, some 6 years before her marriage to William Lain. . The marriage (which probably took place in Wreningham), is registered between January and March 1894.
On the 3rd October, 1899, Arthur is baptised at Wreningham Parish Church along with Bertie and his sister Eva May.
The 1901 census captures the family living in Wilby. 45 year old Wattlefield born William Lain is still working as a team-man. He is with his 37 year old Silfield born wife Elizabeth and their children Bertie 12, Arthur 6, Eva 3 and seven-month old Mabel.
Ten years later, the 1911 census finds 16 year old Arthur still living in Wilby with his parents and sisters. Arthur is now working on a farm.
1921 census
By 1921, William and Elizabeth Lain along with Arthur and Mabel moved to Long Street, Great Ellingham.
26 year old Arthur and his father are working for Fred Southgate at Hall Farm in the village.
Death of Father
Arthur buried his father in the churchyard at St James’s Church on the 21st December, 1928. His mother Elizabeth continued to live in Long Street, Great Ellingham along with Arthur and Mabel.
The 1942 Great Ellingham Invasion Committee Records lists ‘Mrs Lain, Mr A Lain and Miss M Lain’ still residing in Long Street.
Death of Mother
Around a year later, widow Elizabeth Mary Lain is buried in the churchyard of St James in the March of 1943.
Death of Arthur Lain
I do not believe that Arthur ever married. He died at St Andrew’s Hospital, Thorpe-next-Norwich on the 6th February, 1950 aged 53. Arthur’s entry of death records that he had been living at Town Green, Great Ellingham.
Arthur’s Siblings
Bertie
With regard to Arthur’s siblings, I believe it is only his brother, Bertie John Barber Lain, who married. He married Elsie Snell in 1928. They had one known daughter. However, I do not believe that Bertie ever lived in Great Ellingham.
Eva
The 1939 Register finds Eva Lain with the household of Kathleen Wedderburn at The Old Cottage, Gosmore, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Her occupation is a nurse.
Nevertheless at some point, Eva came to Great Ellingham. At the time of her death in March 1964, spinster Eva is living at 19 Council Houses, Hingham Road, Great Ellingham. Administration of her estate was granted to her brother, Bertie John Lain.
Mabel
Mabel died in 1967 aged 66 years. I do not know where Mabel is living just prior to her death. Her death is registered in the Norwich District between January and March 1967.
Sources:
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations) 1858-1995. Eva May Lain. Death Date 29 Mar 1964. Probate 15 Jun 1964. Norwich. Principal Probate Registry; London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
1939 England & Wales Register. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/1662D & RG 101/6590H Ancestry.com. 1939 England and Wales Register [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.
1942 Gt Ellingham Invasion Committee Records. Sue Fay
1921 census RG15/9790/ED5/Sch.118
1911 census RG14/11476/21
1901 census RG13/1866/127
GRO Index. Also via Free BMD website
24 February 1934 Yarmouth Independent. Viewed via The British Newspaper Archive
Wreningham Parish Registers incl. ATs & BTs. Norfolk Record Office PD 60. Viewed via www.ancestry.co.uk.
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office PD 609. Viewed via www.familysearch.org