Lane's family hailed from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, where he was born in 1626 to James Sr. and Katherine Russell.

He then moved north to Casco Bay, in today's Maine, settling on the eastern side of Cousins River.

[3] In June 1675, the local Native Americans began a "war of extermination" against the settlers who were encroaching on their fishing ground.

Lane was the first of their victims, on September 13, 1688, followed the next day by two sons of Mr. Hazelton, who had recently purchased the remaining half of Cousins Island.

and his Descendants, written by James Pillsbury Lane, was published as a Scholar Select item in 2016.