This article says Elizabeth Allan "was born at Skegness". Why not "in Skegness"? It would be "in London" I think. Also, the article says she died
at Hove. Is there a way to tell which prepostition is right?
*** NOT A TEACHER ***
(1)
"Socrates, the son of Sophroniscus, was born at Alopece."
"
At connects Alopece with the verb was born, and shows the relation between them."
Source: William Fowler Chauncey.
Common School Grammar. Published in 1870. Google Books.
(2)
"A Croatian poet, born at Grabonitza."
"He was born at Gorham, Me., ..." [ME = the state of Maine]
Source: Messers. Gilman, Peck, and Colby.
The New International Encyclopedia.
Published in 1903. Google books.
(3)
"Thomas Hammerken, born at Kempen near Dusseldorf."
Source: Messrs. Whitney and Smith.
The Century Dictionary. Published in 1897. Google books.
*** Apparently "born at" was common in older English.