Louisa Speed was the first child of Robert Storey Speed & Elizabeth Graham christened September 10th, 1845 at Dalton-le-Dale, Seaham.
Louisa was living with her parents & younger brother & sister at Seaton, Co Durham in 1851. Her father Robert was described as a merchant (coal & timber) & a ship owner.
Louisa’s mother died in 1853 & her father married again in 1854 & the 1861 census shows Louisa still living with her father & step-mother Annie at Fountain House, Fountain Terrace, Stranton, West Hartlepool. A brother & 2 sisters were still at home & her father was described as a ship broker (coal).
By 1871 Louisa had moved south to London & was working as a domestic nurse for Robert E Sayer, a doctor, & his family. They were living at 25 Mile End Rd, Mile End Old Town. Louisa’s aunt, widowed Mary Lloyd was living in Mile End Old Town at this time.
In July-September 1879 Louisa married widower William Francis Metcalfe in Hartlepool. He had previously been married to Margaret Jordan. William was born at Cornforth & christened October 23rd 1838 at Bishop Middleham, Co Durham, son of Georgiana & Thomas Francis Metcalfe.
In 1881 Louisa & William were living 10 York St, Stranton, West Hartlepool & William was described as a clerk ship broker. With them were William’s 10 year old daughter, Mary L, & 8 year old son, William Francis, both from his first marriage.
In 1891 William & Louisa were living at 23 Melton St, West Hartlepool & William was an accountant. With them was William’s daughter Mary L, now a dressmaker.
At the time of son William’s marriage to Helena Kate Metcalf in Middlesbrough in December 1896 it was stated that his father William Francis was deceased. There is a death for William Francis Metcalfe, aged 57, in 1896 in Middlesbrough, buried March 17th at New Linthorpe Cemetery, Middlesbrough. Sadly son William also died just 2 years after his father in 1898.
There is a record of Louisa Metcalfe, widowed and aged 50, recorded as working as a newsagent from home with her own account in 1901. She was living at 22 Holly St, Grove Hill, Middlesbrough. This was the address son William gave at the time of his wedding in 1896.
By 1911 Louisa was living with her brother, John George Speed, a press reporter, & described as housekeeper. They were living at Vine Cottage, St John St, Howden, Yorkshire.