Sarah Jane Speed was the eighth child of John Speed & Hannah Storey born May 21st, 1825 at Nicholson’s Square & christened September 19th, 1827 at Sunderland.
In 1841 Sarah was living with her ‘widowed’ mother Hannah at Throston St, Hartlepool, Co Durham. Also at home were her brother Robert & sister Hannah.
Sarah married James Hartley Thompson on November 15th 1847 at St Michael & All Angels, Bishopwearmouth. James was christened August 10th, 1825 at Sunderland, the son of Margaret Crosby & James Thompson.
By 1851 Sarah & James had moved south & were living at 52 Dale End, Birmingham, Warwickshire where James was a glass cutter. They had 2 children by this time – Margaret Hannah (1) & John James (7 months). Also with them at the time of the census was James’ brother Horatio, a scholar.
By 1861 James & Sarah had returned to the north & were living in Sunderland at Clancey St, Bishopwearmouth. James was still a glass cutter & as well as daughter Margaret they now had 3 sons – Wesley J (8), Horatio (6) & Robert H (5), & a daughter Charlotte A (1).
In 1867 James was employed at the Hartlepool Sheet Glass Works.
James was still working as a glass cutter in 1871 & the family were living at 63 Washington St, North Bishop Wearmouth. At home were Wesley, also a glass cutter, Horatio, a boiler maker, Robert, an iron founder, Charlotte & new additions Sarah J (9) & John S (3). Daughter Margaret married James Watson Cable on September 7th, 1871 in Sunderland.
Son Horatio, along with a number of others, was found guilty of larceny in 1872 & sentenced to 4 months with hard labour in Durham goal because of a previous conviction for house-breaking in 1868. Horatio married Jane Clark in 1877 & in 1881 they were living in Sunderland with a son & daughter & Horatio was a glass packer.
In 1881 Sarah & James were living at 38 Candlish Rd, Sunderland & James was now a foreman glass cutter. Son Wesley was now working as a diamond setter & Robert was an iron worker, daughter Charlotte was a domestic at home & Sarah J was a school mistress. The only other child at home was John Sp. Daughter Charlotte Annie (known as Lottie) married Frederick Bowes on December 26th 1881 at St Luke’s, Pallion, Sunderland.
Son Robert married Eleanor Fairgrieve on May 14th, 1883 at St Peter’s, Bishop Wearmouth. In 1911 they were living in Sunderland with 4 sons still at home. Robert was a boilermaker.
James, aged 61, died at Sorley Street on November 6th & was buried on November 10th, 1886 at Bishop Wearmouth.
In 1891 widowed Sarah was living at 61 Sorley St, Sunderland & with her were daughter Sarah J, school mistress assistant, & son John S, a draper’s assistant.
Sarah Jane died aged 65 on January 2nd, 1892 at 61 Sorley St, Sunderland.
Daughter Sarah Jane married George Robert Corringham on December 27th, 1892 at Bishop Wearmouth. The 1901 census of Ireland shows Sarah & Robert, an assistant civil engineer, & their 6 year old daughter Lilian Denton living at The Mall, Clontarf East, Dublin.
Son John Speed married Beatrice Webster in 1896 in Sunderland & in 1911 they & their 2 sons were living in South Shields & John was a shop assistant at a clothiers.
The children of Sarah Jane Speed & James Hartley Thompson were:
sp.1.5.1.3.8.1 Margaret Hannah Thompson christened September 8th, 1848 at St Peter’s, Dale End, Birmingham; died Jan-March 1931 at Hartlepool, Co Durham
sp.1.5.1.3.8.2 John James Thompson christened August 17th, 1850 at St Peter’s, Dale End, Birmingham; died at Dale End & buried September 3rd, 1851 at St Bartholomew’s, Birmingham
sp.1.5.1.3.8.3 Wesley James Thompson christened January 31st, 1853 at St Peter’s, Dale End, Birmingham; died November 22nd, 1929 at 26 Thornhill Gardens, Sunderland
sp.1.5.1.3.8.4 Horatio Thompson born July-September 1854 & christened May 14th, 1856 at Worcester; died October 30th, 1889 at Sorley St, Sunderland
sp.1.5.1.3.8.5 Robert Henry Thompson christened May 14th, 1856 at St. Martin’s, Worcester; died Oct-December 1939 at Sunderland
sp.1.5.1.3.8.6 Charlotte Annie Thompson born July-September 1859 in Sunderland & christened September 10th, 1873 in Sunderland; died July-September 1936 at South Shields
sp.1.5.1.3.8.7 Sarah Jane Thompson born July-September 1861 in Sunderland; died April-June 1928 in North Dublin, Ireland
sp.1.5.1.3.8.8 John Speed Thompson born June 27th, 1867 in Hartlepool; died April-June 1950 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne