John Browell Speed was the third child of Robert Speed & Christiana Farish (Price) born September 15th, 1862 at Hetton-le-Hole, Co Durham.
John, his 3 sisters & a brother & his parents were living at Brick Garth, Hetton-le-Hole in 1871 where his father was a coal miner.
The family were still living at Brick Garth in 1881 & John was now working as a labourer in the coal mine.
John married Alice Gardner in April-June 1888 at Houghton-le-Spring. Alice was born Alice Charlton c1865 at Easington Lane. She married William Henry Gardner in 1883 who sadly died in June the following year.
In 1891 John & Alice were living in Kelloe, Easington, Co Durham with a 2 year old daughter, Margaret. John was a coal miner.
By 1901 the family had returned to Brick Garth, Hetton-le-Hole & John was described as working at coal, above ground. Daughter Margaret Ann was still at home & they now had a son Robert William (3) & another daughter, Christina (11 months). Tragically daughter Christina died later that year.
Daughter Margaret married Absalom Jones in 1910 but sadly died the following year following the birth of a daughter Christina.
John & Alice were still living at Brick Garth in 1911 & John was now a gas stoker (bank). Sons Robert Wm & John Browell (7) were living at home & it was noted on the census that Alice had had 4 children, only 2 of whom were still alive.
Son Robert William served as a gunner with the Royal Field Artillery during WW1 and sadly died of wounds on July 24th, 1915 aged just 18. He is buried at the Lijssenthoek Military cemetery, Belgium. His father’s address was given at this time as 145 High St, Easington Lane, Hetton-le-Hole.
Alice aged 69 died in April-June 1934 at Houghton-le-Spring
The 1939 register shows widowed John living alone at 26 Aged Miners Homes, Hetton & described as a retired fitters labourer at the colliery. Son John married Elsie Wilson in 1932 in Fylde, Lancs. He & Elsie were living in Brighton Avenue, Blackpool, Lancashire in 1939 & he was a musician.
John, aged 83, died in Oct-December 1945 in Durham North.
The children of John Browell Speed & Alice Gardner were:
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.3.1 Margaret Ann Speed born July-September 1888 at Houghton-le-Spring; died Jan-March 1911 in Houghton-le-Spring
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.3.2 Robert William Speed born July-September 1897 at Houghton-le-Spring; died July 24th, 1915 & buried at Lijssenthoek Military cemetery, Belgium
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.3.3 Christina Speed born April-June 1900 at Houghton-le-Spring; died July-September 1901 at Houghton-le-Spring
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.3.4 John Browell Speed born Jan-March 1904 at Houghton-le-Spring; died Oct-December 1951 in Blackpool