Elizabeth Speed was the fifth child of Robert Speed & Christiana Farish (Price) born March 25th, 1867 at Hetton-le-Hole, Co Durham.
Elizabeth, her 2 sisters & 2 brothers & her parents were living at Brick Garth, Hetton-le-Hole in 1871 where her father was a coal miner.
The family were still living at Brick Garth in 1881 & Elizabeth was now a scholar.
Elizabeth married William George Best, a coal wagon rider, in Jan-March 1890 at Houghton-le-Spring. William was born February 27th, 1868 at Harraton, Co Durham, the son of Jane Johnson & William Best,
In 1891 Elizabeth & William were living at 42 Brickgarth, Hetton-le-Hole. This was also the address of Elizabeth’s parents so they could have been sharing a house. Elizabeth had just given birth to a daughter, Christiana, 1 month earlier.
Elizabeth & William were living at 6 Bleach Green, Hetton-le-Hole in 1901 & William continued to be a coal wagon rider below ground. As well as daughter Christiana they now had a son Robert S (2) & another daughter Elizabeth F (2 months).
The family were still living at Bleach Green in 1911 & William had the same occupation working for the Hetton Coal Company. All 3 children were still at home & Robert & (Elizabeth) Florence were both at school. Also living with them was Thomas Best, a 21 year old nephew, who was a coal miner. It was noted on the census that Elizabeth had had 5 children, only 3 of whom were still alive.
Daughter Christina married Thomas N Jackson, a miner, in 1914. In 1939 they & their family were living at Jane St, Hetton & with them was Christina's uncle, Jacob Speed.
William & Elizabeth were living at 99 Broomfield Estate, Hetton at the time of the 1939 register & William was now a colliery kecker at the surface. (A kecker worked at the coal screens & picked out the stones.)
Son Robert & his wife Annie (nee Wood) who married in 1923 were living at 4 Collingwood St, Hetton-le-Hole in 1939 with their daughter Jean. Robert was a colliery maintenance wagonwright. In 1939 Private Robert S Best of Collingwood St was appointed cadet officer, He was a keen member of the Hetton St John Ambulance Brigade & would be responsible for the work in this section (Sunderland Echo & Shipping Gazette, June 9th, 1939).
Daughter Florence Elizabeth married James W Reay in 1926 in Houghton-le-Spring. In 1939 they were living at 53 Regent St. Hetton-le-Hole & James was a colliery clerk.
William, aged 78, died in July-September 1946 in Durham North.
There is a death for Elizabeth Best, aged 83, in Jan-March 1951 in Durham North.
The children of Elizabeth Speed & William George Best were:
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.5.1 Christina Best born February 22nd, 1891 at Hetton-le-Hole
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.5.2 Jane Best born Oct-December 1892 at Hetton-le-Hole; died July-September 1896 at Hetton-le-Hole
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.5.3 Florence May Best born Oct-December 1896 at Hetton-le-Hole; died Oct-December 1900 at Hetton-le-Hole
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.5.4 Robert Speed Best born August 1st, 1898 at Hetton-le-Hole; died January-March 1972 at Sunderland
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.5.5 Florence Elizabeth May Best born February 11th, 1901 at Hetton-le-Hole; died Oct-December 1968 in North Durham