Robert Speed was the sixth child of Robert Speed & Christiana Farish (Price) born May 30th, 1869 at Hetton-le-Hole, Co Durham.
Robert, his 3 sisters & 1 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 & Robert was now a scholar.
Robert married Florence Emma Gardner in Oct-December 1890 at Houghton-le-Spring. Florence was born July-September 1871 at Easington Lane, Co Durham, daughter of Elizabeth Heron & Robert Willis Gardner, an innkeeper & farmer.
In 1891 Robert & Florence were living at 35 Store Terrace, Hetton-le-Hole & Robert was working as a fireman. They had a 3 month old daughter, Elizabeth Jane.
The family were living at Brickgarth, Hetton-le-Hole in 1901 & Robert was working as ‘coal, below ground’. As well as daughter Elizabeth they now had Isabella J H (8), Robert Willis G (6) & Christina (3). They also had a 75 year old boarder, Isabella Jackson Herring.
By 1911 Robert & Florence were living at 2 Kenton Row, Hetton-le-Hole & Robert was described as a colliery fireman on the surface. Family at home were Isabella Jackson Heron, Robert Willis Gardner, a coal miner, Christina, Florence Emma G (10), Margaret Ann G (7) & Georgina G (1). It was noted that Florence had had 7 children all of whom were still alive.
Daughter Elizabeth Jane married William Harrison Hunter in 1915 in Houghton-le-Spring. Sadly William was killed in action in April 1915 at Ypres, Belgium while serving with the Durham Light Infantry. He is commemorated at the Menin Gate Memorial. He left widow Elizabeth & a daughter Florence Emma. Elizabeth married again in 1923, her second husband being John Hartshorne, & in 1939 they were living at Quarry row South, Houghton-le-Spring & John was a colliery driller below ground.
Son Robert married Jennie Anderson in April-June 1920 at Houghton-le-Spring. In 1939 they were living in Edward St, Hetton with 2 daughters & Robert was a coal miner rolleyway man.
There is a death for Florence E, aged 49, in Oct-December 1920, at Sedgefield Asylum & buried at Houghton-le-Spring.
Daughter Isabella married William Tait, a coal miner, in 1927 at Houghton-le-Spring. Daughter Christina also married in 1927, her husband was William Robinson. By 1939 Christina was widowed (there is a death for William Robinson of the Avenue, Hetton in 1933) and living in the Avenue, Hetton-le-Hole with Bewley Marlow Speed, a 19 year old colliery putter. This was Christina’s illegitimate son born in April-June 1920.
Daughter Georgina married Frederick Blakey Merrington, a coal miner, in 1928 at Houghton-le-Spring. In 1939 they were living in Elemore Lane, Hetton with their family & Frederick was a coal miner.
In 1929 daughter Florence married George William Robinson, a coal miner, at Houghton-le-Spring. In 1939 they were living in Broadsheath Terrace, Sunderland where George was a coal hewer.
Daughter Isabella married William Tait, a coal miner, in 1927 at Houghton-le-Spring. Daughter Christina also married in 1927, her husband was William Robinson. By 1939 Christina was widowed (there is a death for William Robinson of the Avenue, Hetton in 1933) and living in the Avenue, Hetton with Bewley Marlow Speed, a 19 year old colliery putter. This was Christina’s illegitimate son born in April-June 1920.
Widowed Robert was living with daughter Margaret & her husband John H Donkin at the time of the 1939 register at 23 Nicholas St, Hetton. Robert was a retired colliery labourer.
Robert, aged 76, died on September 28th, 1945 at 23 Nicholas St, Hetton.
The children of Robert Speed & Florence Emma Gardner were:
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.6.1 Elizabeth Jane Gardner Speed born January 14th, 1891 at Hetton-le-Hole; died July-September 1946 in North Durham
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.6.2 Isabella Jackson Heron Speed born June 19th, 1892 at Hetton-le-Hole; died July-September 1970 in Sunderland
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.6.3 Robert Willis Gardner Speed born December 24th, 1895 at Hetton-le-Hole; died April-June 1982 in Sunderland
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.6.4 Christina Speed born June 4th, 1897 at Hetton-le-Hole; died July-September 1982 in Sunderland
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.6.5 Florence Emma Gardner Speed born May 24th, 1901 at Hetton-le-Hole; died June 6th,1983 at Cherry Knowle Hospital, Ryhope, Sunderland
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.6.6 Margaret Ann Gardner Speed born Oct 12th, 1903 at Hetton-le-Hole; died Jan-March 1979 in Sunderland
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.6.7 Georgina Gardner Speed born November 15th, 1909 at Hetton-le-Hole; died Jan-March 1976 in Sunderland