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Robert Speed [sp.1.6.1.5.2.2]

Robert Speed was the second child of Joseph Speed &  Elizabeth Dodds christened July 26th, 1835 at Hetton-le-Hole, Co Durham.

In 1841 Robert’s parents, his brother & 2 sisters were living at Easington Lane, Hetton-le-Hole where his father was a coal miner.

Robert was working as a coal miner by 1851 & living at Brick Garth, Hetton-le-Hole with his parents.

Robert married Christiana Farish in April-June 1858 at Easington.  Christiana was born Christiana Price & christened January 17th, 1838 at Whickham, Co Durham, the daughter of Frances Price.  (When registering the birth of the first 3 children Christiana gave her maiden name as Price.  For later children she gave her maiden name as Farish.)

Robert & Christiana were living at Brick Garth, Hetton-le-Hole in 1861 & Robert continued to be a miner.  They had a daughter Ann (1) & a son Joseph (3 months).

The family were still living at the same address in 1871 & Robert was still mining.  As well as daughter Ann, a scholar, there were 4 more children at home – John B (8), Mary J (6), Elizabeth (4) & Robert (2).

Daughter Ann married Thomas Platts in 1878 at Houghton-le-Spring.

By 1881 the family had grown again & were still living at Brick Garth.  Son John was now a labourer at the coal mine, Mary Jane was a general servant, Robert & Elizabeth were both scholars & there were new additions – Jacob (10) & Jane (2).

Daughter Mary Jane married William Fairless, a miner, in 1885 in Houghton-le-Spring.

Daughter Elizabeth married William George Best, a coal wagon rider, in 1890 at Houghton-le-Spring.  They celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1940.

Robert was still a coal miner in 1891 & he & Christiana were still living at Brick Garth.  Only son Jacob, a coal miner, was still at home & there was a grandson Thomas Plats (12) living with them.

By 1901 Robert had retired & he & Christiana were still at the same address.  Son Jacob & grandson Thomas Platts were still with them, both working above ground at the coal mine.

In 1911 Robert & Christiana were listed at 106 Brick Garth & with them were Jacob, a wagon rider at the coal mine, & a visitor Robert Fairless (20), a putter at the coal mine.  It was noted on the census that Christiana had had 11 children, only 5 of whom were still living.  Sadly the last 4 daughters born to Christiana & Robert all died in infancy.

Christiana, aged 74, died in Oct-December 1912 at Houghton-le-Spring Co Durham.

Robert, aged 78, died in Oct-December 1913 at Houghton-le-Spring Co Durham.

Son Jacob never married & at the time of the 1939 register he was living with niece Christina Best [sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.5.1] & her husband Thomas N Jackson & their family in Hetton. He was described as a level crossing keeper, retired.

The children of Robert Speed & Christiana Farish (Price) were:

sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.1  Ann Speed born April-June 1859 at Hetton-le-Hole; died Jan-March 1894 at Houghton-le-Spring?
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.2  Joseph Browell Speed born Jan-March 1861 at Hetton-le-Hole; died at Brick Garth & buried May 18th, 1862 at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.3 John Browell Speed born September 15th, 1862 at Hetton-le-Hole; died Oct-December 1945 in North Durham
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.4  Mary Jane Speed born June 22nd, 1864 at Hetton-le-Hole; died April-June 1946 in East Durham
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.5  Elizabeth Speed born March 25th, 1867 at Hetton-le-Hole; died Jan-March 1951 in Durham North
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.6  Robert Speed born May 30th, 1869 at Hetton-le-Hole; died September 28th, 1945 at 23 Nicholas St, Hetton
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.7  Jacob Speed born August 29th, 1871 at Hetton-le-Hole; died Oct-December 1952 in North Durham
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.8  Frances Speed born April-June 1873 at Hetton-le-Hole; buried December 13th, 1874 at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.9  Frances Speed born July-September 1875 at Hetton-le-Hole; buried March 2nd, 1879 at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.10  Jane Speed born April-June 1878 at Hetton-le-Hole; buried August 15th, 1881 at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole
sp.1.6.1.5.2.2.11 Jane Ann Speed born Oct-November 1882 at Hetton-le-Hole; buried November 26th, 1882 at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole

 

 

 


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