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