James William Speed was the fourth child of John Speed & Jane Hall born February 26th, 1874 & christened March 15th, 1874 in Durham.
James (listed as William), his parents & 4 brothers were living at 29 Durham Row, Framwellgate Moor, Co Durham in 1881 where his father was a joiner at the colliery.
William was working as a putter at the colliery by 1891 & the family were still at the same address.
The 1901 census shows him listed as James again & still living at home at Durham Row. James was working as a coal miner hewer.
James William’s father had died by 1911 & he continued to live with his widowed mother & 3 brothers at 48 Durham Row. He was still working as a coal miner.
James William (listed as William) married Sarah Hannah Maddison on May 15th, 1913 at St Cuthbert’s, Durham. Sarah was born January 16th, 1886 & christened March 15th, 1886 at Holy Trinity, Pelton, Co Durham, the daughter of Isabella & Fenwick Maddison, a coal miner.
Sarah died at Chester-le-Street in Jan-March 1922, aged just 36 & was buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Pelton.
At the time of the 1939 register widowed James was living at Penshaw View, Chester-le-Street & described as a disabled coal hewer. With him was son John, a mechanical excavator driver & his wife Sarah Jane (nee Clowes) & their child.
James William of 12 North Rd, aged 83, died August 18th, 1957 at the General Hospital, Chester-le-Street, Co Durham.
The children of James William Speed & Sarah Hannah Maddison were:
sp.1.6.1.5.2.3.4.1 John Speed born June 29th, 1913 at Chester-le-Street; died July-September 1981 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne