Robert Speed was the first child of Mary Ann (Hunter) Speed born at Perkinsville, & christened on August 17th, 1864 at Holy Trinity, Pelton, son of Mary Ann Speed, single woman.
Robert’s mother Mary Ann married Henry Haddon, a coal miner, on September 23rd, 1869 at Chester-le-Street.
In 1871 Robert was living with his grandfather Robert Speed & his second wife Isabella at 17 Chester Moor South, Chester-le-Street. Robert was listed as ‘son’ & he appears to have been brought up by his grandparents.
By 1881 Robert was working as a clerk & still living with his grandparents at Chester Moor.
Robert joined the police force & in 1891 he is listed as a constable at a police establishment in Pilgrim St, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
In 1892 Robert became a member of the United Grand Lodge of England Freemasons & was described as a police clerk.
Robert married Clara Green on June 28th, 1893 at Spennymoor, Co Durham. Clara was born November 14th, 1872 at Spennymoor, the daughter of Mary & Mark Green, a mill furnaceman.
In 1901 Robert & Clara were living at 39 Mayfair Rd, Jesmond, Northumberland & Robert was still a constable. They had 2 sons, Robert (5) & William (1).
In 1902 Robert was recommended for promotion to Inspector.
Robert had become a police inspector by 1911 & the family were living at Arthur’s Hill Police Station, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. At home were Robert, an apprentice motor engineer, William, a scholar, & a daughter Mary Lilian (3). It was noted on the census that Clara & William had had 4 children, only 3 of whom were still living.
A notice in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle in May 1912 announced that Robert was retiring from the city police force after 26 years’ service & was granted a pension of £85.15s.4d.
At the time of the 1939 register Robert & Clara were living at Spa Road, Barnard Castle & Robert was a retired police inspector.
Son William who had married Ann Morrow in 1929 & their family were living in Sedgefield, Co Durham in 1939 where William was a mental nurse at the Durham County Mental Hospital, Winterton. William had been married previously. His first wife, Beatrice Mary Inglis, died soon after their marriage in 1923.
Daughter Mary Lilian married George Rolfe in 1935 in Teesdale. By 1939 Mary was living at The Lodge, Aylesbury, Bucks & doing domestic duties.
Robert died August 15th, 1946 at Spa Road, Gainford, Co Durham. Administration of his estate was granted to widow Clara & his effects were £289.2s.
There is a death for Clara Speed in Jan-March 1951 registered in Aylesbury, Bucks. It would appear that Clara may have gone to live with her daughter Mary after the death of her husband.
The children of Robert Speed & Clara Green were:
sp.1.6.3.3.4.1.1.1 Isabella Speed born Jan-March 1894 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne; died Oct-December 1894 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne
sp.1.6.3.3.4.1.1.2 Robert Speed born January 8th, 1896 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne; died February 1984 at Darlington, Co Durham
sp.1.6.3.3.4.1.1.3 William Speed born October 2nd, 1899 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne
sp.1.6.3.3.4.1.1.4 Mary Lilian Speed born July 29th, 1907 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne; died Oct-December 1993 at Aylesbury, Bucks