Robert Speed was the fifth child of James Speed & Mary Elliott born September 20th, 1878 at Pelton, Co Durham.
In 1881 Robert & his parents were living at #3 Row, Ouston, Co Durham where his father was a coal miner. Robert was one of 6 children.
The family had moved to Team Colliery, Lamesley, Co Durham by 1891.
Robert married Wilhelmina Liddle in Oct-December 1899 at Gateshead. Wilhelmina was born March 15th, 1877 at Harlow Green, Lamesley, the daughter of Mary Gibbon & Thomas Liddle, a coal miner. Wilhelmina, known as Minnie, was the sister of George Liddle who was to marry Robert’s sister Mary Speed in 1902.
In December 1899 Robert enlisted with the Royal Horse & Royal Field Artillery. In 1901, at the time of the Boer War, he served in South Africa for 1 year and was then discharged.
In 1901 Robert & Minnie were living at Daisy Cottage, Alum Well Rd, Gateshead & Robert was a shoeing smith. They had an 11 month old son, James.
Robert & Minnie were listed at 1 Jubilee Terrace, Low fell, Gateshead in 1911 & Robert was described as a horse shoeing smith at the colliery. Son James was working as a butcher’s errand boy, & they had another son Thomas, aged 4.
Son Thomas married Dora Welsh in 1923 at Lamesley, Chester-le-Street & in 1939 they & their family were living at Haigh Terrace, Chester-le-Street where Thomas was a joiner in the building trade.
Son James married Frances Annie Adamson in 1925 & in 1939 they were living at the Post office, Stanley where James was the postmaster. With them was Frances’ widowed mother Emma L Adamson. It is thought that James & Frances emigrated to live in Edmonton, Canada.
The 1939 register shows Robert & Minnie living at 1 Liddell Terrace, Team Colliery, Chester-le-Street. Robert was a colliery level crossing keeper.
Robert, aged 61, died in Jan-March 1940 at Durham North.
Minnie, aged 88, died in April-June 1965 at Durham North.
The children of Robert Speed & Wilhelmina Liddle were:
sp.1.6.3.3.4.2.5.1 James Speed born May 3rd, 1900 at Team Colliery, Lamesley, Chester-le-Street
sp.1.6.3.3.4.2.5.2 Thomas Speed born July 24th, 1903 at Low Fell, Gateshead; died December 1986 in Gateshead