Joseph Speed was the sixth child of James Speed & Mary Elliott born February 5th, 1881 at Ouston, Co Durham.
At the time of the 1881 census Joseph & his parents & his 5 brothers & sisters were living at No.3 Row, Ouston where his father was a coal miner.
The family had moved to Team Colliery, Lamesley, Co Durham by 1891.
In 1901 Joseph was still living at home at Whitefield Pit Cottages, Penshaw, Co Durham. Joseph was working as a colliery wagonway man underground.
Joseph married Mary Ellen Tindale in April-June 1905 at Houghton-le-Spring, Co Durham. Mary Ellen was born December 12th, 1879 at Penshaw Staiths, Co Durham, daughter of Mary & John Tindale, a coal miner.
Joseph & Mary were living at 15 Eslington Terrace, Ravensworth (Team) Colliery, Gateshead in 1911 & Joseph was now a coal miner hewer.
The 1939 register shows Joseph & Mary Ellen living at 19 Liddell Terrace, Team Colliery. Joseph was described as a coal miner stoneman below ground, incapacitated by horse injury. With them was daughter Mary who worked as a canteen attendant at the pit head baths.
Joseph died in Oct-December 1949 at Durham North.
Mary Ellen died in April-June 1951 at Gateshead.
The children of Joseph Speed & Mary Ellen Tindale were:
sp.1.6.3.3.4.2.6.1 Mary Speed born April 5th, 1914 at Chester-le-Street, Co Durham