Joseph Speed was the fifth child of Joseph Speed & Isabella Davison born at Perkinsville & christened June 2nd, 1861 at Holy Trinity, Pelton, Co Durham.
In 1871 Joseph, his parents & a younger brother & sister were living at Perkinsville, Pelton where his father was a miner.
At the time of the 1881 census Joseph was boarding with Bartholemew Walker & family at East Row, Great Aycliffe & working as a railway porter.
Joseph married Mary Jane Mowbray in Oct-December 1884 at Gateshead, Co Durham. At the time of his marriage Joseph was living at Railway Cottages, Swalwell. Mary was christened May 21st,1862 at Whickham, Co Durham, the daughter of Elizabeth & William Mowbray, a joiner.
In 1891 Joseph & Mary were living at Aldin Grange Station, Broom, Co Durham & Joseph was now a railway station master. They had 3 daughters by this time – Eva M (5), Amy I (2) & Elizabeth E (5 months).
Mary, aged 37, died in July-September 1899 at Aldin Grange, Durham.
The children of Joseph Speed & Mary Jane Mowbray were:
sp.1.6.3.3.7.5.1 Eva Mowbray Speed born August 2nd, 1885 at Whickham; died May 26th, 1961 at the Green, Brompton, Scarborough, Yorks
sp.1.6.3.3.7.5.2 Amy Isabel Speed born April 16th, 1888 at Broom, Durham; died July-September 1965 in Durham
sp.1.6.3.3.7.5.3 Elizabeth Ella Speed born Oct-December 1890 at Bearpark, Durham; died April 2nd, 1939 at 14 Tenter Terrace, Durham.
Joseph married again on August 16th, 1900 at the Wesleyan Chapel, Durham. His second wife was Jane Alice Taylor. Jane was born June 12th, 1863 & christened July 27th 1863 at Standishgate Methodist Chapel, Wigan Lancashire, the daughter of Alice & John Taylor, a schoolmaster. In 1891 Jane was living in Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne & described as a trained nurse.
In 1901 Joseph was the railway station master at Acklington, Northumberland he & Jane A were living at the station. With them were Joseph’s daughters Eva, a post office probationer, Amy & Elizabeth.
By 1911 Joseph had become station master at Chester-le-Street, Co Durham & he & Jane were living at Station House, Chester-le-Street. Still at home were Amy Isabel, a draper’s assistant, & Elizabeth, a dressmaker (skirt hand). While at Chester-le-Street, Joseph became President of the North Eastern Railway employees there.
Daughter Eva had married John Duncan Gunn, a postmaster, at Chester-le-Street in 1911 & they were living in Alnwick, Northumberland at the time of the census. The Berwickshire News & General Advertiser of March 7th 1911 reported that Eva’s sisters dressed in pale blue were bridesmaids & that Eva wore crimson serge cretonne with a black hat & ostrich feathers. Among the many presents were one from the staff at Chester-le-Street railway station where her father worked, & one from the staff at the Post Office at Alnwick where Eva had spent several years.
Joseph’s retirement as station master was announced in the Chester-le-Street Chronicle of March 31st, 1922. Joseph had served with the N.E.R. for 47 years & had been upward of 20 years at Chester-le-Street after coming from Acklington.
Joseph died on January 8th, 1927 at 20 The Green Council Houses, Chester-le-Street & was buried at Ropery Lane Cemetery. Probate was granted to daughter Amy Isabel Speed & William Bowe, solicitor’s clerk & his effects were £1,159.7s.
Daughter Elizabeth married Joseph Milburn, a postman, in 1928 at Chester-le-Street.
At the time of the 1939 register widowed Jane was living with step-daughter Amy Isabel & her husband George Mole, a postman van driver, & their family at 14 Tenter Terrace, Durham.
Jane, aged 80, died on December 26th,1943 at 14 Tenter Terrace, Durham. Probate was granted to Amy Isabel & George Mole & her effects were £170.18s.2d.