Jane Speed was the eighth child of Robert Speed & Susanna Pattison born at Chartershaugh & christened November 9th, 1829 at Chester-le-Street, Co Durham.
In 1841 Jane was living with her parents, 3 brothers & 2 sisters at Lamesley, Co Durham where her father was a collier.
Jane married Robert Forsyth in July-September 1850 at Sunderland. Robert was born at Washington Lane Pit & christened September 5th, 1830 at Washington, the son of Jane & Thomas Forsythe, a collier.
In 1851 Jane & Robert were living at Birtley, Co Durham & Robert was a coal miner.
Jane & Robert were living at Perkinsville, Pelton, Co Durham in 1861 & Robert still worked as a coal miner. They had 6 children by this time – Susanna (9), Jane (8), Mary (7), Francis (5), Robert (2) & Margaret (7 months).
By 1871 Robert had become an innkeeper & the family were living at the public house in Pelton. At home were Jane, Mary, Francis, Robert & Margaret & new additions Elizabeth (8), Isabella (5) & Thomas (2).
On April 1st, 1872 daughter Susanna married Robert Downey, a butcher, at Gateshead.
Jane, aged 49, died in 1879 & was buried at Holy Trinity, Pelton on February 19th.
Widowed Robert was living at 12 North Row, Pelton Fell in 1881 & had returned to being a coal miner. With him were Frank (Francis), a newsagent, Robert, a coal miner, Margaret, Isabella & Thomas, a scholar. They had 2 boarders living with them, Jane & Thomas Soulsby, a coal miner. This was in fact daughter Jane & her husband as shown in the next census.
Son Thomas emigrated to Australia where he married Elizabeth Mordue in Newcastle, New South Wales. By 1901 Thomas & Elizabeth had returned to England with their 2 daughters & were living at 2 Store Houses, Pelton & Thomas was a colliery fireman.
Robert was working as a check weighman at the colliery in 1891 & living at the same address. Still living with him were Francis, newsagent, Margaret & Isabella, both general domestic servants, & daughter Jane & son-in-law Thomas Soulsby & their 3 children.
In July-September 1891 daughter Isabella married Matthew Metcalf Murray, a boot dealer of Bishop Auckland.
Robert, aged 67, died in 1897 & was buried on December 26th at Holy Trinity, Pelton.
Daughter Jane & husband Thomas Soulsby, a general dealer, & family were still living in Pelton Fell in 1901 & with them was Jane’s brother Frank, a newsagent.
The children of Jane Speed & Robert Forsyth were:
sp.1.6.3.3.8.1 Susanna Forsyth born April-June 1851 at Birtley, Co Durham; died July-September 1927 at Gateshead
sp.1.6.3.3.8.2 Jane Forsyth born Oct-December 1852 at Birtley, Co Durham; died March 1st, 1915 & buried at Holy Trinity, Pelton
sp.1.6.3.3.8.3 Mary Forsyth born Jan-March 1854 at Ouston, Co Durham
sp.1.6.3.3.8.4 Francis Forsyth christened April 20th, 1856 at Holy Trinity, Pelton, Co Durham; died February 18th at Milward House, Newfield & buried February 21st, 1911 at Holy Trinity, Pelton
sp.1.6.3.3.8.5 Robert Forsyth christened January 7th, 1859 at Holy Trinity, Pelton
sp.1.6.3.3.8.6 Margaret Forsyth born at Perkinsville & christened November 21st, 1860 at Holy Trinity, Pelton
sp.1.6.3.3.8.7 Elizabeth Forsyth born Oct-December 1862 at Perkinsville
sp.1.6.3.3.8.8 Isabella Forsyth christened May 9th, 1866 at Holy Trinity, Pelton; died January 11th, 1930 at Westlea, Etherley Lane, Bishop Auckland
sp.1.6.3.3.8.9 Thomas Forsyth born Oct-December 1868 at Pelton & christened February 24th 1869 at Holy Trinity, Pelton; buried December 1910 at Holy Trinity, Pelton
sp.1.6.3.3.8.10 Ann Forsyth christened August 31st, 1870 at Holy Trinity, Pelton; buried December 5th, 1870 at Holy Trinity, Pelton
sp.1.6.3.3.8.11 Ann Forsyth christened February 22nd, 1872 at Chester-le-Street; died at Stoddart’s Building & buried March 15th, 1872 at Chester-le-Street