Susannah Speed was the ninth child of Robert Speed & Susanna Pattison born at Wright’s House & christened September 19th, 1832 at Chester-le-Street, Co Durham.
In 1841 Susannah was living with her parents, 3 brothers & 2 sisters at Lamesley, Co Durham where her father was a collier.
By 1851 both Susannah’s parents had died & she was living with her older brother William, a coalminer, at Birtley. She was described as a housekeeper.
Susannah married Joseph Stavers on March 7th, 1852 at Gateshead, Co Durham. Joseph was christened on October 21st, 1830 at Washington, Co Durham, the son of Hannah & Robert Stavers.
In 1861 Joseph, a coal miner, & Susannah (listed as Susan) were living at Collier Row, Houghton-le-Spring with their 8 year old daughter, Hannah. They also had a boarder, George Graham, aged 18 & also a coal miner.
By 1871 the family had moved to ‘D’ Pit, Bourn Moor, Co Durham & Joseph was still a miner. They now had 2 more daughters at home as well as Hannah – Susannah (9) & Isabella (2). An uncle, William Patterson, a 77 year old widowed labourer, was also living with them.
Susannah died at New Lambton & was buried on April 8th, 1871 at St Barnabas, Bournmoor, Co Durham.
The children of Susannah Speed & Joseph Stavers were:
sp.1.6.3.3.9.1 Hannah Stavers born July-September 1852 at Chester-le-Street; died Jan-March 1926 in South Shields
sp.1.6.3.3.9.2 Susanna Stavers born July-September 1862 at Chester-le-Street
sp.1.6.3.3.9.3 Isabella Stavers born April-June 1869 at Chester-le-Street
sp.1.6.3.3.9.4 Mary Jane Stavers born April 1871 at Chester-le-Street; buried April 5th, 1871 at St Barnabas, Burnmoor, Co Durham
Joseph married again in April-June 1872 at Morpeth, Northumberland. His second wife was widowed Mary Ann Todd. Mary Ann was born Mary Ann Lee & christened July 23rd, 1832 at Houghton-le-Spring. She had previously been married to Robert Todd, a coal miner.
In 1876 daughter Hannah married Ralph Wigham, a coal miner, in South Shields.
In 1881 Joseph, still a miner, & his wife Mary Ann were living at Colliery Cottage, Dene Bridge, Chilton, Sedgefield, Co Durham. Joseph’s daughter Isabella was still at home & there were 3 step children – Elizabeth Millar Todd (20), an apprentice dress maker, John Robert Todd (15), a coal miner, & Ann Lee Todd (12). Joseph & Mary Ann had had a son, Joseph Lee Stavers, in 1874 who sadly died in infancy.
In 1882 daughter Susanna married William Ross, a rivetter at the shipyards, at St Mary’s, South Shields.
Joseph & Mary Ann had moved to Mill Row, Newbottle, Houghton-le-Spring by 1891 & Joseph continued to be a miner. Another of Mary Ann’s sons was living with them, William T Todd (32), & he was also a coal miner.
In 1901 Joseph & Mary Ann were living at Thomas St, Craghead, Lanchester & Joseph was now working as a stoneman at the colliery. William Thomas Todd was still living with them & also working as a stoneman.
There is a death for Mary Ann Stavers in Oct-December 1909 registered at South Shields, Co Durham.
There is a death for Joseph Stavers in July-September 1915 registered at South Shields, Co Durham.