George Speed was the second child of Jacob Speed & Hannah Coates born at New Lambton & christened December 30th, 1792 at All Saints, Penshaw. Co Durham.
George’s father Jacob worked as an engineman at New Lambton, Co Durham.
George married Margaret Roxby on December 31st, 1818 at Chester-le-Street. A witness at the wedding was William Lewins. Margaret was christened September 16th, 1792 at Sunderland, the daughter of Ann & John Roxby.
George was described as a pitman of Great Lumley on the christening records of their children.
In 1841 George & Margaret were living at 44 George St, Sherburn, Pittington, Co Durham. George was a coal miner & children still living at home were Hannah (20), Margaret (10) & John (6). Son George, aged 20, was an apprentice living with Stephen Roxby (35), a grocer & draper, & his family at Front St, Easington Lane, Co Durham. Daughter Elizabeth was working as a servant for John Proud, a grocer, & his family in Wingate, Co Durham at the time of the census.
The 1851 census shows George, a coal miner, living at Eppleton Lane, Hetton-le-Hole. With him was son John Roxby, aged 16, and also a coal miner. Wife Margaret was living with the above mentioned Stephen Roxby, a grocer, & family at Hetton-le-Hole, Easington Lane, Houghton-le-Spring in 1851. Margaret was described as a washer woman.
George of Hetton Colliery died in 1852 aged 59 & was buried on April 14th at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole.
Widowed Margaret was living on her own in 1861 at Easington Lane, Hetton-le-Hole.
In 1871 Margaret was still living alone at High St, Hetton-le-Hole.
At the age of 88 Margaret was listed on her own at Elemore Lane, Hetton-le-Hole in 1881 & described as an annuitant.
Margaret died aged 95 at Caroline St, & was buried on May 20th, 1888 at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole.
The children of George Speed & Margaret Roxby were:
sp.1.6.4.2.1 Hannah Speed christened January 2nd, 1820 at Chester-le-Street; buried January 10th, 1878 at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole, Co Durham.
sp.1.6.4.2.2 George Speed christened October 14th, 1821 at Chester-le-Street; died December 25th, 1869 at Seneca St & was buried in Erie Cemetery & removed to Highland Park Cemetery, Cuyahoga, Ohio, in 1921.
sp.1.6.4.2.3 Elizabeth Speed christened June 5th, 1824 at Chester-le-Street; died at Sherburn & buried October 2nd, 1843 at St Cuthbert, Shadforth, Co Durham
sp.1.6.4.2.4 Jacob Speed christened September 3rd, 1826 at Chester-le-Street; buried April 25th, 1827 at Chester-le-Street
sp.1.6.4.2.5 Jacob Speed christened May 10th, 1829 at Chester-le-Street; buried October 27th, 1829 at Chester-le-Street
sp.1.6.4.2.6 Margaret Speed christened September 10th, 1830 at Chester-le-Street; died Oct-December 1907 at Houghton-le-Spring
sp.1.6.4.2.7 John Speed christened November 11th, 1832 at Chester-le-Street; died at Great Lumley & buried September 12th, 1833 at Chester-le-Street
sp.1.6.4.2.8 John Roxby Speed born at Littletown, Co Durham & christened May 24th, 1835 at Pittington; buried November 9th 1877 at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole.