Peter Brown Family History

James Speight (1828) & Mary Mead

peter pedigree tree
General History

James Speight & Mary Mead were one of my 4th generation ancestors.

Key Dates:

James Speight was born on 24th February 1828 in Castleford, Leeds, Yorshire, the son of James Speight & Hannah Marsden. He married Mary Mead on 1st June 1851 in Stockton, Durham (Source is IGI & unconfirmed) . James possibly died in about February 1888 (aged 65) in Middlesborough RD, Yorkshire. (but age appears wrong)

Mary Mead was born on 10th March 1829 in Monk-Wearmouth, Sunderland, Durham and was baptised there on 29th March 1829. She was the daughter of John Mead & Elizabeth Dobson. Mary probably died in about November 1917 (aged 89) in Middlesborough RD, Yorkshire.

Children Click to return to 'Top of Page'

James & Mary had eight known children:

Elizabeth William Joseph John Robert Thomas Maria Alfred
  1. Elizabeth Speight was baptised on 23rd May 1853 in Gateshead, Durham. (Source is IGI & unconfirmed). She worked in the Pottery warehouse
  2. William Speight was born in 1855 in Gateshead, Durham. He married Sarah who was born in 1857 in Thornaby, Yorkshire and they had nine known children.
    1. John Speight was born in 1882 in Thornaby, Yorkshire.
    2. Bella Speight was born in 1884 in Thornaby, Yorkshire.
    3. Elizabeth Speight was born in 1886 in Thornaby, Yorkshire.
    4. Margaret Speight was born in 1888 in Thornaby, Yorkshire.
    5. Mable Speight was born in 1891 in Thornaby, Yorkshire.
    6. Clara Speight was born in 1893 in Thornaby, Yorkshire.
    7. Robert Speight was born in 1897 in Thornaby, Yorkshire.
    8. Evelyn Speight was born in 1898 in Thornaby, Yorkshire.
    9. Sarah Speight was born in 1900 in Thornaby, Yorkshire.
  3. Joseph Speight was born in 1857 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. He married Priscilla Watkins.  Details of Joseph Speight & Priscilla Watkins are shown separately as they are direct ancestors.
  4. John Speight was born in 1859 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.
  5. Robert Speight was born in about 27th March 1861 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.
  6. Thomas Speight was born on 2nd March 1865 in Thornaby, Stockton, Yorkshire and was baptised there on 28th March. He was a labourer at the bottleworks.
  7. Maria Speight was baptised on 10th February 1867 in Thornaby , Yorkshire. (Source is IGI & unconfirmed). She was a Dipper at the Pottery.
  8. Alfred Speight was baptised on 6th May 1869 in Thornaby , Yorkshire. (Source is IGI & unconfirmed).

Personal History Click to return to 'Top of Page'

James Speight

James was a Potter. He married in Stockton upon Tees Parish church. Both James & Mary lived in Stockton at time of marriage. The marriage was witnessed by John Atkinson and Henry May.
The family lived at 4 Princess Street, Middlesborough at the time of the 1861 census. They lived at George Street, Thornaby in 1865 at birth of son Thomas, and at 17 George Street, Thornaby at the time of the 1871 census. They lived at 20 Queen Street East, Thornaby Yorks at time of 1881 census.
James could not write as signature on marriage certificate was marked with a cross.

Mary Mead

Mary could not write as signatures on marriage certificate and Thomas's birth certificate were marked with a cross.

William Speight

William Speight could not write as witness on marriage certificate was marked with a cross. He worked as a labourer in the ironworks.
Lived at 34 New Street, Thornaby, Yorks at time of 1901 Census

Verification & Concerns Returns to 'Top of Page'

  1. Locations for births of parents and children came from 1861, 1871 & 1881 census. There is only one James Speight born in Castleford around that time. Castleford is shown on 1861 and 1871 census as place of birth of James and ages shown are consistent with birth date so this is very possible the correct person. (There was another James Speight born in Leeds 2/3/1829 the son of James Speight & Grace Farrar).
  2. Name on Thomas's birth certificate shown as SPEAIGHT. Assume it is the wrong spelling.
  3. Thomas birth certificate shows mothers maiden name as MEDD, Assume to be wrong spelling as other son Alfred it is shown as MEAD. Her own Family search records show her as MEED and MEDD, but marriage of father shown as MEAD.
  4. Thornaby & Middlesborough are sometimesshown as in Durham and sometimes in Yorkshire
  5. Census:
    1. The 1861 census shows James 33, Mary 33, Elizabeth 7, William 6, Joseph 4, John 2 and Robert 0 (12 days)
    2. The 1871 census shows James 43, Mary 42, Elizabeth 17, William 17, Joseph 15, John 13, Robert 11,Thomas 6, Maria 4, and Alford 2
    3. The 1881 census shows James 53, Mary 53, Elizabeth 28, William 26, Joseph 24, Thomas 16, Maria 14, and Alfred 12
Documents Returns to 'Top of Page'

Certificates & Official Records

  1. James Speight 1881 Census
  2. James Speight Marriage Certificate
  3. Thomas Speight Birth Certificate
Sources Click to return to 'Top of Page'
  1. Ancestry Yorkshire Parish Records CD (North Riding & West Riding)
  2. Census Records- 1881 Family Search CD
  3. Census Records - 1841, 1861, 1871 - British Origins Web site
  4. Family Search.org  (Latter day Saints):