[Index]
Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN (1864 - 1915)
railway engineer
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Harold Sidney David SPEAKMAN (1896 - )
Ethel Gertrude SPEAKMAN (1899 - 1900)
Hilda May SPEAKMAN (1901 - 1968)
Elsie Beatrice SPEAKMAN (1903 - )
Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN (1864 - 1915)

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Bessie NEWTON (1875 - 1947)
David SPEAKMAN (1833 - 1868) Thomas SPEAKMAN (1802 - 1888) David SPEAKMAN (1778 - )
Annie HAMPSON (1780 - )
Ellen COLLINGE (1806 - 1866)



Anne Elizabeth WALKER (1833 - )











Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN

Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN
Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN
Pic 2. Harry is 24 years old in this picture. Photo dated 1888: British Lions Tour Australia

b. 1864 at Runcorn, Cheshire, England
m. 04 Mar 1896 Bessie NEWTON (1875 - 1947) at Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia
d. 01 Jan 1915 at Queensland, Australia aged 51
Near Relatives of Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN (1864 - 1915)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Grandfather Thomas SPEAKMAN 02 Jan 1802 Worsley, Lancashire, England 1888 Runcorn, Cheshire, England 86
Grandmother Ellen COLLINGE abt 1806 Farnworth, Lancashire, England 1866 Runcorn, Cheshire, England 60

Father in Law William NEWTON 15 Jan 1839 Plumbley, Cheshire, England Y
Mother in Law Elizabeth BARBER 15 Nov 1841 Great Budworth, Cheshire, England 07 Apr 1897 Ravenswood, Queensland, Australia 55

Father David SPEAKMAN 1833 Farnworth, Lancashire, England 1868 Runcorn, Cheshire, England 35
Mother Anne Elizabeth WALKER abt 1833 Runcorn, Cheshire, England

Self Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN 1864 Runcorn, Cheshire, England 01 Jan 1915 Queensland, Australia 51

Wife Bessie NEWTON 25 Apr 1875 Maryborough, Queensland, Australia 30 Aug 1947 Townsville, Queensland, Australia 72

Son Harold Sidney David SPEAKMAN 13 Oct 1896 Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia
Daughter Ethel Gertrude SPEAKMAN 10 Jun 1899 Queensland, Australia 17 Apr 1900 Queensland, Australia 0
Daughter Hilda May SPEAKMAN 13 Apr 1901 Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia 1968 Townsville, Queensland, Australia 67
Daughter Elsie Beatrice SPEAKMAN 06 Jun 1903 Queensland, Australia

Sister Agnes Walker SPEAKMAN 1858 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Sister Clara Fletcher SPEAKMAN 1860 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Sister Annie Elizabeth SPEAKMAN 1861 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Sister Walker SPEAKMAN 1863 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Sister Helen SPEAKMAN 1865 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Brother David Alfred SPEAKMAN 1868 Runcorn, Cheshire, England

Daughter in Law Thelma Grace WALKER 24 Apr 1904
Son in Law William Henry George KINGSTON 16 Aug 1899 Ingham, Queensland, Australia Y Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Grandson Michael SPEAKMAN 05 May 1934 Queensland, Australia
Grandson Living or Recently Deceased
Granddaughter Gloria KINGSTON 1924
Grandson Living or Recently Deceased

Aunt Sarah SPEAKMAN abt 1834 Farnworth, Lancashire, England
Uncle Joseph WIDDERS 1834
Uncle Philip SPEAKMAN abt 1837 Farnworth, Lancashire, England
Aunt Sarah WRIGHT 1838
Uncle Abraham SPEAKMAN 1840 Farnworth, Lancashire, England 1907 Leigh, Lancashire, England 67
Aunt Lydia LANCASTER 1841 Eccleshill, Lancashire, England 1921 80
Uncle Joseph James SPEAKMAN 1842 Bolton, Lancashire, England 1907 65
Aunt Mary J WILLIAMS 1843
Aunt Maud SPEAKMAN abt 1847 Lancashire, England
Uncle Isaac SPEAKMAN 1849 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Aunt Mary J SPEAKMAN 1852 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Uncle William REED 1859

Cousin Frederick William WIDDERS 1861 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Cousin Elsie Florence WIDDERS 1863 Erby, North Yorkshire, England
Cousin Sarah WIDDERS 1863 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Cousin Julie Ellen Frances WIDDERS 1864 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Cousin Thomas SPEAKMAN 1862
Cousin Ada SPEAKMAN 1865
Cousin Philip SPEAKMAN 1867
Cousin Lydia (Lillie) Catherine SPEAKMAN 1870 Widnes, Cheshire, England
Cousin Catherine Kate Barton SPEAKMAN 1873 Widnes, Cheshire, England
Cousin Edith Helen SPEAKMAN 1875 Widnes, Cheshire, England
Cousin Clara Gertrude SPEAKMAN 1877 Widnes, Cheshire, England
Cousin Florence Euphemia SPEAKMAN 1879 Widnes, Cheshire, England
Cousin Trevor Ewart SPEAKMAN 31 Jan 1881 Hartford, England 1923 42
Cousin Elizabeth (Bessie) SPEAKMAN 1868 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Cousin John SPEAKMAN 1871 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Cousin Frank H SPEAKMAN 1872 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Cousin Frederick J SPEAKMAN 1874 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Cousin Albert SPEAKMAN 1875 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Cousin Mary Ellen B SPEAKMAN 1876 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Cousin Eva SPEAKMAN 1880 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Cousin Gladys SPEAKMAN 1885
Cousin William REED 1882
Cousin Frederick REED 1884
Cousin Arthur REED 1890

Nephew William CARR 1889
Nephew Horatio CARR 1890
Nephew David CARR 1892
Niece Annie CARR 1893
Niece Gertrude CARR 1895
Niece Dorothy CARR 1898
Nephew Hector CARR 1899
Nephew Joseph SPEAKMAN 1893
Niece Evelyn Amelia NEWTON 13 Oct 1885 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Niece Beatrice Blanche NEWTON 13 Jul 1888 Townsville, Queensland, Australia 19 Feb 1911 Bakerville, Queensland, Australia 22
Nephew Harry Henry ATKINSON 25 Dec 1891 Railway reserve, Croydon, Queensland, Australia 12 May 1918 Ayr, Queensland, Australia 26
Niece Elizabeth Maud ATKINSON 26 Jan 1894 Queensland, Australia 05 Aug 1931 South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 37
Niece Ethel Florence ATKINSON 28 Jul 1896 Queensland, Australia May 1969 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 72
Nephew Thomas ATKINSON 07 Mar 1899 Queensland, Australia 28 Jul 1974 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 75
Niece Jessie ATKINSON 01 Jul 1902 Queensland, Australia 03 Jul 1902 Queensland, Australia 0
Niece Elsie May ATKINSON 27 Sep 1903 Queensland, Australia 02 Oct 1978 Townsville, Queensland, Australia 75
Nephew John Leslie ATKINSON 28 Oct 1906 Queensland, Australia 15 Dec 1965 Queensland, Australia 59
Niece Hilda Isabel ATKINSON 28 Nov 1912 Queensland, Australia 04 Jun 1982 Queensland, Australia 69
Niece Lilian Emily ATKINSON 28 Nov 1912 Queensland, Australia
Niece Olive Muad NEWTON 26 Mar 1896 Queensland, Australia
Niece Beatrice Mary NEWTON 09 Nov 1897 Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia 1983 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 86
Niece Dorothy NEWTON 04 Aug 1899 Queensland, Australia
Niece Annie NEWTON 12 Mar 1901 Queensland, Australia
Niece Ellen Josephine NEWTON 12 Mar 1904 Queensland, Australia
Niece Ivy Florence FINLAY 29 Dec 1890 Queensland, Australia 30 Jul 1938 Queensland, Australia 47
Nephew Hunter FINLAY 27 Dec 1892 Ravenswood, Queensland, Australia 06 Dec 1960 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 67
Niece Margaret FINLAY 04 Feb 1895 Queensland, Australia 04 Feb 1895 Queensland, Australia 0
Nephew Sidney FINLAY 02 Apr 1897 Queensland, Australia 23 Jan 1899 Queensland, Australia 1
Nephew Kyrle Allan Sidley FINLAY 27 Jun 1899 Queensland, Australia 09 Jul 1960 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 61
Niece Edith Maud NEWTON 12 Sep 1898 Ravenswood, Queensland, Australia 19 Aug 1969 Townsville, Queensland, Australia 70
Nephew William Harold NEWTON 26 Jan 1901 Queensland, Australia
Nephew Frederick Charles NEWTON 05 Dec 1902 Queensland, Australia 02 Jun 1952 Queensland, Australia 49
Nephew Sydney Edward NEWTON 27 Jul 1905 Ravenswood, Queensland, Australia 21 Dec 1980 Brandon, Queensland, Australia 75
Niece Teresa Ada NEWTON 08 Feb 1908 Queensland, Australia
Niece Rita Emily NEWTON BIELENSKI 27 Apr 1912 Ravenswood, Queensland, Australia 06 Jun 2004 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 92
Nephew Douglas Croxford NEWTON 20 Oct 1915 Queensland, Australia 19 May 1975 Queensland, Australia 59
Niece Beryl Croxford NEWTON 19 Mar 1918 Queensland, Australia 02 May 1967 Ayr, Queensland, Australia 49
Niece Vesta Barber Barbara NEWTON 1919 Queensland, Australia 1980 Queensland, Australia 61
Nephew Harlan Ernest (Tom) NEWTON 02 Jun 1919 Queensland, Australia abt 1994 Queensland, Australia 75
Nephew Norman Harold NEWTON 1923 Queensland, Australia
Niece Gwendoline Edna NEWTON 16 Mar 1926 Queensland, Australia 05 Jul 1994 68
Niece Iris Maud NEWTON 31 Oct 1907 Queensland, Australia 06 Jul 1908 Queensland, Australia 0
Nephew William Henry SINGLETON 18 Jul 1909 Queensland, Australia
Niece Laurine Maude SINGLETON 04 Aug 1912 Queensland, Australia

Sister in Law Agnes NEWTON 1864 England
Sister in Law Jessie NEWTON 15 May 1866 Queensland, Australia
Sister in Law Emily NEWTON 03 May 1868 Gayndah, Queensland, Australia 29 Jul 1949 Townsville, Queensland, Australia 81
Brother in Law Ezra NEWTON 20 Nov 1869 Queensland, Australia 30 Dec 1923 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 54
Sister in Law Annie NEWTON 15 Nov 1871 Maryborough, Queensland, Australia 15 Jan 1929 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 57
Brother in Law William Agnew NEWTON 03 Jun 1873 Queensland, Australia 24 Jun 1946 Ayr, Queensland, Australia 73
Brother in Law John NEWTON 11 Feb 1877 Queensland, Australia 23 Feb 1877 Queensland, Australia 0
Brother in Law Thomas Barber NEWTON 03 Dec 1878 Queensland, Australia 16 Apr 1949 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 70
Brother in Law Sydney Arthur NEWTON 22 Oct 1880 Ravenswood, Queensland, Australia 18 Feb 1949 Maryborough, Queensland, Australia 68
Brother in Law Percy Hoskin NEWTON 19 Feb 1883 Queensland, Australia 07 Oct 1944 Queensland, Australia 61
Sister in Law Lillian Maude NEWTON 15 Jan 1885 Queensland, Australia
Brother in Law William CARR abt 1856
Sister in Law Sarah MEADOWCROFT 1869
Events in Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN (1864 - 1915)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
1864 Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN was born Runcorn, Cheshire, England census 1871
1868 4 Death of father David SPEAKMAN (aged 35) Runcorn, Cheshire, England 12
04 Mar 1896 32 Married Bessie NEWTON (aged 20) Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia 1896/C001042
13 Oct 1896 32 Birth of son Harold Sidney David SPEAKMAN Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia 1896/C006704
10 Jun 1899 35 Birth of daughter Ethel Gertrude SPEAKMAN Queensland, Australia 1899/C006427
17 Apr 1900 36 Death of daughter Ethel Gertrude SPEAKMAN Queensland, Australia 1900/002384
13 Apr 1901 37 Birth of daughter Hilda May SPEAKMAN Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia 1901/C006352
06 Jun 1903 39 Birth of daughter Elsie Beatrice SPEAKMAN Queensland, Australia 1903/C005868
01 Jan 1915 51 Harry Henry Collinge SPEAKMAN died Queensland, Australia 1915/001152
Personal Notes:
http://www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co.uk/runcorn-widnes-news/runcorn-widnes-local-news/2010/01/14/former-rugby-skipper-harry-speakman-s-life-down-under-55368-25590835/
Former rugby skipper Harry Speakman's life down under
Jan 14 2010 Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News
LONG before the Linnets put Runcorn’s soccer club on the map, the Canal Street ground enjoyed a well-earned reputation in rugby.
It was there in March 1889 that the Runcorn team, regarded as the Cheshire champions and captained by the well-remembered Hughie Hughes, entertained the famous Maoris touring team before a crowd estimated at around 9,000
Although not a member of that particular team, one Runcorn man, Henry (Harry) Collinge Speakman, garnered fame as one of the best centre three-quarters in the north of England and also as a member of the first British rugby team to tour Australia and New Zealand.
The story of Harry Speakman was kindly sent to me by a Leicester man, Howard Peacock, whose personal interest in the old Runcorn Rugby Club stems from the fact that his great-grandfather, Thomas Wilkinson, played for the Runcorn club around 1900, including the second season the club won the Lancashire Senior Championship.
Harry Speakman was born in Leinster Gardens, Runcorn, on January 19, 1864, and at 17 was playing half back for the junior club, Runcorn True Blues, before moving to the Britannia club in Weston.
Rapid improvement ensured he attracted the attention of Runcorn Football Club and after just a season with the second team, he became a first team regular and was in the representative West Lancashire and Border Towns teams which played Batley (Yorkshire Cup holders) at Widnes at the start of the 1885-86 season. He also played seven county matches for Cheshire.
It soon became evident that Harry was approaching international standard but a development late in 1887 was to change, not just Harry’s playing career, but the entire direction of his life.
Howard Peacock takes up the story: “Three well known English cricket internationals, Arthur Shrewsbury, Alfred Shaw and James Lillywhite, noticed the increasing popularity of rugby football, not just in Britain but also in the Australian colonies, and decided the situation was ripe for making money.
“All three had been involved in overseas cricket tours and believed a similar tour could be undertaken by the best rugby players.”
The big difference, of course, was that, whereas payment for cricket was permissible, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) despised the idea.
The RFU’s steadfast refusal to endorse the tour ensured that many of the country’s top players didn’t want anything to do with the venture. It was against this background that Harry Speakman was offered a place on the tour and accepted.
The team left England on March 8, 1888. The promoters had secured 22 players, including Andrew Stoddart, a future England captain, who also succeeded W G Grace as captain of the England cricket team.
The team was strong enough to give a good account of itself, winning 27 of 36 matches played in New Zealand and Australia.
The low point of the tour came in Australia when team captain Bob Seddon drowned in the Hunter River and Stoddart captained the team for the rest of the tour.
When the team left for home in October 1888, Harry Speakman was one of the players who stayed behind. He was still in New Zealand in February 1889 but by early March he was on his way to Queensland, Australia, and settled in Brisbane where he worked as an engine fitter.
He played for the local Wallaroo club and captained the Queensland state side for three seasons.
A couple of years later he moved to Brisbane’s Union Harriers team, but, once gold was discovered in the Charters Towers region of Queensland, Harry moved north.
He was soon involved with the local Charters Towers team, which still exists today, and in the 1950s the club remembered Harry in its anniversary celebrations, stating: “During the eight or nine years of his residence here he imparted a lot of his genius to local players and raised the game to a high standard.”
In 1896 Harry married a local girl, Bessie Newton, and the couple had four children. Their descendants still live in the Brisbane area.
Unfortunately, the last dozen years of Harry’s life don’t appear to have been that happy.
At the time of his death at the age of 50 in 1915, he appears to have been estranged from his family. On his death certificate, details for his wife and his children were all blank.
Howard Peacock also sent me a full account of the Canal Street match against the Maoris and would be grateful for any information about the Runcorn club. His address is 17 Garland Crescent, Leicester, and he can also be contacted by e-mail on: redtailsfc@dsl.pipex.com.
Source References:
18. Type: E-mail Message, Abbr: e-mails general pool, Title: e-mails general pool
- Reference = Tim Waterhouse - 22 Jan 10 (Name, Notes)

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