ROBERT SPEED WAS BORN IN 1684 AND MARRIED AGNES DINNESS ON DECEMBER 24, 1703 IN CERES, FIFE, SCOTLAND. THEY LIVED AT MUIRHEAD, NEAR KAME IN THE PARISH OF CERES. HE MAY HAVE COMBINED AGRICULTURAL WORK WITH HANDLOOM WEAVING. LINEN AND AGRICULTURE WERE ALLIED OCCUPATIONS AT THIS TIME.