Gregory & Sons, W.M.

William Gregory had learned the art of forging and established his own business in 1843. He appeared in a Sheffield directory in 1865, making table and butchers’ knives in England. He died in 1878. William’s sons – Samuel, William, Henry, and John Robinson – joined the family firm. After 1880, Samuel was partnered by George Hawksworth (1858-1898). Samuel was the firm’s traveler; Hawksworth managed the factory, in which the workforce was 40 men, two boys, and four girls. In 1885, Samuel Gregory and George Hawksworth became the sole owners of the business. In the mid-1890s, it was said to have employed upwards of 100 workers. Gregory’s was well known for its butchers, grocers and farmers knives; and also sold table cutlery and pocket knives and tools. For the Victorian household, it also made ‘Incorrodible’ butter and cheese knives and ‘Spanish Silver’ butter knives.