The Clark businesses can be traced to Clarks, Hatfield & Co, cutlers and razor makers.  The partners – besides William Hatfield and John Gascoigne – were Charles Clark (1759-1817) and Marmaduke Clark (1765-1832).  They were the sons of William Clark, a ‘cutler-grinder’.   Charles was granted his Freedom in 1783; Marmaduke in 1788 (Leader, 1905-06¹).  In 1791, Clarks, Hatfield & Co was dissolved.  Clark & Hall was listed in 1797 as a razor maker in the Moor (trade mark ‘SBOROU’).  The partners were Marmaduke Clark, William Clark, and James Hall (unidentified).   In 1808, a silver mark was registered by Marmaduke Clark, James Hall, and Charles Clark.  William (Marmaduke’s brother?) withdrew in 1809.  The firm continued in South Street.   Marmaduke’s wife was Elizabeth (1758-1824).  Their son, Charles, was born on 7 April 1793, and baptised at St Peter’s (Marmaduke  appeared in the register as a grinder).   Charles joined the firm, but he died on 25 September 1814, aged 21: a ‘young man of such rare and exemplary qualities’ (Leeds Mercury, 10 October 1814).   

The firm continued as Clark, Hall & Clark, a maker of pocket knives in Earl Street.   If the other ‘Clark’ was Marmaduke’s brother, Charles, then he apparently died in 1817.   Marmaduke and James Hall ended their partnership in 1821.  Marmaduke was next joined by Samuel Osborn (1794-1832), who in 1820 had married Marmaduke’s daughter, Elizabeth (1796-1862).  Clark & Osborn traded in Earl Street as a merchant and manufacturer of pen and pocket knives, razors and strops, brushes, and tortoiseshell combs.   Unfortunately, Samuel Osborn died at Banner Cross on 15 February 1832, aged only 32; and Marmaduke Clark died in the same year at Shirle Hill on Christmas Day, aged 67.  The Clark and Osborn family vaults are in Ecclesall churchyard.   Samuel’s and Elizabeth’s son, Samuel Osborn (1826-1891), became a renowned tool steel manufacturer.   

^1. Leader, R E, History of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire in the County of York (Sheffield, 1905-6)