Henry Toothill was apparently born on 19 December 1809, the son of William (a cutler) and his wife, Ann.  He was listed in 1833 as a pen knife and scissor knife manufacturer in Burgess Street.  He lived in Bright Street.  Henry’s father may have been the William Toothill, scissor knife maker, who died in Bright Street on 11 September 1832.   Between 1837 and 1850 Henry worked in Carver Street and Ecclesall Works, Rockingham Street.  By 1850, he was based in Button Lane and advertised pen and pencil knives, scissor knives, desk knives, rule knives, tumble downs, and castrators.  

Henry Toothill operated from Frugal Works, Button Lane, through the 1850s and 1860s (it was listed as Henry Toothill & Sons after 1868).  In 1867, Toothill appeared before Doncaster magistrates for selling microscopic photographs inserted in the handles of pocket knives.  The Sheffield press stated that they were of ‘so grossly a filthy nature that it was impossible to describe them’ (Sheffield Independent, 14 October 1867).  Toothill pleaded guilty, but in his defence it was argued that ‘the pictures … were not easy to be seen, and could only be obtained by adults and grown up persons’.   His good character as a respectable Methodist was relied upon, while the constabulary helpfully informed the court that such photographs were ‘not a new invention as far as Sheffield was concerned’ (Sheffield Independent, 26 October 1867).   The magistrates expressed their ‘abhorrence’ and fined Toothill £50, with £500 sureties for good behaviour.

Henry Toothill had retired by 1881.  In 1887, he advertised the sale of his workshops, warehouse, and blade forgers’ hearths at Frugal Works (Sheffield Independent, 12 May 1887).  He died, aged 82, at his residence Oakdale View in Brincliffe on 21 June 1891.  He was buried in Ecclesall churchyard, leaving £5,544.  No trade marks or racy photographs have been traced.