The Chester brothers can be traced to George Chester (c.1802-1854) – a horn and ivory cutter – and his wife Mary (c.1801-1855).  They had seven sons:  William (1828-1864), John (1831-1905), Henry (1832-1907), Charles Richard (1835-1903), Thomas (c.1837-1864), Joseph Beech (1839-1904), and Edmund (c.1841-1869).  The father was listed in Coalpit Lane by 1833, but by the 1840s was in Pool Square, Fargate.  By the 1850s, Chester’s workshops were in Holly Street and Trippet Lane Horn Works.  George Chester died on 6 February 1854, aged 52, and was buried (like many Chesters) in the General Cemetery.  He left £4,262.  His wife continued as Mary Chester & Son, with her son William.  Mary died on 18 September 1855, aged 54.

Chester Bros, horn and ivory merchant, was then formed in Trippet Lane.  All the Chester clan seem to have followed the ivory and horn trade: however, not every brother was apparently involved with Chester Bros.  The original partners were William and John.  However, William died, aged 36, on 10 December 1864.  John continued the firm with his other brothers, though the premises in Holly Street and Trippet Lane were sold (Sheffield Independent, 7 December 1867).  By 1871, Henry, Charles Richard, and Joseph had joined Chester Bros in West Street.  The firm remained a horn and ivory merchant: however, at West End Cutlery Works, West Street, the firm also manufactured pen, pocket, and sportsman’s knives, table cutlery, and scissors.  In 1881, John Chester – who was living with his sister and brother Charles Richard in Broomspring Lane – told the Census that he employed five men, two women, and a boy.  (John’s wife was Eliza, the daughter of Abraham Levick.) Evidently, Chester Bros had its share of skilled cutlers.  It produced a Fitzwilliam Knife in gold and pearl, with eleven articles, which included a special blade/gadget that functioned as a cartridge extractor, a spanner for striker nuts, and a wire cutter for champagne bottles (Sheffield Independent, 23 January 1880).

Charles Richard Chester, Brunswick Street, died 30 December 1893, aged 58.  He left £11,945.  The firm promptly vacated scale presser shops in Ball Lane, Carver Street.  In 1901, Chester Bros was in West Street and Wellington Street.  However, four Chester brothers died between 1903 and 1907.  John Chester, Newbould Lane, died on 20 February 1905, aged 74.  He left £21,461.  The last brother, Henry, Tapton Road, died on 25 August 1907, aged 75.  By then the firm had ceased trading.