In 1841, John Wilkins (c.1826-1901) was a cutlery apprentice living in Wellington Street with 50-year-old cutler Samuel Staniforth.  John’s father had apparently died before 1851; his mother was Mary.  By 1852, John Wilkins partnered James Staniforth (probably the son of Samuel) in Staniforth & Wilkins, table knife manufacturers, Trafalgar Street.  After 1856, John operated alone as a table knife manufacturer in Eldon Street/Trafalgar Street.  According to the Census (1881), he employed two men.  He died, aged 75, on 25 April 1901 and was interred in the General Cemetery.  His sons, John (1855-1888) and Harry (1862-1930), were in the Britannia metal and silver trade.  Harry was a local preacher (Methodist) and managed Martin, Hall, before starting as a metals and cutlery merchant in 1916.  He was bankrupt in 1922, but at his death was described as a ‘stainless cutlery pioneer’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 4 August 1930).