John Barstow was born in Sheffield in 1838, the son of Robert Barstow (a cow keeper from Norton) and his wife Sarah. They lived in Carver Street. By 1871, John lived and worked as a cutlery caster in Harwood Street/Shoreham Street. John Barstow, ‘table knife manufacturer’, Harwood Works, John Street, died at 467 Shoreham Street on 31 July 1882. He left £3,771.