‘A self-made man … of humble origin’ was how the founder, William Gregory, was described (Men of the Period, 1896).  Born at Calver in Derbyshire in about 1818, Gregory had learned the art of forging and established his own business in 1843.  He appeared in a Sheffield directory in 1865, making table and butchers’ knives in Peel Street, Broomhill.  He died on 3 May 1878, aged 60, at his home in Broomhill, and was buried in an unconsecrated grave in the General Cemetery.  By then his business – having moved to Westend Works in Bolsover Street, Brookhill – had made his reputation. 

William’s sons – Samuel, William, Henry, and John Robinson – joined the family firm.  Samuel, who had been born in Sheffield in about 1850 and educated privately, became the senior partner.  After 1880, Samuel was partnered by George Blagden Hawksworth (1858-1898).  The latter was the son of a Sheffield bank manager, who had worked for Steer & Webster.  Samuel was the firm’s traveller; Hawksworth managed the factory at Otto Works in Howard/Arundel Street.  In 1881, the workforce was 40 men, two boys, and four girls.  In 1885, Samuel Gregory and George Hawksworth became the sole owners of the business.  In the mid-1890s, it was said to have employed upwards of 100 workers.  Gregory’s was well known for its butchers’, grocers’ and farmers’ knives; and also sold table cutlery and pocket knives and tools.  For the Victorian household, it also made ‘Incorrodible’ butter and cheese knives and ‘Spanish Silver’ butter knives.  These goods were also exported to Australia, Canada and the USA (where the firm had a resident agent).  Its corporate mark was a crossed saw and axe, with the words ‘ALL RIGHT’ (a phrase also used by Thomas Mottram); and a forging hammer, with the letters ‘W G’. 

George Blagden Hawksworth died, aged 39, on 9 February 1898 and was buried in Ecclesall.  He left £1,805.  John R. Gregory, who suffered from depression, committed suicide by hanging himself from a bedpost at his home, The Bungalow, Booth’s Lane, Hathersage, on 17 May 1904.  He was aged about 51.  Samuel Gregory, Meersbrook Park Road, died on 15 October 1909, aged 59.  He was buried in the General Cemetery.  The business was taken over by John Petty & Sons.  Samuel’s son, Samuel Alfred, became the senior partner in Gregory Bros.  William Gregory & Sons was still listed at Garden Street in Kelly's Directory of the Engineering, Hardware & Metal Trades, 1934, the location of John Petty & Sons.  Samuel’s son, Samuel Alfred, became the senior partner in Gregory Bros.