William Colley (1765-1828) was first listed in 1811 as a scissors manufacturer in Lambert Street.   He  was apparently the son of David and Alice Colley.  In the early 1820s, his firm was styled William Colley & Son with workshops in Colley’s Yard, 44 Lambert Street.  His eldest son – also named William (bapt.1796-1828) – partnered his father and lived at Cornhill.  Their products included shears, cast lined blades, and fine steel scissors.  William Colley Sen. was Master Cutler in 1821, though Leader (1905-06)¹ is uninformative about him.   When he died on 14 September 1828, aged 62, he was described as William Colley Sen. of Broad Lane, who had ‘for many years, carried on a respectable business as a merchant and manufacturer’.
Apparently, William had started his own business: William Colley & Bros, a general merchant and manufacturer of shears and fine steel scissors, 40 Lambert Street.  William’s younger brothers were Henry, Edward, and James.  But William Jun. died less than three months after his father on 22 November 1828, aged 33.  They were buried at St Peter & St Paul churchyard.  Colley & Co was apparently the successor of Wm. Colley & Bros.

^1. Leader, R E, History of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire in the County of York (Sheffield, 1905-6)