William Evatt (1766-1836) was born at Castle Donington, Leicestershire, the son of Joseph Evatt (1718-1804) and his wife, Sarah née King.  Joseph was a basket maker and a prominent Quaker in Castle Donington.  His son, William, was baptised at a Friends’ Meeting House at Nottingham.  In 1782, William was apprenticed to William Wright, a cutler, and became a Freeman in 1790.   He was involved in Aldam, Evatt & Co, cutlers, in 1792 (when it was dissolved).  His partners were John Aldam and Thomas Norcross.  In 1797, William Evatt was listed as a razor maker at Lambert Street, using the trade mark ‘AFRICA’. 

By 1811, he had started to combine razor manufacture with dentistry.  Within the next decade, he abandoned razors and concentrated on his dental practice, which was at Queen Street.  Evatt was a ‘noted character’ and Quaker, who lived on the corner of North and Queen Street.  One local worthy recalled ‘a large tooth hanging before the door, and I have seen both young and old when they have got to the door turn back again, the pain having ceased in fear of the dreadful operator’ (Leader, 1876¹).

William had three brothers: William Royle-Evatt (1766-1836), Benjamin (1764-1831), and Samuel (1775-1836).   Three of the brothers died in 1836.  Samuel Evatt, a farmer and basket maker at Castle Donington, died ‘very suddenly’ on a visit to William’s house at Upperthorpe on Thursday 7 April 1836, aged 70.  He had retired to rest ‘in good health, but was found dead in bed the following morning’.  The inquest verdict at St Philip’s Tavern, St Philip’s Road, was ‘Died by the Visitation of God’ (Sheffield Independent, 9 April 1836).  William Evatt died on 16 July 1836, aged 70, at his home at Upperthorpe.  His obituary described him as an ‘eminent dentist in this town.  He was a warm friend of Peace Societies, and was anxious for their general establishment.  He has left the liberal sum of £100, free from legacy duty, to the Parent Society’ (Sheffield Independent, 25 June 1836).  His nephew, Henry Royle Evatt (1815-1881), continued the dental practice for a few years.

^1. Leader, Robert E, Reminiscences of Old Sheffield (Sheffield, 2nd edn 1876)