James Gillies was a spring-knife cutler.  He died on 23 January 1831, aged 43, in his ‘prime of life’ from a ‘disorder of the lungs’.  The Sheffield Independent, 29 January 1831, reported that he had once been employed by Joseph Rodgers & Sons, but had latterly worked for James Crawshaw.  His obituarist continued:  ‘He was one of those whose genius and talents have contributed to raise Sheffield to the pre-eminence it holds in the manufacture of cutlery.   As a workman he was equalled by few, especially in the ornamental department in which he was chiefly employed.  His amiable and cheerful disposition and suavity of manners have caused him to be regretted by all who knew him, while his widowed wife, and a numerous family of children deeply deplore his loss’.  He was buried in Ecclesall.