William Gray was a spring knife cutler, who was born in Sheffield in about 1823, and enumerated in the Census (1851) in Younge Street.  Possibly he was related to William Gray, who was a pen and pocket knife manufacturer in Lambert Street in the 1820s.   In the Census (1861), Gray had moved to Chester Street.  By 1863, William Gray was listed at Trafalgar Works, Trafalgar Street, with a house in Lawson Road.  By 1868, William Gray & Sons was a spring knife manufacturer at Trafalgar Works.   That was also Gray’s residential address in 1871, when he was living with his wife Elizabeth and four sons (two of whom were cutlers).  Gray employed eight men.  He died at his home in St Stephen’s Road (aged 54) on 10 December 1877.  He left under £300 and was buried in the General Cemetery.  The firm was still listed in 1879, presumably operated by William Gray Jun., but was soon defunct.