Trade Mark from 1787. Image courtesy of Geoff Tweedale
The Beldon family may have originated in Darnall (a Joseph Beldon, pen knife cutler, was listed there in 1774). Leader (1905-06)1 listed several Beldons, all sons of Josephs, including John (Freedom 1750), John (F 1782), and George (F 1791). They may be the individuals associated with Beldon, Hoyland & Co, which registered a silver mark in 1785. The firm was located in Burgess Street and made silver-plated table knives, using the trade mark ‘PLUTUS’. The partners included Joseph, George, and John Beldon, and William Hoyland. Joseph Beldon handled the firm’s London trade in Hatton Garden, until he withdrew from the partnership in 1790. According to Bradbury (1912)2, he died in 1796.
Crosskey (2011)3 highlights that a Joseph Beldon had been involved with the silver-plate firm of Samuel Roberts – a family to whom he was related (see Roberts, Cadman). This Joseph Beldon had moved to Hatton Garden and also travelled on the Continent. Beldon, Hoyland & Co was dissolved in 1803. George Beldon, who registered a silver mark in 1809, continued to make silver and plated table knives in Arundel Street until about 1818. Death dates for the Beldons are unconfirmed, but Attercliffe churchyard registers note the burial of John (bapt. 1859-1828) and George (bapt.1755-1834), besides other members of the Beldon family.
1. Leader, R E, History of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire in the County of York (Sheffield, 1905-6)
2. Bradbury, F, History of Old Sheffield Plate (London, 1912)
3. Crosskey, Gordon, Old Sheffield Plate: A History of the 18th Century Plated Trade (Sheffield, 2011)