James Leek was first listed in 1818 as a cast iron cutler at Pond Lane.  Later listings in directories of James Leek (presumably the same individual) show him working as a cast scissors manufacturer at Bramall Lane. Other members of the Leek family (which may not have originated in Sheffield) worked as fork makers and scissors casters.  In 1825 and 1828, James Leek was listed at West Street as a manufacturer of table knives, scissors, and shoe heel and toe plates.  In 1833, James Leigh Leek (perhaps his son) was a cutlery caster at West Street, but soon after became a joint-owner of a local newspaper, The Iris.  He died on 17 January 1850 (aged 55) and was buried at St Mary’s churchyard, Bramall Lane.  Moses William Leek – presumably a relative – was a cutlery caster at Johnson Street in the Wicker. He died on 9 July 1866, aged 58.