In 1790, John Law registered a silver mark from Howard Street.  This was apparently John Law (bapt.1755-1819), the son of Thomas Law (Bradbury, 1912¹; Crosskey, 2011²).  In 1797, John Law was listed in a directory as a pen and silver blade maker, 48 Howard Street.  In 1807 (and again in 1810), a ‘Half Moon’ mark was registered for use on silver wares.  By then, the business was John Law & Son, fruit knife manufacturer.  The firm was last listed at Howard Street in 1818 as a maker of pearl buttons, silver fruit knives, and silver dessert knives.

In 1820, a ‘Stock of Fine Cutlery’ was auctioned.  The detailed inventory included 75-blade ‘round’ knives, dozens of elegant pearl and tortoiseshell pen knives, expensive scissors made for the King, silver and gold snuff boxes, thimbles, and buttons (Sheffield Independent, 2 December 1820).  The sale followed the insolvency of John & Joseph Law & Co [John Law, Joseph Law, and Thomas Brammall].  Was this the rump of John Law & Sons?  Unfortunately, the partners cannot be identified with certainty.  Three John Laws were listed in a directory in 1821: a fruit knife maker, Eyre Street; a pen knife cutler, Carver Street; and a plater, Settle’s Yard, Norfolk Street.  John Law, silver fruit knife manufacturer, Eyre Street, died on 12 March 1821, leaving a widow and eight children,  ‘the eldest not more than 15 years of age’ (Sheffield Independent, 24 March 1821).  But his burial has not been traced and his age is unknown.  In the following year, the freehold premises at Howard Street, previously occupied by Law, Law, and Brammall – ‘adapted to the employ of fifty workmen in the cutlery trade’ – were offered for sale  (Sheffield Independent, 12 January 1822).  Law & Oxley (see Henry Atkin) would be described as ‘late John Law & Sons’.

^1. Bradbury, F, History of Old Sheffield Plate (London, 1912)  
^2. Crosskey, Gordon, Old Sheffield Plate: A History of the 18th Century Plated Trade (Sheffield, 2011)