This was another Sheffield silver-plate firm, with a complex genealogy.  In 1773,  a silver mark (‘RM & Co’) was registered at Brinsworth Orchard by Samuel Roberts, John Elam, John Winter, Thomas Sattle [sic], John Eyre, and Nathaniel Smith.  They apparently had links with Thomas Settle & Co.  Nathaniel Smith, George Smith, and James Creswick next registered a silver mark (‘N.S & Co’) in 1780 as plate workers in Waingate.  

In the Sheffield directory (1787), Nathaniel Smith & Co was listed as a maker of silver-plated table knives, Waingate.  The trade mark included the letters ‘NS+’.   In 1792, a silver mark (‘S.K.C & Co’) was registered by Smith, Knowles, Creswick & Co as plate workers, Arundel Street..  The firm advertised for several steady and skilful workmen as stampers, braziers, candlestick makers, and piercers (Sheffield Register, 6 July 1792).  The directory of 1797 again listed this enterprise, still at Arundel Street.

In 1811, the Assay Office register (1908) recorded that George Smith, [Robert?] Tate, William Nicholson, and [Hewan?] Hoult had applied for a mark for silver wares: ‘SMITH & Co’, plus a hand.  However, in the same year Smiths, Knowles, Creswick, Tate & Co was dissolved.  The dissolution notice showed that several of the original partners had died.  James Creswick had been buried at the parish church on 30 May 1799.  George Knowles, silver-plater, died on 16 February 1801 (Leeds Intelligencer, 2 March 1801).  William Smith, silversmith, of Arundel Street, died ‘last week’ (according to the York Herald, 17 October 1807) and was buried at Ecclesall on 6 October.

When the firm was dissolved, the various interests were handled by William Smith’s executors (George Naylor Jun. and Daniel Brammall); George Knowles’ executrix (Lydia Knowles); and James Creswick’s executors (Thomas Wilde and George Smith).  The latter was a partner, alongside William Nicholson, Robert Tate, and Hewan Hoult.  Mrs Lydia Knowles, of Charles Street, the relict of George Knowles, died on 21 October 1817 (and 62) and was buried at the parish church (St Peter & St Paul).