The Nonconformist partners were factors and merchants, who dealt mainly in tools, but may have marketed table knives.  The origins can be traced to a partnership formed by Joseph Herring, Richard Lee, James Mansall, and Kergarth Maw (c.1777-1833).  The latter was a joiners’ tool maker.  The partnership was dissolved in 1804 and succeeded by Herring, Mansall & Co, which still included Maw.  This ended in 1806.   Herring had withdrawn, but more partners were added (John Fielding, John Burgin, and George Burkinshaw), with Maw still involved.  After this was dissolved in 1807, Maw formed a joiners’ tool making partnership with William Round until 1809.   By 1816, Kergarth Maw was trading alone at Button Lane.  Thomas and William Staley were joiners at South Street.  Apparently William Staley (c.1782-1839) and Thomas (1789?-1833) were the sons of William, a cutler.  

In 1818, Maw & Staley was listed at Button Lane.  By 1821, the firm was a factor and manufacturer of edge tools, braces, bits, and skates at Rockingham Street.   The partnership lasted until 1829.  Kergarth Maw’s son, Thomas, had died on 14 February 1828, aged 21.  His death was ‘awfully sudden:- he was stooping down, fell, and instantly expired’ (Sheffield Independent, 16 February 1828).  This may have led to his father’s retirement.  He died on 12 September 1833, aged about 56.  The Maws were buried at Carver Street Methodist Chapel.  William and Thomas Staley continued in partnership until 1832.  Thomas Staley, of Mount Pisgah, died on 8 November 1833.  He was described as ‘a prominent friend of the Methodist cause’ for thirty-five years and was buried in a vault in the Portico of the newly-built Brunswick Chapel (Sheffield Independent, 6 July 1889).  His age in unclear in the printed sources.

In the directory of 1833, William was at Rockingham Street as an edge and joiners’ tool and table knife manufacturer.  His last venture, as a commission and general merchant with Joseph Rushton, Lisbon, ended in 1836.  William Staley died 29 May 1839, aged 47, at Bawtry, ‘after a long illness borne with Christian fortitude’ (Sheffield Independent, 8 June 1839).