In 1774, John Shore (1744 – 1832) founded Parker, Roebuck & Shore, Sheffield’s first bank, with his brother William Shore, John Parker and Benjamin Roebuck (who built Meersbrook House).   The banking business was moved to land owned by the Shores in what is now the city centre, and later became known as Bank Street.

Shore acquired the assets of Henry Tudor (a silver-plater) and Samuel Nicholson in 1799.  They had formed a partnership and registered a silver mark in 1797 however Nicholson died in 1799.  Rather than sell the business on, Shore formed a partnership with James Rotherham, an established plate worker.  Shore & Rotherham registered a silver mark in 1799 (I.S & Co) but the partnership was dissolved in 1804.

John Shore was baptized on 22 June 1744 at Upper Chapel, Norfolk Street, Sheffield, a non-conformist, Presbyterian chapel.   He was the fourth of seven sons of Samuel Shore (1707 – c1785)  of Sheffield and Meersbrook, and Margaret Diggles, daughter and heiress of Richard Diggles Esq., a Liverpool merchant.   

John was very involved in South Yorkshire politics, attending meetings with his brother Samuel.  He was also a member of the Sheffield Town Trust (1819).   He married Gertrude Binks and had a large family of seven sons and five daughters.   He lived his later life in Scarborough, where he and his wife died.  

One of John’s brothers, Samuel (1738 – 1828), acquired Norton Hall in Sheffield through his marriage to Urith Offley, daughter of Stephen Offley, High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1716.
Another brother, William (1752 – 1822) of Tapton Hill, Ecclesall, was Florence Nightingale’s grandfather.

With thanks to Ted Shore, a descendant of the Shores of Sheffield, for the additional information on John Shore.