Samuel Parker Hall (1817-1888) was born in Aberdeen, the son of Aaron Hall and his wife, Margaret Brebner. His father was Sheffield-born and worked as a hatter and hat dealer. In 1841, Samuel was enumerated in the Census as a razor manufacturer, living in Westbar and trading in Townhead Street. His career did not begin auspiciously. In 1841, he was forced to make a humiliating public apology and pay a fine of one guinea to the Sheffield Dispensary for copying the name and mark of James Johnson (Sheffield Independent, 4 December 1841). Two years later, when he was a razor manufacturer and general dealer in Birmingham and fancy goods in Westbar, he became insolvent. He resumed his career as first a razor manager, and then cutlery dealer in Snighill. In 1871, he was a razor manufacturer, employing five men. His surviving razors carry the stamp, ‘Saml Parker Hall’.

In 1873, he disposed of the razor business. After another spell as an ironmonger in Snighill, he partnered James Allen in the Ecclesfield Paper Mills, until the arrangement was dissolved in 1878. The firm was in financial difficulties (Schmoller, 1992¹).  He again worked as an ironmonger, but at his death was described as a manufacturer’s manager. Apparently, he was formerly a manager at M. Hunter & Son.  Hall was well known in Sheffield as one of the founders in 1867 of the British United Order of Oddfellows. He had served as its Grand Master. Samuel Parker Hall died of syncope at his residence in Nottingham Street on 29 February 1888, aged 70. He was buried in Burngreave Cemetery, leaving £87. His wife, Mary, had died in the preceding year.

^1. Schmoller, Tanya, Sheffield Papermakers (Wylam, 1992)