(Benjamin) Luke Webster (1804-1871) was born at Sheffield, the son of John (a scissorsmith) and Elizabeth.  Luke was a scissors manufacturer at New Church Street (1833), South Street (1837), and Sidney Street (1841).  The 1840s proved an unhappy decade for Luke and his wife, Ann née Glossop, whom he had married in 1825.  In 1842, Luke was insolvent.  He appeared regularly before the magistrates’ Bench for wife beating.  In 1846, Ann stated that she feared for her life and could no longer live with him.  Luke had to pay sureties totalling £40 and was bound over to keep the peace (Sheffield Independent, 20 June 1846).   Two years later, he spent time at Wakefield jail for not paying his debts.  He continued to work as a scissorsmith at Backfields (1846), Jericho (1857), Trippet Lane (1868), and Backfields (1871).  

Luke and Ann separated.  He began living with a ‘housekeeper’, Mary Ann Parratt.  Once, when Luke took a trip to London, she stripped the house of furniture and was charged with robbery.   The case provided embarrassment for Luke and amusement for the magistrates (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 1 October 1858).   Luke’s wife, Ann, died on 1 September 1871, aged 64.  Luke and Mary Ann Parratt married within weeks.  However, Luke died on 15 December 1871, aged 68.  Probate (on assets valued under £200) was granted to Mary Ann and his son, John Glossop Webster (1826-1890).  Luke (and Ann) were buried at St Mary’s, Bramall Lane.

John Webster was a scissors grinder.  In 1851, he lived at Rockingham Street, next door to scissorsmith Alfred Owen.  They became partners in Owen & Webster, which was active until 1853.  John Webster continued as a scissors manufacturer.  He was living at Wentworth Street in 1871, when he employed two females and a boy.  He later moved to Portobello, where he died on 6 October 1890, aged 63.  His burial was at the General Cemetery.