Benjamin Broomhead (bapt.1829-1795) and Joseph Broomhead (c.1741-c.1802) were the sons of Henry Broomhead, a cutler, and Hannah née Nawe.  Their younger brother was Samuel (see Broomhead & Ward).   Benjamin’s and Joseph’s first appearance in a Sheffield directory was in 1774 as a factor and manufacturer of cutlery wares (especially table knives) in Fargate.  The mark was a group of symbols, with the letters ‘BHY’.  In 1784, Benjamin became Master Cutler.   He died on 6 July 1795 and was buried at St Peter & St Paul.  Joseph may have formed next a cutlery partnership with John Borwick, but this was dissolved in 1795.  

In the Sheffield directory (1797), Joseph was a partner in Broomhead & Rutherford, merchant and factor and manufacturer of table knives, Court 22, No. 7, Fargate.  The former mark was used, with the addition of ‘XNT’.  In February 1802, however, the Broomhead side of the partnership was dissolved, because Joseph had died.  His executrix and executor were his widow, Sarah née Yeomans (d.1831, aged 91), and Richard Yeomans, a tanner.  Benjamin’s representatives were his widow, Elizabeth née Clayton; George Wilde, a filesmith; William Skidmore, a grocer; and John Butcher, a linen draper.  The enterprise presumably continued, until it was finally dissolved in 1810.  The partners were Thomas Rutherford, George Wilde, William Skidmore, John Butcher, and Elizabeth Broomhead.  Thomas Rutherford may have died in 1814: there is a record of a burial at St James’ on 31 October in that year.  He was a merchant, though the date in the register is apparently unclear.  Joseph Broomhead & Co, merchant, was listed at Fargate in 1817, but was bankrupt two years later.   Its relationship with the former business, if any, is unknown.