Joseph Fletcher Smith (1760-1804) operated a cutlery business in Coalpit Lane, making pen, pocket, and table knives.  His ancestry can be traced to John Smith (1654-1753), who was Master Cutler in 1722, and whose second wife was Rebecca Fletcher (Leader, 1905-06¹). 

The directory listing was William Smith in 1771 and 1787 (this was probably the son of John Smith, the Master Cutler); and William Smith and John Fletcher Smith in 1797 (probably brothers and grandsons of John Smith).  The trade mark included the latter’s initials. 

John Fletcher Smith became Master Cutler in 1796 – apparently, the first bearer of that office with a double-barrelled name.  J. F. Smith’s position reflected his social connections, rather than his business abilities.  The family had links with the Smiths of Chesterfield, who operated a foundry (Robinson, 1957²); and Joseph Hunter, the antiquarian, was another descendant, whose Freedom of the Company was endorsed by J.F. Smith (Hunter, 1875³). 

The Smiths had a history of Nonconformity and the family is discussed in the diary of Thomas Asline Ward (see Broomhead & Ward).  In his diary entry for 30 December 1804, Ward wrote: ‘This day died Mr J. F. Smith in the strength of his age, a victim to his own excessive love of good eating and drinking, and a too great dislike for employment’ (Bell, 1910⁴).  The Coalpit Lane business ended with the death on 14 July 1807 of his last partner, John Smith (who was J.F. Smith’s nephew). 

^1. Leader, R E, History of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire in the County of York (Sheffield, 1905-6)

^2. Robinson, Philip Moffat, The Smiths of Chesterfield: A History of the Griffin Foundry, Brampton, 1775-1883 (Chesterfield, 1957)

^3. Hunter, Joseph, Hallamshire:  The History and Topography of the Parish of Sheffield in the County of York  Revised edn by Alfred Gatty (Sheffield, 1869, 3rd edition, 1875)

^4. Bell , Alexander B (ed), Peeps into the Past: Being Passages from the Diary of Thomas Asline Ward (Sheffield, 1910)