.:: Sheffield Master Cutlers & Apprentices ::.
Sheffield has long been associated with the cutlery trade and there is documentary evidence to show that cutlers existed in Sheffield as early as the thirteenth century. In 1624 the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire (a general term used to describe the parishes of Sheffield and some outlying parishes) was formed by an Act of Parliament which gave it jurisdiction over:

"all persons using to make Knives, Blades, Scissers, Sheeres, Sickles, Cutlery wares and all other wares and manufacture made or wrought of yron and steele, dwelling or inhabiting within the said Lordship and Liberty of Hallamshire, or within six miles compasse of the same"

The main aims of the company were to ensure high standards of workmanship, to grant and establish a register of approved marks, and to strictly control apprenticeships.

It originally consisted of a Master, two Wardens, six Searchers, and twenty-four Assistants. The role of the Master Cutler who was elected annually was of the greatest importance as it was he who effectively controlled the Company and was also responsible for finance, granting trade marks and for issuing penalties against those in default.

Two online databases relating to Sheffield cutlers have been provided:

Master Cutlers The list of Master Cutlers from 1624 to 1925 is available and can either be listed in chronological order or searched by forename and surname. Thanks to Lorraine for providing the source data.

Click Here to view the list of Master Cutlers.

Apprentices In 1563 a statute was passed which set seven years as the minimum length of service for an apprentice. It was usually agreed that the master would teach and provide the apprentice with food and lodgings and that the apprentice was not to marry during his term of apprenticeship.

The records comprising this database have been transcribed from the List of Apprentices and Freemen taken from the second volume of "The history of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire" by Robert Eadon Leader, published in 1905 and cover a period from 1618 to 1858.

This list has been compiled from a number of disparate original sources and consequently many of the entries contained varying amounts of information and were in different formats. In order to maintain the integrity of the transcribed database only certain information has been entered. Should you find an entry of interest we would be happy to check for any further details contained in the original material.

The database itself contains details (where available) of the apprentice (name and year of apprenticeship or Freedom), his parent (name, abode and occupation) and the master to whom he was apprenticed (name, abode & occupation). The following notes should be borne in mind:

  • Where no abode is given then "Sheffield is generally to be understood".
  • Abbreviations of forename, occupation and abode have been exapnded in full when possible.
  • Where years of both apprenticeship and Freedom were available only the apprenticeship had been entered
  • Where the year of Freedom has been entered then the year will be followed by (F)

Click Here to search the Apprentices database.



Copyright � 2005 - 2016 Ian Alexander - All rights reserved