The Mycocks are difficult to trace and only a sketchy history can be attempted.  One strand of the family was active in Burgess Street, where in 1774 John Mycock was listed as a spring knife cutler, butchers’ steel, and brass inkpot maker.  His mark included a Maltese cross and the letters ‘PEN’.   In 1787, John and Joseph were working together in Burgess Street as pen and pocket knife manufacturers.  They also made brass inkpots.  The trade mark remained ‘PEN’.   The partners may have been brothers.  Leader (1905-06)¹ in his apprenticeship listings has John and Joseph as sons of Nathan Mycock (a cutler).  They became Freemen in 1764 and 1765, respectively.   Museums Sheffield has a writing set made by Joseph Mycock of Burgess Street, the wide base of which forms the inkwell, and the centre section holds a steel rule, and brass pen and a pen blade which screws into a socket in the cover (Pearce, 1976)².

Another Mycock strand operated as spring knife cutlers in Church Lane, where the business was in the hands of Joseph Mycock in 1774 and 1787.  The trade mark was a Maltese cross and the letter ‘IM’ (i.e.  ‘JM’).   In 1797, the individual using this mark was Thomas Mycock, Townhead Cross, who made pocket knives and was also a grocer and dealer in earthenware.  By 1816, this business seems to have relocated to Holley Street, where it specialised in inkstands.

These Mycock enterprises had disappeared by the early 1820s.  The Sheffield directory (1821) listed Joseph Mycock (gent) at Burgess Street, with John Mycock (presumably a descendant) making magnets at the same address.  Joseph Mycock was a schoolmaster.  The death of Joseph Mycock (bapt.  1744) of Burgess Street was reported in The Sheffield Independent on 3 May 1823.  He had been buried at the parish churchyard on 29 April, aged 78.  His brother, John, may have died in 1810: a cutler and inkstand maker of that name had been buried in the same churchyard on 29 July.  Brass inkpots and penners (pen cases, with various tools, such as knife blades, rule, and brass pen) have become collectable items.  Jim Marshall (n.d.)³ has noted that Mycock is one of the most common marks amongst surviving examples.

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

^2. Pearce, M, Sheffield Penknives (Sheffield, 1976)  Sheffield City Museums Information Sheet: No 13

^3. Marshall, Jim, Penners, Etuis & Writing Compendia – Early Portable Writing Equipment from 1700 to 1850 (Penrith, Cumbria, nd)