Samuel Skinner (1764-1852) was the son of Joseph, a cutler.  In 1784, Samuel married Lydia née Wostenholm.  They had a daughter, Mary (1785-1860), and a son, Samuel (bapt.1787-?).  His early working career is unknown, though by about 1800 he was a knife maker at Kimberworth.  Samuel joined Charles Calow in cutlers Calow, Skinner & Co (a partnership which also included Richard Walton).   This enterprise had been disbanded by 1805.

In 1811, Samuel Skinner & Co was listed as pen knife cutler at Cornhill.   (In the same directory, Samuel Skinner, pen knife cutler, was listed at Broad Lane – though whether this is the same cutler or perhaps his son is unknown).  After that date, Samuel Skinner & Co operated at Eyre Street.  However, in 1822 Skinner announced that he was vacating his ‘commodious workshops and warehouses’ at Eyre Street (Sheffield Independent, 9 March 1822).  Samuel Skinner’s daughter, Mary, had married Isaac Barber, who had been her father’s apprentice.  In 1822, Skinner & Barber was established as a pen knife and razor manufacturer at Edward Street.  It operated until 1833.  Samuel Skinner continued to trade at Edward Street, but by 1841 his works and residential address was Brocco Street.  He must have remarried, because in the Census he was living with his wife, Elizabeth.  She died on 12 March 1842 , ‘after a long and lingering illness’ (Sheffield Iris, 22 March 1842).  According to the St Paul’s burial register, she was 67.  By June 1842, Samuel Skinner had filed for insolvency.  He died on 21 January 1852, aged 88, ‘highly respected’ (Sheffield Independent, 31 January 1852).