Joseph Swallow (bapt.1746-1820) was born at Bradfield, the son of Joseph, a cutler.  He was baptised at Stannington Presbyterian Chapel.  He was apprenticed to cutler Nathaniel (or Nathan) Dixon and was granted his Freedom in 1768.  Joseph Swallow’s mark was a picture of a fish hook and the letter ‘I’ (presumably ‘J’).  He was listed in a Sheffield directory in 1774 as a spotted pen knife cutler at Westbar Green; and in 1781 and 1787 as a cutler at Smithfield.  He continued to trade at Smithfield, until his death on 16 December 1820: a ‘highly respected’ cutler, who had been in business over fifty years (Sheffield Independent, 23 December 1820).  

His detailed will shows that he was a relatively wealthy man for a working cutler.  He left numerous bequests, mostly to his wife, Elizabeth, and his nephews John and Richard Didsbury.   Joseph Swallow’s sister, Mary, was their mother.  Joseph also left legacies of £100 to Sheffield Infirmary, £10 to the Lancasterian School, £50 to the Boys’ Charity School, and £50 to the Girls’ Charity School.  His widow, Elizabeth, died on 27 July 1825 (aged 73) at her residence at Smithfield after a protracted illness.  She was described as the relict of the late Joseph Swallow, the ‘extensive fish hook knife manufacturer’ (Sheffield Independent, 30 July 1825).  Their remains lie in St Nicholas’ churchyard, Bradfield.  Richard and John Didsbury continued the Smithfield business.