John Wragg was born in Sheffield – probably in 1802 and possibly the son of William, a filesmith, and his wife, Mary.  He operated a beer house in Solly Street in the 1830s and 1840s, later combining this with spring knife manufacture.  He married Harriet (bapt. 3 January 1802-1866), the daughter of cutler Joseph Marples.   They had three sons:  John (1826-1901), Joseph (1835-1908), and Walter Thomas (1842-1913).  In 1841, John Sen. was living in Solly Street with Harriet and son John.  They were described as cutlers.  In 1852, John Wragg was running the White Horse pub full-time, with his son, John, as a spring knife manufacturer at the same address (275 Solly Street).   In 1856, John Wragg & Sons was launched with an advertisement in the local directory.  The address was 262 Solly Street and the firm sold pen, pocket, and sportsman’s knives, dirk, dagger, hunting and Australian and American Bowie knives, and razors.  John Wragg Sen. became bankrupt in 1857.  However, in the 1860s, John Wragg Sen., of Solly Street, manufactured cutlery at Burgess Works, Burgess Street, using the name ‘John Wragg’.  In 1861, he employed eight men and two boys.  In the 1870s, his son, John, was active in the business and by end of the decade had moved to Portland Works, West Street.  The business seems to have become defunct by about 1880.   

John Wragg, described in the newspapers as the ‘late cutlery manufacturer’ and in the General Cemetery register as a ‘gentleman’ of Broomspring Lane, died on 21 October 1888, aged 86.   Interred in the grave are Harriet and son Joseph.  John Wragg Jun., who had continued as a table blade marker, died in 1901 and was buried in City Road Cemetery.  Walter Wragg was educated at Oxford and became a Colonial Judge in Ceylon and Natal, where he had notable dealings with Gandhi and rebellious Zulu chiefs.  He was knighted in 1891 (Stainton, 1924¹).  Walter Wragg, of Stamford House, Bromham Road, Bedford, died on 26 October 1913, leaving £619 (£29 net).

^1. Stainton, J H, The Making of Sheffield, 1865-1914 (Sheffield, 1924)