Thomas John Creswick was born in Norton, Derbyshire, on 11 August 1825, the son of James and Hannah Creswick.  His father was a partner in the silver-plate firm of that name.   By 1852, T.J.  Creswick was listed in his own right as a silver plater in Gell Street.  He partnered W. W. Harrison until 1856.  A partnership with John Waterhouse Sansom (see Sansom & Davenport) followed, but that ended in the following year.  Creswick announced that he was starting work as a commission agent, but by December 1857 was bankrupt with debts of £245.   In 1862, he advertised electro-plated goods from Montgomery Works, Monmouth Street.   In his later years, he was a butcher, but was bankrupt again in 1868.  Apparently, he returned to the silver trade in St Philip’s Road.  In 1881, the Census enumerated him as a retired silver merchant, living at Birley House, Birley Carr.  His son-in-law, who was living with him, was John  Newton.  Thomas J. Creswick died (aged 58) on 6 July 1884 at Limestone Cottage, near Wadsley.  He was buried in St Thomas cemetery, Crookes.