Joseph Deakin (1789-1847), a fork and spoon manufacturer, was listed after 1822 in Spring Street (near Kelham Island).  He died on 23 July 1847, aged 58, and was buried in St Paul’s churchyard.   His son, Joseph (1816-1891), continued as a manufacturer of Britannia metal goods, forks, and spoons at Deakin’s Yard in Spring Street.  He sold forks to table knife manufacturers (Sheffield Independent, 8 January 1848).  In 1852, when he employed 19 hands, he announced a move to larger premises in Green Lane.  He added: ‘A Few Good Teapot Rubbers Wanted’ (Sheffield Independent, 25 September 1852).   He partnered George Staniforth Jun. in Deakin & Staniforth.  After this ended in 1854, the firm became Joseph Deakin & Sons, Spring Street Works, Green Lane.   His sons, by his wife Ann née Carpendale (who was born in Dublin and Joseph had married in 1837), were George (1848-1878) and William Frederick (1855-?).   The corporate mark ‘3573’ was registered in 1856.  

In 1861, Joseph employed two men and three boys, and lived at Broughton Villa, Owlerton.  George died on 1 October 1878, aged 30, leaving £131; William Frederick settled in America.  In 1881, Joseph’s wife, Ann, fell down the stairs in Spring Street in the early hours of the morning.  An inquest recorded an ‘accidental death’ and noted that Ann had been involved in two railway accidents and was infirm and blind (Sheffield Independent, 24 January 1881).  Joseph moved in with the family of William Paramore (Ellis Son & Paramore) in Burrowlee, Owlerton.  (Joseph’s daughter, Lydia, had married William.) He continued to trade, but only as the ‘Cheapest House in Sheffield for Repairs’.  In 1884, the assets were sold to William Gibson, but in the following year they were again offered for sale.  The last address was Bridge Street, but Deakin’s ceased trading in 1891.  Joseph died on 29 April 1891, aged 75, in Langsett Road.  He was buried in Ecclesall (alongside Ann), leaving £542.