John Linley was a razor manufacturer, who was listed in 1774 in Snig Hill, using a pipe and dart trade mark.  The Mark Book at Cutlers’ Hall recorded the granting of that mark in 1748 to William Linley.   Samuel Linley (trade mark + LONDON) was another Linley razor maker in Snig Hill.   By 1787, only John Lindley (sic) was listed, with a workshop in Spring Street.  Linley became Master Cutler in 1799.  He married the sister of Benjamin Vickers, who was Master Cutler two years later.  This perhaps explains the partnership of silver platers John and William Linley and Benjamin Vickers, which led to the registration of a silver mark in 1788 by John Lindley [sic] & Co, Spring Croft.  The partnership was dissolved in 1794, as regards William.  According to Law (2000)¹, very little silver was assayed and possibly the firm was primarily involved in cutlery.  After 1797, Linley began a partnership with William Gould as a manufacturer of pen and pocket knives.  William Linley entered a silver mark in 1797, but it is not known if it was the William connected with John.  The Leeds Mercury, 9 March 1811, reported the death on 2 March of John Linley, razor maker, Spring Street.  He died from an ‘apoplectic stroke’.  He was buried in St Peter & St Paul  churchyard.  Neither the newspaper nor burial register stated his age.

^1. Law, Edward J., ‘The Origins of the Silver Trade in Sheffield’ (2000). Posted at: http://homepage.eircom.net/~lawed/index.htm