The Perkintons (or Perkingtons, as the name was sometimes spelled) were table knife manufacturers – a trade they often combined with running pubs and beer houses.  Joshua Perkinton (1812-1858) and William Perkinton (1816-1876) were brothers, who were the sons of Joshua Perkington (1785-1835) and Elizabeth née Allen (1790-1834).  Joshua Perkinton Sen. was listed after 1822 as a victualler at the Red Lion, 54 Holly Street, and a table knife manufacturer.  He died of apoplexy on 25 September 1835, aged 50, and was buried in St Paul’s churchyard.  Elizabeth had died in the preceding year.  (Interestingly, John Perkinton – Holly Street – was buried on 14 March 1836, aged 84, in Portobello churchyard.)  In 1841, Joshua Jun. was listed in a directory as table knife manufacturer in Porter Street, with a beer house in Sidney Street (where Joshua and his wife Martha née Hollinsworth lived).  He was insolvent in 1842 and henceforth worked as a bone and hoof dealer (and occasional grocer).  His last works address was Arundel Street.  He died on 23 October 1858, aged 47, and was buried in Christ Church graveyard, Heeley.  His son was John Perkington (see Perkington & Deakin).

William Perkinton was born in Sheffield on 3 April 1816.  In the 1841 Census, he was listed as a table-knife blade forger, living in Sidney Street, with Joshua and Martha.  In 1842, he married Frances née Harland.  By 1845, he was listed in a directory as a table knife manufacturer in Orchard Lane.  Between 1848 and 1849, he was victualler at the Red Lion, Coalpit Lane; then in 1854 manufacturing table knives in Suffolk Street.  In 1858, he was declared bankrupt.  By 1860, he was again manufacturing table knives from an Orchard Street address and (according to the 1871 Census) employing ten men.  William’s wife, Frances, died on 14 February 1870, aged 53.  William Perkinton died – apparently from ‘brain disease’ – at his home, Silvan Villa, Chantrey Road, Norton, on 10 April 1876, aged 60.  He was buried in the General Cemetery, leaving under £1,500.  Several ‘valuable old oil paintings’ from his residence were offered for sale after his death (Sheffield Independent, 16 May 1876).  William’s sons founded Perkinton Bros.