Thread: Dating an old Wostenholm

Originally Posted by manah

But he became a Master Cutler of the Cutlers' Company only in 1856.
List of Masters.

Thanks for posting that list Manah..

Here is some more info on George Wostenholm (the 3rd?) from The Making of Sheffield, I865-1914 by J. H. Stainton

George Wostenholm.--One of the hardest-headed business men in Sheffield
was George Wostenholm, who died in August, 1876, at the age of seventy-five. He
was scarcely a public man, but had a flair for business, which made him Master
Cutler of Sheffield, and gave him great prosperity. He was Master Cutler in
1856, succeeding Mr. Frederick Thorpe Mappin in the position, and was "son of
his father" as a cutlery manufacturer. The father's business was carried on in
Broad Lane whence it was moved to Rockingham Street, at which point in the
family fortunes the son, George, was taken in as partner, together with Mr.
William Stenton (then buyer for Naylor & Sanderson's), the business being
carried on as Stenton & Wostenholm. Stenton's share in a wonderful prosperity
came through his systematic travelling in the States, opening up a great
connexion there, and on returning to England, leaving the firm with which he had
been identified. The younger partner thereupon took matters into his own hands,
and, crossing the Atlantic, consolidated the work done by Stenton. established
many agencies, and pushed well out into the far west. On the death of his
father, the business was again George Wostenholm & Son. In ten hard years, the
business grew all too quickly for the premises in Rockingham Street, and the
Washington Works in Wellington Street were taken, having formerly been in the
possession of Oakes, Tompkin & Company. It was a definite indication of
change. In previous generations, cutlery works in Sheffield had been virtually
unknown, save those of very small character; the town had been hemmed round by
the factories owned and run by "little mesters," but it was the American zeal
for big things which inspired the acquisition of the big place in Wellington
Street. When it was built, it was regarded as an unnecessary extravagance, and
Sheffielders of smaller vision wagged their heads solemnly and waited for the
crash-which never came. The business was turned into a Limited Company in 1875,
the capital being fixed at £100,000, with shares of £25, and with a dividend of
ten per cent, guaranteed for the ensuing five years; the allotment of shares
being almost entirely to members of the staff and the workmen. It was reported
that by 1878, the firm had an American connexion in spring cutlery far larger
than any other English concern. George Wostenholm was spoken of when he died as
the pioneer of Ranmoor, but was, even to a greater degree, the maker of Sharrow
and Netheredge, and his co-operation in this way with Thomas Steade was
responsible for the development of many of Sheffield's suburbs.

In trying to date a Wostenholm i found this!