Son-in-law of Thomas Holy. He joined the Methodist society in Garden Street, Sheffield in 1763 and shared in the hostility it faced. For many years he was a class leader and entertained visiting preachers. Having bought the recipe in 1769, he became an enterprising and innovative manufacturer of 'Britannia metal', an alloy of brass, antimony and tin (also known as 'white metal' or 'French pewter'), used extensively for tableware in the 19th century. He played an active part in local society, e.g. as Overseer of the Poor from 1793 and as a constable from 1797. The family business was taken over by his son John.