Henry Sweet is recorded as working between 1791 and 1801, and John Sweet between 1791 and 1823.  John Sweet died in 1830.  Whilst there is no specific record of Henry & John Sweet having registered a partnership, we see work assayed by them as a partnership and none by them individually so it would seem likely.  We know that partnerships were not always formally recorded. 

Henry & John Sweet sent work into the Assay office on 11th April 1794, namely "3 pr knee, 21 pr shoe buckles, 3 pr chapes".  Whilst this is the earliest known record of them having sent work for assay, there could be earlier work but the records prior to 25th March 1794 are missing.  They definitely did not send work for assay any time prior to December 1st 1784.  They sent in one pair of tongs for assay on 11th May 1797 and one pair on 18th May 1797.  They then did not send in any tongs for assay until 30th May 1800, when they sent in 14 pairs of tongs.  Another 10 were sent on 30th April 1801, but no more thereafter.

They were not one of the most prolific of silversmiths and generally only sent work in about once per week, and in fairly small quantities (once per month in later years).  They sent the following items for assay:

Note that the first time that they made teaspoons was on 26th August 1800.  This same Assay year they also branched out into one or two other items (Collar & cup). 

Sadly, the last entry for Henry & John Sweet is on 15th October 1803, thereafter entries are made in the name of John Sweet only, the first being on 14th January 1804.  John Sweet then sent work for assay in partnership with Edward Mynard on 31st May 1805.  This is some 11 years before it was previously believed Mynard started work.

This means that there are only 26 known pairs of sugar tongs that were made by Henry & John Sweet.

This is a lovely pair of bright cut tongs, dated c1800.