There are two Stephen Adams. Stephen Adams I entered his first mark alone in 1760, prior to that he was in partnership with William Jury. He has marks entered up to 1787 and appears to have retired around 1790 and died about 1820. Stephen Adams I never attained his freedom. Stephen Adams II was the son of Stephen Adams I and was free on 6th October 1784, entering his first mark as a buckle-maker on 24th May 1792. He was entering marks up to 1817 and died on 15th July 1840. In trying to identify the correct maker of the two, I would suggest that any item dated prior to 24th May 1792 is Stephen Adams I, thereafter Stephen Adams II. It is virtually certain that both will have been producing silver between 1784 and 1792, from which date Stephen Adams II attained his freedom, and possibly even earlier.

Click on the links below to see tongs by these two makers

Stephen Adams I

Stephen Adams II