Aaron Burkinshaw was born in England and served his apprenticeship in the factories of Sheffield. He became a skilled workman, and soon married Elizabeth Bird. In 1848, he brought his wife to the U.S. He first settled in Connecticut, and was employed in a knife factory. (this was probably the Waterville Manufacturing Company) About 1853 he opened a factory of his own in Buryville, Connecticut. In 1856, he was in Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut, listed in the New England Business Directory under “Cutlers”. In 1856 he moved to Pepperell, Massachusetts and opened a business there. The first products of his firm were pen and pocket knives. Burkinshaw used the trademark “Exile”. The Burkinshaws had two sons, Fred and Charles. Both followed their father in the cutlery business. After Aaron Burkinshaw passed away in 1881, they continued to run the family business. Fred Burkinshaw eventually purchased his brothers’ share in the company. In 1898, Fred Burkinshaw died. His widow, along with Charles Burkinshaw and Alta Shattuck continued to run the business for several years. Two employees, Harry Foster and Eddie Glow ran the company until about 1920 when they went out of business.
c 1881-1920