Samuel Meriton II entered his first mark on 8^th May 1775 as a small-worker. He is known to have died by 1800 when his son George registered his mark. There is no evidence that he was related to Samuel Meriton I. These tongs are cast and of a very early style which makes it a little suspicious that they are by Samuel Meriton II. The other main contender is Samuel Moulton who had actually worked for William Harrison, a known maker of sugar tongs. With the very plain style to the casting and the completely plain bow, these tongs suggest a date earlier than 1775, probably more like 1765, however there are no apparent contenders with this maker's mark working at around that time. This maker's mark bears a very close similarity to that shown in Grimwade and attributed to Samuel Meriton II.