John Mearbeck (1838-1922) was the son of Thomas Mearbeck (d. 16 May 1854, aged 74) and his wife, Elizabeth.  His father was a lead and glass merchant, who lived in Mount Pisgah.  By 1861, John was working as a cutlery merchant’s clerk, but by 1871 was enumerated in the Census as a farmer working 95 acres, with the help of three labourers.  He returned to the cutlery industry, however, and in 1879 advertised in Pawson & Brailsford’s Illustrated Guide (1879) as a manufacturer of ‘secure handle’ table cutlery and as ‘successor’ to George Newbould and Luke Booth.  In the 1881 Census, his workforce was enumerated as 25 men, eight women, three boys, and one girl.  However, in the following year he was bankrupt with debts of £1,857 against assets of £506.  Apparently, he continued to work as a manager in the cutlery industry.  By the turn of the century, however, his wife Dorah was a ‘company house keeper’ on her own account in Blackpool and possibly John had moved there.  John Mearbeck died at Deakin’s Walk, Ranmoor, on 30 March 1922, aged 84.  He was a retired insurance agent.  Dora died at the same address in 1925.  They were buried at Crookes Cemetery.