Bearman Gollin (1818/19-1895)
Mary Gollin (née Marks; 1830-1906)

by Evelyn Wilcock

Bearman Gollin (1818/19-1895)Bearman in old age

Bearman in old age

Bearman Gollin was born 1818/9 in Spitalfields, a son of Rabbi Wolf Josephson Gollin of the Hambro Synagogue. When his father died in 1833, the fifteen year old Bearman was taken into the employ of the clothiers Messrs Moses Levy & Co, 2-3 Aldgate. He worked for this company for 37 years.

In about 1841, Bearman was sent to take over their Liverpool branch at 22-24 South Castle Street, which supplied slops (work clothing to seamen). Its previous manager Lyon (Judah) Marks died the following year. On 29 March 1848, Bearman married his predecessor’s youngest daughter, Mary Marks, who was only 18. She too was born in London and is buried with Bearman in Deane Road Cemetery.

Mary’s elderly mother Fanny also became part of the household. Many years earlier, in 1815, her younger brother Solomon Levey had been sent to Australia as a convict. His subsequent pardon and success there encouraged many of his Marks, Levy and later Gollin relatives to follow him to Australia. Bearman and Mary remained in Liverpool, taking responsibility for women, children and business matters left behind. In 1878, Australian success enabled his sons to set up an independent business with Bearman.

Mary Gollin (née Marks, 1830-1906)Mary later in lifeMary later in life

Mary later in life

The synagogue always played an important part in Bearman Gollin’s life. From 1850, he served on the Board of Management of the Liverpool Hebrew Educational Institution. In 1851, he was among the subscribers to a book of two prize essays on the Post-Biblical History of the Jews. Like many Anglo-Jews, Bearman joined the Freemasons and received his certificate on 30 December 1854. He was on the Building Committee for the new Princes Road Synagogue which was opened 3 September 1874 and he served as a warden of the synagogue.

He died on 4 March 1895 at his home in Upper Parliament Street. At his funeral, Rev Friedeberg remarked that, in Bearman, the Jewish faith had a steadfast and conscientious worker, and that his genial and amiable manner made him liked by everyone. Mary survived him by another 11 years, cared for in her old age by a doctor in Southport.

Grave References
Bearman Gollin (1818/19-1895): A 19.06
Mary Gollin (née Marks, his wife; 1830-1906): A 19.07
Baroness Miriam de Menasce (née Gollin, their daughter; 1851-1890): A 19.05
Marcus Gollin (their son; 1856-1874): A 11.04
Edgar Gollin (their son; 1862-1865): 162C