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According to family tradition the Raphaels descend from
Holland, where either -Nathan (Nathale Harwich) or his father
Raphael are said to have been the first Jew to have held muni
cipal office in one of the chief towns of Holland.
There was a certain Dr. Raphael, professor of music, who
came to England in Charles II’s reign; this Dr. Raphael must
however not be confused with Raphael, father of Nathan; they
may possibly have been related, but there is nothing to prove it.
Dr. Raphael had a daughter Eva, who lived 105 years, being born
in London 1688/89, died in Oxford 1793 94; at 12 years old she
married her first husband Davis, and when 21 she married Bar
nett. Her daughter Sarah Barnett, who married Henry Isaacs
of Oxford in 1762 had 20 children.
Raphael Raphael (Joseph b’r Nathan) started the firm in
company with his future son-in-law, under the name of Raphael
& Joseph, latter soon died, and the firm’s name was changed to
R. Raphael & Sons.
On the fly-leaf of a Hebrew Bible (Machsor) kept among the
family papers at the office of R. Raphael & Sons, there are in
scriptions written in Hebrew in the handwriting of Raphael
Raphael giving the dates of his own parents’ death and the
parents of his wife:
»1 grieve for the death of my honoured mother Shinah, wife of
Nathan Raphael, who departed this life Nov. 5th 1787 (Heschvan
12th 5548).
»Also for the death of my honoured father, Nathan b’r Raphael, who
departed this life on Wednesday the eve of New Year, & was
buried on Friday, the 2nd day of the new year 5569, age 82.
(In English is added) Ob. 21 Sept. 1808, 5 o’clock p.m.
»Also for Moses, son of Asher, who departed this life ¿Gu/DfeemiL5™»
at 5 o’clock in the morning.