Familieminder

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.