DANIEL RADCLIFFE'S SOUTH AFRICAN FAMILY CONNECTION
The British actor, Daniel RADCLIFFE, star of the Harry Potter movies, has some South African roots, as well as Polish, Russian, Jewish and Northern Irish roots. Daniel's maternal grandfather was South African, and his mother was born in South Africa. According to Daniel, his grandfather was not a pleasant man, and his grandmother fled with their 2-year-old daughter to England on a South African Airways flight in 1960.
Daniel Jacob RADCLIFFE was born on 23 July 1989 at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, London, the only child of Alan George RADCLIFFE (literary agent, and originally from Northern Ireland) and Marcia Gresham JACOBSON (casting agent). They were married in 1984 in London. Alan is the son of Teddy RADCLIFFE and Elsie May. Marcia was born in 1958 in South Africa, and was raised in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. She used the GRESHAM surname instead of JACOBSON. She was a talented ballerina, having won 10 trophies and several medals by the age of 11. Her parents, Wilfred JACOBSON and Muriel Jean Patricia GRESHAM, were married in 1956 in Paddington, London. Muriel was born on 10 May 1922 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, the daughter of Samuel GERSHON and Raie Diana JACOBS. Wilfred was the son of S.H. JACOBSON. Muriel sailed to South Africa from London on 05 March 1957 onboard the "City of Durban". Her address in the ship's passenger list was given as 2 Milton Court, Station Rd, Westcliff, England. Wilfred and Muriel divorced in South Africa in 1958. She uses the name Patricia and lives in Essex, where she is an artist. There is a Wilfred JACOBSON who was born 18 Sept 1919 and died in 1994 in South Africa, divorced, but I have not yet confirmed that it is the same person as Daniel's grandfather.
There was a Wilfred JACOBSON, age 20, who sailed from Durban on the "Pretoria Castle", arriving in Southampton on 18 Jan 1952. Other passenger lists show Isaac Wilfred JACOBSON, age 42, sailed on the "Stirling Castle" from Durban, arriving in Southampton on 06 May 1938. He sailed agin, age 52, from Durban on the "Cape Town Castle", arriving in Southampton on 19 Mar 1948. He sailed again from Durban on the same ship, arriving in Southampton on 25 Apr 1952.
But impossible to know the ancestors of his father at the moment, apart from the famous "Great Uncle Ernie" killed in action during the Battle of Loos in France and his grandmother Elsie May Radcliffe (wife of the late Teddy Radcliffe), died in 2008.
Daniel's paternal grandmother was Elsie May, born in Banbridge. She lived in Cline Walk and died on 02 October 2008 at Craigavon Hospital, after taking ill at a church concert. Some of her family live in the Dromore area. Elsie is survived by her daughter Linda MCWILLIAMS (Dromore, married to Drew), son Alan (married to Marcia), three grandchildren Daniel, Stephen and Philip, and two sisters Jean WYLIE (Banbridge) and Eileen REID (Tandragee). Alan was a former pupil of Banbridge High School.
Daniel's great-uncle, Ernie, on his father's side, died at the Battle of Loos in France during World War I. Daniel played the role of Jack KIPLING, the 18-year-old son of writer Rudyard KIPLING, killed in the same battle. This was the ITV1 drama My Boy Jack.
Samuel GERSHON was a jeweller, born in 1894 in Hackney, London to Louis GERSHON and Jessie LIPMAN. Louis and Jessie married circa 1886, and emigrated from Eastern Europe to England, via Cape Town. Their children, John, Annie and Julia were born in South Africa. Louis was born in 1861 in the town of Wreschen by Posen, Germany, and died in 1919 in Hackney, London. Jessie was born in 1864 in Lurig, Poland, and died in 1941 in Hendon, Middlesex.
1901 England Census
Street Address: 93 Downs Road, Hackney
Lewis GERSHON, age 42, born circa 1859 in Germany, dealer in jewellery
Jessy GERSHON, age 36, born circa 1865 in Russia
John GERSHON, age 14, born circa 1887 in Cape Town, South Africa
Annie GERSHON, age 12, born circa 1889 in Kimberley, South Africa
Julia GERSHON, age 10, born circa 1891 in the Orange Free State, South Africa
Samuel GERSHON, age 7, born circa 1894 in Hackney, London
Alfred GERSHON, age 5, born circa 1896 in Hackney, London
Marie GERSHON, age 3, born circa 1898 in Hackney, London
David GERSHON, age 4 months, born circa 1900 in Hackney, London
Lizzie HANNON, age 26, born circa 1875 in Southampton, domestic servant
Lily GREEN, age 22, born circa 1879 in Hackney, London, domestic servant
1911 England Census
Street Address: 138 Clapton Common, Hackney
Louis GERSHON, age 50, born circa 1861 in Germany, diamond merchant.
Jessie GERSHON, age 47, born circa 1864 in Russia
Annie GERSHON, age 22, born circa 1889 in Kimberley, South Africa
Julia GERSHON, age 20, born circa 1891
Samuel GERSHON, age 17, born circa 1894, jewellers's apprentice
Alfred GERSHON, age 15, born circa 1896 in London, jeweller's apprentice
Marie GERSHON, age 13, born circa 1898 in London, scholar
Edward GERSHON, age 11, born circa 1900 in London, scholar
Gladys GERSHON, age 7, born circa 1904 in London, scholar
Harry GERSHON, infant, born circa 1911 in London
Gertie STREETER, age 15, born circa 1896 in London, domestic servant
Caroline TAYLOR, age 29, born circa 1882 in Walthamstow, domestic servant
Samuel GERSHON married Raie Diana JACOBS in 1921 in Rochford, Essex. She was born on 14 Sept 1895, the daughter of Emmanuel JACOBS, a fruit salesman. Samuel died in 1936 in Hertfordshire. Raie died in 1977 at Southend-on-Sea. Emmanuel was born 1867/8, the son of Charles Abraham JACOBS, a greengrocer, and his wife Miriam. Emmanuel married Julia JACOBS, the daughter of Frederick JACOBS, a fruiterer of Brixton, and his wife Sarah. Emmanuel died in 1937 in Essex.
1901 England Census
Street Address: 22 Tavistock Place, St Giles
Emanuel JACOBS, age 33, born circa 1868 in Strand, London, fruit salesman
Julia JACOBS, age 28, born circa 1873 in Strand, London
Maire JACOBS, age 6, born circa 1895 in Strand, London
Sadie JACOBS, age 5, born circa 1896 in Strand, London
Raie JACOBS, age 3, born circa 1898 in Strand, London
Charles JACOBS, age 5 weeks, born circa 1901 in St Pancras, London
1881 England Census
Street Address: 60A Atlantic Road with 1 and 2 Vining Street
Frederick JACOBS, age 34, born circa 1847 in St Giles, Middlesex, Fruiterer (Master, employing 2 men and 1 boy)
Sarah JACOBS, age 36, born circa 1845 in Covent Garden, Middlesex
Julia JACOBS, age 9, born circa 1872 in Covent Garden, Middlesex, Scholar
Hannah JACOBS, age 7, born circa 1874 in Covent Garden, Middlesex, Scholar
Louisa JACOBS, age 4, born circa 1877 in Covent Garden, Middlesex
Adelaide JACOBS, age 2, born circa 1879 in Covent Garden, Middlesex
Annie YOUNG, age 22, born circa 1859 in Windsor, Berkshire, Nurse Domestic Servant
Eliza EDWARDS, age 20, born circa 1861 in Scotland, General Servant
Sophia PHILLIPS, age 18, born circa 1863 in Middlesex City, Middlesex, Visitor
1911 England Census
Street Address: 15 Long Acre W C, Strand
Charles Abraham JACOBS, age 73, born circa 1838 in Cove
Mariam JACOBS, age 68, born circa 1843 in Field
Henry JACOBS, age 38, born circa 1873 in Cove, Commission Agent
Hannah Elizabeth JACOBS, age 28, born circa 1883 in Cove, Home Assistant
Marie Rose JACOBS, age 25, born circa 1886 in Cove, Dressmaker
Lillian Maud JACOBS, age 23, born circa 1888 in St Martins, Milliner
Gladyse OVERTON, age 17, born circa 1894 in Stow, Domestic Servant
In an unrelated (so far) story, a real Harry POTTER died on 27 July 1910 at the age of 46 in South Africa. He was buried in the Cradock Cemetery. He was the husband of Blanche Elizabeth BRUCE, who died on 29 December 1942 at the age of 82. The inscription on the tombstone reads: "In Sacred Memory of Harry Potter - died July 27 1910. Aged 47 years. I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." This Harry was related to the 1820 British Settlers.
There is also a Harry POTTER near Tel Aviv. Corporal Harry POTTER was a 19-year-old British soldier in the Royal Worcestershire Regiment, who died in 1939 during fighting in Hebron and was buried in Ramle, south of Tel Aviv.
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Daniel and his mother. Image from fanpop.com |
Daniel and his father |
But impossible to know the ancestors of his father at the moment, apart from the famous "Great Uncle Ernie" killed in action during the Battle of Loos in France and his grandmother Elsie May Radcliffe (wife of the late Teddy Radcliffe), died in 2008.
Daniel's paternal grandmother was Elsie May, born in Banbridge. She lived in Cline Walk and died on 02 October 2008 at Craigavon Hospital, after taking ill at a church concert. Some of her family live in the Dromore area. Elsie is survived by her daughter Linda MCWILLIAMS (Dromore, married to Drew), son Alan (married to Marcia), three grandchildren Daniel, Stephen and Philip, and two sisters Jean WYLIE (Banbridge) and Eileen REID (Tandragee). Alan was a former pupil of Banbridge High School.
Daniel's great-uncle, Ernie, on his father's side, died at the Battle of Loos in France during World War I. Daniel played the role of Jack KIPLING, the 18-year-old son of writer Rudyard KIPLING, killed in the same battle. This was the ITV1 drama My Boy Jack.
Samuel GERSHON was a jeweller, born in 1894 in Hackney, London to Louis GERSHON and Jessie LIPMAN. Louis and Jessie married circa 1886, and emigrated from Eastern Europe to England, via Cape Town. Their children, John, Annie and Julia were born in South Africa. Louis was born in 1861 in the town of Wreschen by Posen, Germany, and died in 1919 in Hackney, London. Jessie was born in 1864 in Lurig, Poland, and died in 1941 in Hendon, Middlesex.
1901 England Census
Street Address: 93 Downs Road, Hackney
Lewis GERSHON, age 42, born circa 1859 in Germany, dealer in jewellery
Jessy GERSHON, age 36, born circa 1865 in Russia
John GERSHON, age 14, born circa 1887 in Cape Town, South Africa
Annie GERSHON, age 12, born circa 1889 in Kimberley, South Africa
Julia GERSHON, age 10, born circa 1891 in the Orange Free State, South Africa
Samuel GERSHON, age 7, born circa 1894 in Hackney, London
Alfred GERSHON, age 5, born circa 1896 in Hackney, London
Marie GERSHON, age 3, born circa 1898 in Hackney, London
David GERSHON, age 4 months, born circa 1900 in Hackney, London
Lizzie HANNON, age 26, born circa 1875 in Southampton, domestic servant
Lily GREEN, age 22, born circa 1879 in Hackney, London, domestic servant
1911 England Census
Street Address: 138 Clapton Common, Hackney
Louis GERSHON, age 50, born circa 1861 in Germany, diamond merchant.
Jessie GERSHON, age 47, born circa 1864 in Russia
Annie GERSHON, age 22, born circa 1889 in Kimberley, South Africa
Julia GERSHON, age 20, born circa 1891
Samuel GERSHON, age 17, born circa 1894, jewellers's apprentice
Alfred GERSHON, age 15, born circa 1896 in London, jeweller's apprentice
Marie GERSHON, age 13, born circa 1898 in London, scholar
Edward GERSHON, age 11, born circa 1900 in London, scholar
Gladys GERSHON, age 7, born circa 1904 in London, scholar
Harry GERSHON, infant, born circa 1911 in London
Gertie STREETER, age 15, born circa 1896 in London, domestic servant
Caroline TAYLOR, age 29, born circa 1882 in Walthamstow, domestic servant
Samuel GERSHON married Raie Diana JACOBS in 1921 in Rochford, Essex. She was born on 14 Sept 1895, the daughter of Emmanuel JACOBS, a fruit salesman. Samuel died in 1936 in Hertfordshire. Raie died in 1977 at Southend-on-Sea. Emmanuel was born 1867/8, the son of Charles Abraham JACOBS, a greengrocer, and his wife Miriam. Emmanuel married Julia JACOBS, the daughter of Frederick JACOBS, a fruiterer of Brixton, and his wife Sarah. Emmanuel died in 1937 in Essex.
1901 England Census
Street Address: 22 Tavistock Place, St Giles
Emanuel JACOBS, age 33, born circa 1868 in Strand, London, fruit salesman
Julia JACOBS, age 28, born circa 1873 in Strand, London
Maire JACOBS, age 6, born circa 1895 in Strand, London
Sadie JACOBS, age 5, born circa 1896 in Strand, London
Raie JACOBS, age 3, born circa 1898 in Strand, London
Charles JACOBS, age 5 weeks, born circa 1901 in St Pancras, London
1881 England Census
Street Address: 60A Atlantic Road with 1 and 2 Vining Street
Frederick JACOBS, age 34, born circa 1847 in St Giles, Middlesex, Fruiterer (Master, employing 2 men and 1 boy)
Sarah JACOBS, age 36, born circa 1845 in Covent Garden, Middlesex
Julia JACOBS, age 9, born circa 1872 in Covent Garden, Middlesex, Scholar
Hannah JACOBS, age 7, born circa 1874 in Covent Garden, Middlesex, Scholar
Louisa JACOBS, age 4, born circa 1877 in Covent Garden, Middlesex
Adelaide JACOBS, age 2, born circa 1879 in Covent Garden, Middlesex
Annie YOUNG, age 22, born circa 1859 in Windsor, Berkshire, Nurse Domestic Servant
Eliza EDWARDS, age 20, born circa 1861 in Scotland, General Servant
Sophia PHILLIPS, age 18, born circa 1863 in Middlesex City, Middlesex, Visitor
1911 England Census
Street Address: 15 Long Acre W C, Strand
Charles Abraham JACOBS, age 73, born circa 1838 in Cove
Mariam JACOBS, age 68, born circa 1843 in Field
Henry JACOBS, age 38, born circa 1873 in Cove, Commission Agent
Hannah Elizabeth JACOBS, age 28, born circa 1883 in Cove, Home Assistant
Marie Rose JACOBS, age 25, born circa 1886 in Cove, Dressmaker
Lillian Maud JACOBS, age 23, born circa 1888 in St Martins, Milliner
Gladyse OVERTON, age 17, born circa 1894 in Stow, Domestic Servant
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Harry Potter in Cradock |
There is also a Harry POTTER near Tel Aviv. Corporal Harry POTTER was a 19-year-old British soldier in the Royal Worcestershire Regiment, who died in 1939 during fighting in Hebron and was buried in Ramle, south of Tel Aviv.