Morris Afia was born in Constantinople and claimed to be of Spanish nationality. In a 1921 London census, when he was 44 years old, he identified himself as a carpet repairer working on his own account at home. At that time, he was married to Dora Afia, a native of Brăila, Romania and also of Spanish nationality. Dora was 38 years old and tended to “home duties.” The couple had five children. The eldest was Clara, age 15, a native of Constantinople and of Spanish nationality. Clara was listed as an “out of work” carpet repairer. Her younger siblings were Victor Afia, age 13, and Albert Afia, 10, both of whom shared their older sister’s birthplace and nationality. The younger children were Pearl Afia, 8, and Fortune Afia, 1, both natives of Shoreditch and of Spanish nationality. The three middle children were full-time students.

            In 1949, Morris’s son Victor, then age 41, was living at 85 Reading Road, Henley-on-Thames. In May, he sailed from Southampton to New York, listing his profession as “Director.” When he returned from New York to Southampton later the following month, he was in the company of Rose Afia, age 39, who lived with him at 85 Reading Road. Both listed their profession as “antiques.”

            The Afia family’s relationship to carpet repairer Solomon Afia has not been substantiated.