Martin Gore
photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Martin Lee Bellem
Place of Birth: Hammersmith, London, England, U.K.
Date of Birth: 23 July, 1961
Ethnicity:
*father – African-American
*mother – English, some Cornish, one eighth Sephardi Jewish
Martin Gore is a British songwriter, musician, singer, record producer, and DJ. He is a founding member of electronic music band Depeche Mode. Dave Gahan is also a member of the band.
Martin’s father was African-American, and had met Martin’s mother, Pamela Margaret (Bellem), a white English woman, while he was stationed in the U.K. as a G.I. Martin was raised by his mother and stepfather David Gore. They worked at the Ford of Britain motor plant in Dagenham.
Martin is married to Kerrilee Kaski. He has three children with his former wife, lingerie designer and model Suzanne Boisvert; and a daughter with Kerrilee.
Martin’s maternal grandfather was John Charles Plant Bellem (the son of Charles Bellem and Mary Ann Plant). John was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland (now Tyne and Wear). Martin’s great-grandfather Charles was the son of Isaac Bellem, who was Sephardi Jewish, from Dartmouth, Devon, and of Elizabeth Ann Truan, who was Cornish, from Gerrans. Martin’s great-grandmother Mary Ann was the daughter of William Plant and Mary Ann Nicholls.
Martin’s maternal grandmother was Amelia Harriett Beckwith (the daughter of Samuel Henry Beckwith and Mary Ann Elizabeth Parsons). Amelia was born in Bromley, Greater London. Samuel was the son of Samuel Beckwith and Elizabeth Ellen Kemsley. Martin’s great-grandmother Mary Ann Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas Parsons and Mary Ann Todd.
Sources: Birth record of Martin Gore – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Martin’s mother – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Martin’s maternal grandparents, John Charles Plant Bellem and Amelia Harriett Beckwith – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Martin’s maternal grandfather, John Charles Plant Bellem – https://www.myheritage.com
Martin’s maternal grandfather, John Charles Plant Bellem, on the 1911 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Baptismal record of Martin’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Ann Truan – https://www.familysearch.org
Martin’s maternal great-grandmother, Mary Ann Plant, on the 1881 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Baptismal record of Martin’s maternal great-great-grandfather, William Plant – https://www.familysearch.org
Baptismal record of Martin’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Mary Ann Nicholls – https://www.familysearch.org
Martin’s maternal grandmother, Amelia Harriett Beckwith, on the 1911 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Martin’s maternal grandmother, Amelia Harriett (Beckwith) Bellem – https://www.myheritage.com
Baptismal record of Martin’s maternal great-grandmother, Mary Ann Elizabeth Parsons – https://www.familysearch.org
Pamela’s birth name is Pamela Margaret (Bellem), and is now deceased.
Martin’s maternal grandfather was John Charles Plant Bellem (the son of Charles Bellem and Mary Ann Plant). John was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland (now Tyne and Wear). Charles was the son of Isaac Bellem, who was Sephardi Jewish, from Dartmouth, Devon, and of Elizabeth Ann Truan, who was Cornish, from Gerrans. Mary was the daughter of William Plant and Mary Ann Nicholls.
Martin’s maternal grandmother was Amelia Harriett Beckwith (the daughter of Samuel Henry Beckwith and Mary Ann Elizabeth Parsons). Amelia was born in Bromley, Greater London. Samuel was the son of Samuel Beckwith and Elizabeth Ellen Kemsley. Martin’s great-grandmother Mary was the daughter of Thomas Parsons and Mary Ann Todd.
Birth record of Martin’s mother – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVQF-DGKB
Marriage record of Martin’s maternal grandparents, John Charles Plant Bellem and Amelia Harriett Beckwith – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZ5-WKLZ
Martin’s maternal grandfather, John Charles Plant Bellem, on the 1911 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWCC-PR6
Genealogy of Martin’s maternal grandfather, John Charles Plant Bellem – https://www.myheritage.com/person-4500279_823865581_823865581/john-charles-plant-bellem
Baptismal record of Martin’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Ann Truan – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLK-19V4
Baptismal record of Martin’s maternal great-great-grandfather, William Plant – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3L-2HJ1
Baptismal record of Martin’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Mary Ann Nicholls – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3R-8P81
Martin’s maternal great-grandmother, Mary Ann Plant, on the 1881 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27X-16Q2
Martin’s maternal grandmother, Amelia Harriett Beckwith, on the 1911 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWPC-HFZ
Genealogy of Martin’s maternal grandmother, Amelia Harriett (Beckwith) Bellem – https://www.myheritage.com/person-3003551_177740011_177740011/amelia-harriett-beckwith
Baptismal record of Martin’s maternal great-grandmother, Mary Ann Elizabeth Parsons – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68VJ-PFKX
His birth name is Martin Lee Bellem. His last name was changed to Gore then his mother got married.
Birth record of Martin Gore – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV7P-SCQB
@neiltennant
(his father must have been half black i guess)
Have to disagree,he doesn’t have to be half.It does increase the chance of a white baby,but it’s not necessary.
People who are ~50/50 Sub-Saharan DNA and European DNA usually look a certain way with hair texture, skin color, eye color, and hair color. To have a white-appearing child, that child needs to have mostly European DNA. So it totally makes sense that Martin’s dad was biracial or mixed. The exception would a mostly Black parent who is an albino.
Persia White (biracial) with her White Appearing Daughter (White father):
http://www.filmmagic.com/photos/Persia-White-and-daughter-arrive-at-PETAs-30th-Anniversary-Gala-and/139348446
Victoria Rowell (biracial) with her White Appearing Daughter (White father):
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/victoria-rowell-and-daughter-maya-news-photo/81159273?adppopup=true
There would be a whole lot more people like him in the UK,if they hadn’t shipped all those babies out in the 40’s to the U.S.Only the ones who could pass for white,were allowed to stay.
I doubt that. They allowed lots of Afro-Caribbeans (as well as Indian and Pakistanis) to come in to Britain from the late 40s onwards.
@Ses101
You can doubt all you want. However ones that look white like him,You wouldn’t know they were part black unless they told you. Even Martin didn’t know he was part black