Profile Text
Hart in 2013, photo by Joe Seer /www.bigstockphoto.com
Place of Birth: Smithtown, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: April 18, 1976
Ethnicity: English, Irish, German, one quarter Slovenian, one eighth Ashkenazi Jewish, Welsh
Melissa Joan Hart is an American actress, producer, director, fashion designer, singer, and businessperson. She starred on the show Sabrina the Teenage Witch and in the film Drive Me Crazy (1999).
Melissa is the daughter of Paula Hart, a producer and talent manager, and William Hart, a carpenter, shellfish purveyor, oyster hatchery worker and farmer, and entrepreneur. Among her siblings is actress Emily Hart. She grew up in Sayville, New York. Melissa is married to musician Mark Wilkerson, with whom she has three children.
Her father has English, Irish, German, and Welsh, ancestry. Her mother is of one half Slovenian, one quarter Ashkenazi Jewish, and one quarter German, ancestry.
Melissa is a practicing Christian.
An AncestryDNA test whose results Melissa displayed on Ancestry.com stated that her genetic ancestry includes:
*12% Germanic Europe *12% Northwestern Germany *10% Northwestern Balkans *8% Slovenia
*12% Germanic Europe *12% Northwestern Germany *10% Northwestern Balkans *8% Slovenia
Melissa’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced to her great-great-great-grandfather, Moses Brush Hart, who was born, c. 1809, and to his parents, Lemuel Hart and Tabitha Darling. Moses was a shipbuilder, on the north shore of Long Island.
Melissa’s paternal grandfather was William L. Hart, Jr. (the son of William L. Hart and Anna P. Lewis). Melissa’s grandfather William ran Hart’s Tavern. Melissa’s great-grandfather William was the son of Milton Hart and Hannah E. Skidmore. Anna was the daughter of Cornelius Lewis and Elizabeth M. Grace.
Melissa’s paternal grandmother was Ethel L. Schaffer (the daughter of John Schaffer and Catherine L.). John was the son of Peter W. Schaefer and Susana Eichler.
Melissa’s maternal grandfather was Stanley John Voje (the son of Frank Voje and Angenia/Angela Košak). Stanley was born in Pennsylvania, to Slovenian parents. Frank was born in Litija, the son of Frank Woje/Voje and Julia/Ana Štrus/Strusse. Angela was born in Jarše, Ljubljana, the daughter of Thomas/Tomaž Košak and Anna Pestotnik/Pertodnick.
Melissa’s maternal grandmother was Joan M. Laderwager (the daughter of Matthew Nathan Laderwager/Lederwarger and Elsie/Elizabeth Fieger/Feiger). Joan was born in New York. Matthew was born in Kiev, Russian Empire, to a Jewish family, and was the son of Hyman Lederwager, from Daschev; and of Braine/Bessie Segal/Siegel, whose family was from Radyvyliv, Rivne, Ukraine. Melissa’s great-grandmother Elsie was born in New York, the daughter of Otto Fieger/Feiger, who was German, from Hamburg; and of Lena/Magdalena Hebenstreit/Hebenstrait/Habenstein, who was born in New York, to German parents.
Sources: Genealogy of Melissa Joan Hart – https://www.geni.com
Obituary of Melissa’s maternal grandfather, Stanley John Voje – http://www.legacy.com
Marriage record of Melissa’s great-grandparents, Frank Voje and Angenia/Angela Košak – https://familysearch.org
Melissa’s maternal grandmother, Joan M. Laderwager, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Melissa’s maternal great-grandmother, Elsie/Elizabeth Fieger/Feiger, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org Elsie/Elizabeth Fieger/Feiger on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Melissa’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Otto Fieger/Feiger and Lena/Magdalena Hebenstreit/Hebenstrait/Habenstein, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Melissa’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Otto Fieger/Feiger – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Melissa’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Lena/Magdalena (Hebenstreit/Hebenstrait/Habenstein) Fieger – https://www.familysearch.org