Joseph Emidy Headstone And Footstone At The Kenwyn Parish Church

A Portland stone headstone and footstone dated 1835, located at Kenwyn Parish Church in Truro.

The headstone is rectangular with a moulded top framing a raised central lozenge containing a garlanded urn in relief. It bears a carved inscription in Roman and italic script, now highlighted in black. The inscription reads: "HERE LIE DEPOSITED / the mortal remains of, / Mr Josh Antonia Emidy / who departed this life, / on the 23rd of April / 1835 / AGED 60 YEARS. / And sacred to whose memory / this tribute of affection is erected / by his surviving family. / He was a native of PORTUGAL, / which Country he quitted about / forty years since; and, pursuing the / Musical profession, resided in / Cornwall until the close of / his earthly career. / Devoted to thy soul-inspiring strains, / Sweet Music! thee he hail'd his chief delight, / And with fond zeal that shunn'd nor toil not pain / His talent soar'd, and genius mark'd its flight / In harmony he liv'd, in peace with all / Took his departure from this world of woe; / And here his rest, till the last Trumpet's call, / Shall 'wake Mankind to joys that endless flow.'"

The footstone has a rounded head and is inscribed "J.A.E / 1835". The headstone has recently been restored.

Joseph Emidy was born in Guinea on the west coast of Africa in 1775. He was sold into slavery to Portuguese traders in 1787 and taken to Brazil, where his owner arranged for him to receive instruction from Jesuit priests. In 1791 he was taken to Lisbon, where his owner, impressed by his interest in music, provided him with a violin and engaged a teacher. Emidy proved so musically gifted that within three to four years of training he secured a place among the second violins of the Lisbon Opera. His circumstances changed dramatically when Captain Sir Edward Pellew, master of HMS Indefatigable, heard him perform at the opera while the ship was in port for repairs. Pellew wanted a fiddle player for his crew and arranged for Emidy to be pressed into service, effectively kidnapping him as he left the Opera house after a performance. Emidy remained on the Indefatigable without shore leave for four years until he was discharged as a free man at Falmouth in 1799.

In Cornwall, Emidy earned his living through music tuition and by organising concerts and musical events. In September 1802 he married Jane (Jenefer) Hutchins, daughter of a respected local tradesman, and they had several children. Though he worked throughout Cornwall, he had close connections with Truro, organising musical events there before moving there with his family in 1815. A sketch made in 1808 showing a musical club, possibly in the Concert Room of Truro's Assembly Building, is the only known portrait of Emidy and is now held in the Royal Cornwall Institute.

Joseph Emidy died on 24 April 1835 and was buried in Kenwyn Church. His fifth son, Richard, is buried beside him. A memorial stone to him was recently erected in front of the Lady Chapel at Falmouth Church.