Manuel Fenollosa
Manuel Fenollosa, a Spanish-born musician and composer, immigrated to the U.S. in 1838, where he founded a music school in Salem, contributed to the fundraising for Union soldiers during the Civil War, and composed "The Emancipation Hymn" in support of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment.
Manuel Fenollosa
Burial Location: Amaranth Path Lot # 225/226 Grave #15.
Born in Malaga, Spain to parents Manuel Fenollosa and Isabel Del Pino Fenollosa December 24, 1822, Manuel Fenollosa was a member of a band which came to the United States in 1838 on a US Navy frigate, the United States. His brother in law Manuel Emilio was on the same vessel and was a member of the same band. Once they settled in Salem, they formed another band and started a music school.
Their first concert was held at the home of John P. Jewett. He later published their sheet music and taught them English. This man also published Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
On November 20, 1851, Manuel Fenollosa married Mary Silsbee. They had two sons: Ernest Francisco Fenollosa born in 1853 and William Silsbee Fenollosa born in 1855. Mary died and Manuel married Annie Elizabeth Kinsman on July 26, 1869. This couple had three more sons: Clarence, born in 1870, Sydney, born in 1873 and Manuel Emilio born in 1875.
Manuel Fenollosa was active in fundraising. In 1863, he helped to raise funds for “the monument for the citizens of Salem who were killed in battle or who may die of wounds or disease received while in battle.” This monument, in the Soldiers Lot of Harmony Grove Cemetery is located on the corner of Halidon and Greenwood Avenues and is dedicated to those who gave their lives in defense of the Union. That same year, Fenollosa composed “The Emancipation Hymn, which was dedicated to the Salem Union League.
He had contributed funds for the establishment of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment. Manuel Fenollosa died on January 15, 1878. He is buried at Harmony Grove Cemetery, Amaranth Path, Lot # 225/226 Grave #15.
Sources Consulted:
- Book: A Brave Black Regiment: The History of the 54th Massachusetts, 1863-1865. Luis F. Emilio, Da Capo Press, NY: 1995.
- Internet:
- Ancestry.com/ genealogy/records/ Manuel Fenollosa (1822-1878).
- Cemteryfind.com/Burial/Search Burial/Manuel Fenollosa.
- Genealogywise.com Manuel Fenollosa, Spanish Immigrant to Salem Massachusetts 1838. Heather Wilkinson Royo, Blog, March 13, 2011.
- The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America
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