Joshua Smith (minister)
Encyclopedia
Joshua Smith was an early American hymn
compiler and Baptist
minister in New Hampshire
, USA.
Smith was born in 1760 and was a Baptist lay minister in New Hampshire. Smith authored Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs, a book of hymns first published in either 1784 or 1791 featuring and popularizing well-known folk songs such as "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
". The book was published in Norwich and Exeter, New Hampshire
. By 1803 at least eleven more editions were published. Many of his pieces were set to music by Jeremiah Ingalls
, another New England
composer. Smith lived in Canaan
and Brentwood, New Hampshire
, where he was active in the local Baptist congregations. Smith died of consumption
in 1795.
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
compiler and Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, USA.
Smith was born in 1760 and was a Baptist lay minister in New Hampshire. Smith authored Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs, a book of hymns first published in either 1784 or 1791 featuring and popularizing well-known folk songs such as "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree is a poem written by an unknown New Englander in the 18th century. It has been set to music by a number of composers, including Jeremiah Ingalls and Elizabeth Poston ....
". The book was published in Norwich and Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
. By 1803 at least eleven more editions were published. Many of his pieces were set to music by Jeremiah Ingalls
Jeremiah Ingalls
Jeremiah Ingalls was born Andover, Massachusetts March 1, 1764 and died in Hancock, Vermont, April 6, 1838. He was one of the first American composers, and is considered among the First New England School.-Biography:...
, another New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
composer. Smith lived in Canaan
Canaan, New Hampshire
Canaan is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,909 at the 2010 census. It is the location of Mascoma State Forest...
and Brentwood, New Hampshire
Brentwood, New Hampshire
Brentwood is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 4,486. Brentwood has been the county seat of Rockingham County since 1997...
, where he was active in the local Baptist congregations. Smith died of consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in 1795.