Nehemiah Shumway
Encyclopedia
Nehemiah Shumway was an American
composer
of sacred music. He is best remembered today for two fuguing tunes, "Schenectady" and "Ballstown
," though others, including "Pennsylvania," "Westminster" and "Judgment," are still found in shape note
books in print as of 2009. He is also believed by some to have been the composer of the tune "New Jordan".
Shumway was born in Oxford, Massachusetts
, the youngest of seven children of Amos Shumway and Ruth Parker. He graduated from the College of Rhode Island
in 1790, and became principal of the Freehold Academy in New Jersey
. He is known to have farmed in Schenectady
, Albany
, and Jefferson
counties, New York. His sacred tunebook The American Harmony was published in Philadelphia in 1793 (2nd ed. 1801). (Note: There were several publications of this name in the same period.)
Shumway married Sarah/Sara Tice/Tyse on December 10, 1795. She was baptised in Freehold on July 4, 1773, and died in Lyme, New York
, in 1831. They had four children together, but apparently no further descendants. Shumway died in Freehold Township, New Jersey
in 1843.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of sacred music. He is best remembered today for two fuguing tunes, "Schenectady" and "Ballstown
Ballston, New York
Ballston is a town in Saratoga County, New York, USA. The population was 8,729 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from an early settler, Eliphalet Ball.The Town of Ballston is in the south part of the County and is north of Schenectady....
," though others, including "Pennsylvania," "Westminster" and "Judgment," are still found in shape note
Shape note
Shape notes are a music notation designed to facilitate congregational and community singing. The notation, introduced in 1801, became a popular teaching device in American singing schools...
books in print as of 2009. He is also believed by some to have been the composer of the tune "New Jordan".
Shumway was born in Oxford, Massachusetts
Oxford, Massachusetts
Oxford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,709 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Oxford, please see the article Oxford , Massachusetts.-History:...
, the youngest of seven children of Amos Shumway and Ruth Parker. He graduated from the College of Rhode Island
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1790, and became principal of the Freehold Academy in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He is known to have farmed in Schenectady
Schenectady County, New York
Schenectady County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 154,727. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Schenectady. The name is from a Mohawk Indian word meaning "on the other side of the...
, Albany
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
, and Jefferson
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
counties, New York. His sacred tunebook The American Harmony was published in Philadelphia in 1793 (2nd ed. 1801). (Note: There were several publications of this name in the same period.)
Shumway married Sarah/Sara Tice/Tyse on December 10, 1795. She was baptised in Freehold on July 4, 1773, and died in Lyme, New York
Lyme, New York
Lyme is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 2,185 at the 2010 census.The Town of Lyme is in the northwest part of the county and is west of Watertown.- History :...
, in 1831. They had four children together, but apparently no further descendants. Shumway died in Freehold Township, New Jersey
Freehold Township, New Jersey
Freehold Township is a Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 36,184. Freehold Township was first formed on October 31, 1693, and was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21,...
in 1843.