Jonathan Edwards Spilman (15 April 1812 – 23 May 1896) was a Kentucky lawyer, minister, and composer.
Jonathan Spilman was born in Greenville, Kentucky to Benjamin Spilman and Nancy (Rice) Spilman, and graduated from Illinois College in 1835. While at Transylvania Law School, 1837, he wrote the music for Robert Burns' "Flow gently, sweet Afton", the best remembered of his seven melodies. An adaptation of this music was used for "We Hail Thee Carolina", the alma mater of the University of South Carolina.
He was married to Mary V.J. Menefee, who died prematurely in 1843. Two years later, on 10 April 1845, he married Eliza Sarah Taylor (1822–1866), a niece of U.S. President Zachary Taylor.Family Tree of President Zachary Taylor To them were born ten children, of whom six survived: Charles, Louise, William, Byrd, Clara, and Lewis.SORLEY, Merrow Egerton: Lewis of Warner Hall: the history of a family, including the genealogy of ... His wife Eliza died on 10 August 1866, as the result of a fire aboard the steamboat "Bostona No. 3" in Maysville, Kentucky.Carter, L.D. Burning of Bostona No. 3. Gallipolis Journal. 1866. p. 1."Burning of the Steamer Bostona No. 3." New York Times. August 12, 1866. p. 10.
Working as a lawyer for 18 years, he became a Presbyterian minister at the age of 46. A Historical Marker was erected in the city of Greenville in his memory.
References
Bibliography Hoover, Earl Reese: J.E. Spilman — Kentucky's long-lost composer of a world-famous melody rediscovered. Kentucky State Historical Society, 1968.
External links
The Seven Melodies of Jonathan Edwards Spilman