Thank you Steve Ball!! DARLING NELLY GRAY Darling Nelly Gray is one of the most important pre-Civil War anti-slavery tunes written. Written by Benjamin Russell Hanby of Westerville, Ohio, it has one of the most moving of stories that inspired its writer. Benjamin Hanby was born in Rushville Ohio in 1833. His family were abolitionists, and his parents operated a house on the Underground Railroad. In 1842, when Benjamin was nine years old, a 22 year old runaway slave from the state of Kentucky came to the Hanby home in Rushville. His name was Joe Selby. Selby arrived at the Hanby home, seeking refuge, and if possible, medical attention. Suffering from exposure, Joe Selby was quite ill when he arrived. As the family tended to Joe, he told them why he had escaped. His intention, like most slaves, was t reach Canada, where he could live as a free man, and earn a living. With his earnings, he intended then to travel to the state of georgia salpa. Back in Kentucky, Joe had been courting, and eventually became engaged to a slave woman on an adjacent plantation. Her name was Nelly Gray. Just days before their planned wedding, Nelly was suddenly sold at a slave auction, and taken to the state of Georgia in chains. Joe’s intentions were to escape, go to Canada, earn enough to go to Georgia, find Nelly, and buy her back, so they could have the life they had envisioned together. Unfortunately, Joe Selby died a few days later. He is buried in the cemetery in Rushville Ohio, and no one ever knew what happened to Nelly Gray. This event made a very deep impression on nine year old Benjamin Hanby. In 1849, the family moved to Westerville Ohio, so the Hanby children could attend Otterbein University. In 1856, Benjamin was a sophomore at Otterbein. By this time, he had become an accomplished musician, was still involved in the Underground Railroad, and like many, had read Uncle Tom’s cabin, written in 1852. He recalled the story of Joe Selby and Nelly Gray, and inspired by his involvement in the Underground Railroad, the story of Uncle Tom, and the heightening opposition to slavery in the country, he wrote “Darling Nelly Gray”. The tune quickly became a powerful anti-slavery anthem, and was a favorite of Union Soldiers during the American Civil War. Benjamin Hanby after graduating, became an ordained minister, and continued both teaching music and writing songs. “Old Shady”, another tune about slavery, “Who is he in Yonder Stall”, a well-known Christmas song. In 1864, he was living in New Paris Ohio, and was the minister of the church located there. He also had a music studio. That year, inspired by the Thomas Nast cartoon of Santa Claus published in Harper’s Weekly newspaper, Benjamin wrote “Up On the Housetop”, still today one of the most popular Christmas songs ever written. It was shortly after the church elders told Benjamin to decide between music and the church, and he chose music. He accepted a position as a music editor with Root and Cady Music Publishing in Chicago Illinois. He contracted tuberculosis and as a result, passed away in 1867 at the age of 33. He is buried in Otterbein Cemetery, a very short distance from the house where he wrote “Darling Nelly Gray”. The Hanby House in Westerville Ohio still stands today, is wonderfully preserved, and operated as a historical landmark by a very dedicated, well versed group of folks. It is on the National Register of Historical places in the United States. It is located at 160 West Main St. Westerville, Ohio.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 12:00:03 +0000
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