Nehemiah Shumway (August 26, 1761 – July 1843) was an American composer of sacred music, teacher, and farmer.
[1] He graduated from the College of Rhode Island in 1790, and became principal of the Freehold Academy in New Jersey.
[3] Shumway is best remembered today for two fuguing tunes included in The Sacred Harp, "Schenectady" and "Ballstown," though others, including "Pennsylvania," "Westminster," "Judgment," and "Creation," are still found in shape note books in print as of 2012.
[4] He is also believed by some to have been the composer of the tune "New Jordan" (Sacred Harp p. 442), attributed to him by Ananias Davisson.
[5] His sacred tunebook The American Harmony was published in Philadelphia in 1793 (2nd ed.