L. H. Sigourney

L. H. Sigourney
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Short Name: L. H. Sigourney
Full Name: Sigourney, L. H. (Lydia Howard), 1791-1865
Birth Year: 1791
Death Year: 1865

Sigourney, Lydia, née Huntley. This distinguished name stood at the head of the female poets of America a generation ago, and is still well remembered. Born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1791, she conducted a school in the same town from 1809 to 1814, when she removed to Hartford, where she was married to Charles Sigourney in 1819. Most of her subsequent life was spent at Hartford, and she died there, June 10, 1865. Her first publication was Moral Pieces in Prose and Verse, 1815. This was followed by 58 additional works. A thorough exploration of these, or of such of them are poetical, would be necessary to trace her hymns with accuracy. They, however, are more numerous than important. Many have been used in the older collections; some are still in use, but few are extensively and none are universally so. The principal hymnbooks in which they appeared were the Congregational Village Hymns, 1824; Kipley's Selection, 1829; and the Connecticut Psalms & Hymns, 1845; the Baptist Additional Hymns by Winchell, 1832; and Linsley and Davis's Select Hymns, 1836; and the Universalist's Hymns for Christian Devotion, by Adams & Chapin, 1846.

Her best known hymns chronologically arranged are:—
1. When adverse winds and waves arise. In Affliction. A graceful lyric, possibly inspired by Sir R. Grant's " When gathering clouds around I view."
2. Blest Comforter divine. Whitsuntide. This is one of four hymns by Mrs. Sigourney, which appeared in Nettleton's Village Hymns, 1824, under the signature of "H." It is sometimes altered to "Thou Comforter divine." Her best hymn.
3. We mourn for those who toil. Death and Burial. This poem on "Mistaken Grief" appeared in Cheever's Common Place Book, 1831
4. Choose ye His Cross to bear. Holy Baptism. This was given in Ripley's Selection, 1829-31.
5. Saviour, Thy law we love. Holy Baptism. In Winchell's Additional Hymns, 1832.
6. Onward, onward, men of heaven. Missions. This missionary hymn appeared in three different books in 1833, including the Christian Lyre Supplement, &c.
7. Labourers of Christ, arise. Home Missions. This was contributed, with nine others, by Mrs. Sigourney, to Linsley & Davis's Select Hymns, 1836. This is one of the most widely used of her hymns.
8. Pastor, thou art from us taken. Burial of a Minister. Sung at the funeral of the Rev. G. F. Davis, D.D., circa 1836.
9. Go to thy rest, my [fair] child. Death of a Child. From a Selection from her poems published in London in 1841.
10. Not for the summer hour alone. Holy Matrimony. In the same Selection as No. 9.
11. Where wilt thou put thy trust? Leaning upon God. In the Connecticut Cong. Psalms & Hymns, 1845.
12. Lord, may the spirit of this feast. Holy Communion. In the same as No. 11.
13. We praise Thee if one rescued soul. Temperance Anniversary. In Adams and Chapin's Hymns for Christian Devotion, 1846.
In addition to these hymns there are several others in the collections named above. As, however, they are not repeated in modern hymnbooks they are omitted from this list. We would add that two hymns, not noted above, "Little raindrops feed the rill" (Power of little things), and "There was a noble ark," are in common use in Great Britain; and that a selection of her pieces is given in the Lyra Sacra Americana, London, 1868. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.]

-- Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Sigourney, Lydia, p. 1057, ii. Additional hymns are:
1. We thank Thee, Father, for the day. Sunday. This in Stryker's Church Songs, 1889, is dated 1850.
2. When the parting bosom bleeds. For Use at Sea. From Adams and Chapin's Hymns for Christian Devotion, 1846.
3. Prayer is the dew of faith. Prayer.
4. We praise Thee, Lord, if but one soul. An altered form of her hymn on Temperance (No. 13).

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)


Texts by L. H. Sigourney (114)sort ascendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
Yet who this fearful deed hath wroughtL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
Wrapped in the robe of faithL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
Why wilt thou put thy trustL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
Why wilt thou cast thy careL. H. Sigourney (Author)4
Who knoweth of his safety, LordLydia H. Sigourney (Author)4
Where wilt thou put thy trustL. H. Sigourney (Author)English26
When with unclouded ray Shines the bright sunLydia H. Sigourney (Author)English9
When the parting bosom bleedsMrs. Sigourney (Author)6
When renovating grace beginsLydia H. Sigourney (Author)5
When injured Arfic's captive [captives] claimL. H. Sigourney (Author)4
When adverse winds and waves ariseMrs. Sigourney (Author)English29
We'll not forget to thank youL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
We thank thee, Father, for the dayMrs. L. H. Sigourney (Author)4
We praise Thee, Lord, if but one soulLydia H. Sigourney (Author)English13
We praise Thee, if one rescued soulLydia H. Sigourney (Author)English13
We mourn for those who toilL. H. Sigourney (Author)4
We have a goodly climeLydia H. Sigourney (Author)3
We are the boys who love the truthL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
Watcher! Who wakest by the bed of painL. H. Sigourney (Author)4
Waft not to me the blast of fameL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
Up at the Gospel's glorious soundLydia H. Sigourney (Author)2
'Twas near the close of that blest dayL. H. Sigourney (Author)3
True prayer is not the imposing soundL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
Thy father, why with locks of snowLydia H. Sigourney (Author)3
They dread no storm that lowersLydia H. Sigourney (Author)2
There's a draught that causeth sadnessL. H. Sigourney (Author)3
There was a noble arkLydia H. Sigourney (Author)10
There was a bird like creatureLydia H. Sigourney (Author)2
There sprang a tree of deadly nameLydia H. Sigourney (Author)13
The sun hath [has] gone to restLydia H. Sigourney (Author)12
The long lost [prodigal] son, with streaming eyesLydia H. Sigourney (Author)English38
The mighty angel to whose handSigourney (Author)7
The Lord is on his holy throneMrs. Sigourney (Author)4
The holy dead! why weep ye soMrs. Sigourney (Author)1
The best of days has comeL. H. Sigourney (Author)3
That mighty angel to whose handLydia H. Sigourney (Author)English9
Thanks for the Sabbath's holy rayL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
Temperance, tell the listening worldLydia H. Sigourney (Author)6
Still in the forming hour of youthL. H. Sigourney (Author)3
Servants of Christ, ariseMrs. Lydia H. Sigourney, abr. (Author)English16
Scorn not the darken'd browL. H. Sigourney (Author)English2
Savior, Thy law we loveLydia H. Sigourney (Author)English39
Ruler of the earth and skyL. H. S. (Author)3
Prayer may be sweet in cottage homesLydia H. Sigourney (Author)19
Prayer is the dew of faithLydia H. Sigourney (Author)2
Plants of the heart we bringLydia H. Sigourney (Author)5
Plants of our country's hopeLydia H. Sigourney (Author)3
Philosophy of old her ponderous tomesL. H. Sigourney (Author)3
Peace was the song that [the] angels sangLydia H. Sigourney (Author)5
Pastor, thou art from us takenL. H. Sigourney (Author)English17
Parent, who with speechless feelingLydia H. Sigourney (Author)3
Onward, onward, men of heavenSigourney (Author)English55
Only this once, the wine cup glowedLydia H. Sigourney (Author)10
Oh! lift the hand, and Peace shall bearL. H. Sigourney (Author)English2
O thou who dwellest in the heavens highLydia H. Sigourney (Author)4
O thou who biddest the sunLydia H. Sigourney (Author)3
O if to Afric's sable raceL. H. Sigourney (Author)4
O Christian love, be strong, be strongL. H. Sigourney (Author)English3
Now mercy's light-winged pageL. H. Sigourney (Author)4
Now, is the voice that nature breathesLydia H. Sigourney (Author)English8
Not for the summer's hour aloneL. H. Sigourney (Author)10
Night wraps the realm where Jesus wokeLydia H. Sigourney (Author)3
Native land, in summer smilingLydia H. Sigourney (Author)5
My soul, thy hasty censure spareLydia H. Sigourney (Author)4
My glorious home in heavenL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
My child, look upward to the skyL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
Man hath a voice severeL. H. Sigourney (Author)English2
Lowly and solemn beMrs. Sigourney (Author)English3
Lord, the shades of night surround usL. H. Sigourney (Author)English2
Lord, teach my heart to learnL. H. Sigourney (Author)1
Lord, may the spirit of this feastLydia H. Sigourney (Author)English18
Lord, lead my heart to learnLydia H. Sigourney (Author)16
Little raindrops feed the rillSigourney (Author)English17
Like her who in Samaria's boundH. (Author)5
Laborers of Christ, ariseL. H. Sigourney (Author)English93
It was a fearful nightL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
I saw a little girl, with half uncovered formLydia H. Sigourney (Author)2
Hushed be the battle's fearful roarLydia H. Sigourney (Author)5
Hush, little Christian childLydia H. Sigourney (Author)English8
How hath he loved us, Ask the starL. H. Sigourney (Author)3
How beauteous the morning appearsL. H. Sigourney (Author)3
Home, home, its glorious thresholdLydia H. Sigourney (Author)2
High we raise our hallelujahsMrs. Sigourney (Author)5
Hear, dwellers on the stable landL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
He who spread out the skyL. H. S. (Author)1
Hath the Almighty handsL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
God of the year, with songs of praiseMrs. Sigourney (Author)English16
God of the ever rolling deepL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
God gave to Afric's sonsL. H. Sigourney (Author)4
Go, when the morning shinethMrs. Sigourney (Author)English1
Go to thy rest, my childLydia H. Sigourney (Author)English61
Full flowed Bethesda's mantling poolMrs. Sigourney (Author)2
Fill the Easter font with careLydia H. Sigourney (Author)5
Father, a weary heart hath come to Thee for peaceMrs. Sigourney (1792-1865) (Author)English1
Down to unfathomed depthsL. H. Sigourney (Author)English2
Do the clouds around thee gatherLydia H. Sigourney (Author)2
Die Leiden, welche grausam droh'nLydia H. Sigourney (Author)German2
Dark night away hath rolledLydia H. Sigourney (Author)14
Come see the grassy bed, where our companionL. H. Sigourney (Author)1
Come listening Spirit, comeLydia H. Sigourney (Author)4
Clime beneath whose genial sunLydia H. Sigourney (Author)7
Choose ye His cross to bearSigourney (Author)English14
Check at their fountain headL. H. S. (Author)5
Bright morn hath shut her eyeMrs. Sigourney (Author)1
Blest Comforter divine!Lydia H. Sigourney (Author)English103
At life's early mornL. H. Sigourney (Author)English2
As crushed by sudden storms, the roseL. H. Sigourney (Author)3
As bowed by sudden storms, the roseLydia H. Sigourney (Author)16
Around a table, not a tombL. H. Sigourney (Author)English4
Appear for my defence, my GodL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
And can I yet delayMrs. Lydia Sigourney (Author)English1
All hail, ye servants of the LordLydia H. Sigourney (Author)11
All hail, ye blessed bandL. H. Sigourney (Author)2
Admitted where Thy truths are taughtL. H. Sigourney (Author)5
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