1818–1883

Introduction

Born: Oc­to­ber 6, 1818, South­old, Long Is­land, New York.

Died: May 20, 1883, Brook­lyn, New York.

Buried: Riv­er­head Ce­me­te­ry, Riv­er­head, New York.

Biography

Silas was the son of Si­las Vail and So­phro­nia Gold­smith. He mar­ried twice: to Sar­ah Jar­vis Ma­ther (De­cem­ber 18, 1839) and Ju­lia Ophel­ia Hill (Jan­ua­ry 24, 1844).

A hat­ter by trade, he stu­died mu­sic un­der Tho­mas Hast­ings. He went on to write a large num­ber of songs for Phil­ip Phil­lips, who was the first to pub­lish Vail’s ti­tles.

Works

Sources

Lyrics

  1. Everywhere with Je­sus
  2. He Will Ev­ery Bur­den Share
  3. Jesus Alone Is Our Hope of Sal­va­tion
  4. Jesus, Bless­ed Je­sus
  5. Only Christ
  6. What Me­mo­ries Are Stirred With­in Me
  7. What Shall It Pro­fit Me Then?
  8. When Christ in Judah’s Land Was born
  9. White as Snow

Music

  1. Blessèd, Bright and Shin­ing Star
  2. Buckley
  3. Burbank
  4. Close to Thee, Hel­en
  5. Daytona
  6. Gate Ajar for Me, The
  7. Guiding Hand, The
  8. He Died for Thee
  9. Homs
  10. I Am the Door
  11. I’m Kneel­ing at the Cross
  12. Lyndhurst
  13. Master’s Work, The
  14. Nothing but Leaves
  15. O Be Saved
  16. Palace of the King, The
  17. Rise We So Joy­ful
  18. Rolla
  19. Royal Songs
  20. Scatter Seeds of Kind­ness
  21. Sow Thy Seed
  22. Szczecin
  23. Where Is Thy Re­fuge?

Help Needed

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Vail (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),