“Farewell Old Cottage” was entered for copyright deposit on March 22, 1851, by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York. 

According to Evelyn Foster Mornweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family:

Despite all this domestic confusion, Stephen was writing some good songs; before he rented his office on July 28, 1851, he had composed at home the following: “Give the Stranger Happy Cheer,” “Melinda May,” “Wilt Thou Be Gone, Love?” “Sweetly She Sleeps, My Alice Fair,” “Mother, Thou’rt Faithful to Me,” “Farewell, Old Cottage,” “Once I Loved Thee, Mary Dear,” “Ring de Banjo,” “I Would Not Die in Summer Time,” “Laura Lee,” and “Oh! Boys, Carry Me ’Long.”