“Laura Lee” was deposited on August 7, 1851. 

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.’”

Later she writes, “In 1851, after the publication of ‘Oh! Boys, Carry Me ’Long,’ Stephen produced ‘My Hopes Have Departed Forever,’ ‘Laura Lee,’ ‘Old Folks at Home,’ a translation of Franz Abt’s ‘In the Eye Abides the Heart’ with the melody arranged by Henry Kleber, ‘Eulalie,’ ‘Farewell, My Lilly Dear,’ and ‘Willie, My Brave’ which was dedicated to Mrs. A. L. Robinson.”