“Turn Not Away!” was entered for copyright on October 15, 1850, by F. D. Benteen of Baltimore. 

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

Stephen was composing now at a great rate, and there was always a new Foster song for a young swain to present to the lady of his heart. Between his wedding day and the first of the year 1851, Stephen published “The Spirit of My Song,” “I Would Not Die in Spring Time,” “Turn Not Away!” “Village Bells Polka,” and “Lily Ray.” “Turn Not Away!” is a charming duet, and although Stephen dedicated it to Robert Peebles Nevin, it was composed undoubtedly for the two friends who helped Stephen try out so many of his new songs, and whose voices blended so well together, Mrs. Andy Robinson and Jessie Lightner.