I'm not sure which was the original, but this 1844 edition bears the composer's name; (1) at Levy, (2) at American Memory.

(1) Title: Miss Lucy Neale (A Favorite Ethiopian Song).
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Written, Sung, & Dedicated to His friends of his own native city, Philadelphia, by James Sanford, The Celebrated Negro Singer & Dancer.
Publication: Philadelphia: A. Fiot, 196 Chesnut St., 1844.
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: I was born in Alabama, My master's name was Meal
First Line of Chorus: Oh! poor Lucy Neale, Oh! poor Lucy Neale

(2) Miss Lucy Neale, a favorite Ethiopian song / by James Sanford (Philadelphia: A. Fiot, 1844)

On James Sanford (1814-1855), click here (with a portrait): "James Sanford, born in Philadelphia in 1814, was one of the first generation of minstrel performers. He performed with the Virginia Serenaders."