James and Flora (Flora and Jim, The United Lovers)

DESCRIPTION: Flora asks James to leave sailing. He won't. She breaks a ring and gives half to him. She dresses as a sailor and follows him until he is discharged. She tells the captain the story. The captain gives them gold to get married.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1863 (broadside, Bodleian Firth c.12(254))
KEYWORDS: courting marriage ring promise cross-dressing sea ship brokentoken lover sailor money reunion disguise
FOUND IN: Canada(Newf) US(NE)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Peacock, pp. 190-191, "Flora and Jim" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ashton-RealSailorSongs, p. 67, "James and Flora or The United Lovers" (1 text)
Lane/Gosbee-SongsOfShipsAndSailors, pp.22-23, "True Lovers Bold" (1 text, 1 tune, from separate sources)
Roud #1701
RECORDINGS:
Alphonse Sutton, "Young Flora" (on MUNFLA/Leach)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Firth c.12(254), "James and Flora," H. Such (London), 1849-1862; also Harding B 11(3887), "James and Flora"; Firth b.26(446), "James and Flora" or "The United Lovers"; 2806 c.15(60)[some illegible words], Firth c.12(256), "James and Flora United"
Murray, Mu23-y2:048, "James and Flora" unknown (Glasgow), 19C
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Disguised Sailor (The Sailor's Misfortune and Happy Marriage; The Old Miser)" [Laws N6] (plot)
File: Pea190

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