Jack Williams [Laws L17]

DESCRIPTION: Jack Williams, a boatman, meets a fine young girl. He turns to robbery to support her. He is captured and sent to prison; she scorns him, saying "I hate thievish company." He is sentenced (to transportation/execution) (but escapes and vows to avoid women)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1916
KEYWORDS: crime prison trial transportation courting
FOUND IN: US(MW) Britain(England) Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (9 citations):
Laws L17, "Jack Williams"
Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Mi 538, "Boatman" (1 text)
Mackenzie-BalladsAndSeaSongsFromNovaScotia 114, "Jack Williams" (1 text)
Eddy-BalladsAndSongsFromOhio 62, "Jack Williams" (1 text)
Gardner/Chickering-BalladsAndSongsOfSouthernMichigan 136, "Jack Williams" (1 text, 1 tune)
Pound-AmericanBalladsAndSongs, 67, pp. 152-153, "Jack Williams" (1 text)
Forget-Me-Not-Songster, pp. 112-113, "Jack Williams" (1 text)
DT 572, JCKWLLM
ADDITIONAL: James P. Leary, Compiler and Annotator, _Wisconsin Folklore_ University of Wisconsin Press, 2009, article "Kentucky Folksong in Northern Wisconsin" by Asher E. Treat, p. 232, "I am a Bo's'n by My Trade (1 text, 1 tune, sung by Pearl Jacobs Borusky)
Roud #1906
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 28(223), "The Boatman" ("I am a boatman by my trade, Jack Williams is my name"), W. Armstrong (Liverpool), 1820-1824; also 2806 c.17(48), "The Boatman"; Harding B 11(351), Harding B 11(734), Harding B 25(229), Harding B 11(1414), "The Boatsman"; Harding B 25(949), "Jack Williams, the Boatman"; Harding B 11(3265), "Jack Williams the Boatswain," Harding B 11(978), Harding B 20(268), Harding B 28(241), Harding B 11(1850), "Jack Williams"
File: LL17

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