Lyrics were published in the July 25, 1870 issue of the ''North Star'' (Danville, Vermont). This song has been copyrighted several times using a subset of the lyrics published in 1870. Copyrights include 1875 George P. Wright 1915 Matilda Leonard 1926 Henry Dawes and Rob Hughes [pseud. of R. A. King] In 1945 Norman Cazden collected this song and subsequently published it. Consequently, some recordings, notably the 1957 version by Lonnie Donegan, incorrectly credit Cazden as the songwriter.