I know of no evidence that points definitively to which versions were sung by black or white men in the 1850s. Most of the chanties I sing I learned from drinking and singing with old men who were born during the 20th century. And having actually known Stan, I am aware that although his theories were occasionally self-serving, many of his sources had significantly darker skin than I. What makes you think these versions "were picked up by white seamen who liked the idea of reversing the facts because they had an axe to grind"? Maybe the white Chanty singer you learned it from got it from a book, and had no idea who General Taylor was or what the facts were.