The Hammonds found it in Dorset, and dismissed it as 'not Folk'. I think it is probably from a play or the 18th Century Pleasure Gardens. Lucy Broadwood collected it from Mr F. Scarlett Potter. Halford, Shipston on Stow. She adds the note. 'A Version is given in Bell's Songs of the Peasantry and may be found on ballad sheets.' This explains why the Hammonds ignored it, however, they did collect the tune from George Bowditch of Charmouth. Broadwood added the note that the tune was composed circa 1860, however, Purslow took issue with the age of the text and quotes 'Miss Broadwood may be correct, but the words are much older, and I have seen them on broadsheets dating back to 1810 or earlier. Roud gives it as number 418 and has 351 entries. Collinson had it in his archives, collected from Mrs Oliver and separately Mrs. Baker in Kent, Gardiner found it in Hampshire noting that the tune is the same as County Songs, and is to be found in Boosey and Hawks 'Songs of England' attributed to W.T. Parke.
Finally, Carey, Stubbs, and Plunkett found the song in Sussex. W.T. Parke is noted as William Thomas Parke (15 February 1761 – 26 August 1847) was an English oboist and composer. He played in notable concerts of the day; in retirement, he published Musical Memoirs.