Geoff is rithe. If you start your own thread, you can use your own title that would pin down what you are looking for. Something like Timing of Appalachian Ballads perhaps. I'd use Song Origins as your prefix.

Good luck and keep us posted. Several of us are from the mountains and may be able to help you. If you send a PM to kytrad, (the very famous Jean Ritchie)you'll hit the mother lode. She does answer her PMs, eventually. I'd send her a PM now as she will be very busy during the spring and summer.