Thomas Hardy mentions the song in "Tess of The D'Urbervilles" (1891) and "Life's Little Ironies" (1894). Most of the songs and tunes Hardy mentions in his stories come from his youth or from his father (a noted musician) and, given the context of the reference in both these cases (i.e rural reminiscences), it is probable that the songs were well known in the South of England well before the 1890s.

Having said this, it doesn't seem to have been well known among the broadside purveyors of the 19th Century. A search of the Bodleian ballads turns up nothing.

:-)