Just clarifying Malcolm's earlier comment about the song bearing relationship to Tom Bowling. Tom Bowling was a real old salt from York. His real name was Edward Bowling but he was known as Tom to distinguish him from his dad of same name. Apparently he was a renowned singer at Portsmouth in all the pubs which is where Dibdin met him. For more info check out the song provenance at www.yorkshirefolksong.net

So, not Dibdin's brother Tom as is often conjectured.