SPB,
What a fascinating bit of detail. Thanks for that.

As for cotton screwing, I think we get the basics of the device as you said, but what I was still unsure of is whether the action itself was a "heaving" or "hauling" one. We discussed it a bit in THIS THREAD. I even found some diagrams, and a photo of a White cotton-screwing gang (alas, not at work).

***

Incidentally, while I think it's very possible that these couple chanteys were used for cotton screwing, I am more inclined to explain the "heave" wording by the fact that in local Caribbean shantying the word "heave" isn't used so literally. I guess I'd have to come up with examples to prove that now, but I don't remember any off-hand. I can, however, use this video as an example of my point. Watch from 1:46 The people are saying "heave," when technically they are hauling. It's a fairly common swap.

***

Debra,
Glad you found this. Please do be on the lookout (hear-out) for sightings/hearings of these lesser-known/performed songs :)