These 2 early versions are pretty much the same. In both the girl is called Elizabeth and by wonderful coincidence the ship she enters under the name 'Richard Strong' is also called 'The Elizabeth'. WT was born not far from 'Mile End Green' in the earlier copy, but this has become 'Island Green' in the 1748 Sheffield copy. In both when she is discovered (literally) and tells her story the captain finds WT who has become a Commander and he takes them both to London and sees them married.

It's not beyond the realms of possibility that it is based on a true story.

No shootings and no Thunder bombs I'm afraid. Off the top of my head I have a sneaky feeling these were added in when the ballad was burlesqued, as were many popular 18thc street ballads.

I'll type the lot out if you like but most of it is tedious doggerel quite rightly edited out by the later printers.