Hi Steve
Do you mean the original from 1860s?

The earliest text with melody that I've seen is the one in L.A. Smith. She was led to believe that the sailor (or he and his shipmates) from whom she got it had made up the melody. I can't determine whether that melody was really just the music hall's melody (as one would expect), or something different.

I believe that L.A. Smith the text gave birth to several later versions, so they don't really help.

Thanks.