We have the same problems with MacColl and Lloyd but in most cases it's now possible to sort out their scholarly stuff from their creative abilities. Unfortunately in the case of MacColl Bronson didn't know this.

One would think that scholars would at least be suspicious when a version of a ballad suddenly surfaces in oral tradition after 150 or more years of hibernation, but just call me superskeptic!

Will try to hunt out the original paper but if not I'll try to scan from the book.