Those hybrid versions from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia are interesting but not surprising. The mass migration from the British Isles to both provinces took place in the 19th century, up to 100 years after the main Appalachian migration. By that time 'Polly's Love' would have been established in Britain, so presumably the migrants took it with them. Perhaps it then got tangled up with the 'Deming' text from the Forget-me-not songsters?

My belief is that, for all the potential influence of New World printed copies, the songs that were popular in a particular region reflected the heritage of its immigrant population. There are traces of 19th century songster material in the Appalachian collections, but relatively few Forget-me-not songs turned up there. To find the sources of the mountain repertoire we need to look at what was current in England, Scotland and Ulster in the early 18th century. Unfortunately there's very little evidence in terms of oral tradition, so all we have to go on are the earlier broadsides.

Ballads popular in the Appalachians, like 'Barbara Allen', 'Two Sisters', 'House Carpenter' and 'Matty Groves' did exist as broadsides in the appropriate time period. What, though, about 'Young Hunting', 'Hind Horn', 'Earl Brand' or 'Jack Went A-Sailing'? Do we know of any early broadside copies of those?

Hoping Steve G might have something...