Robert Burn was a neighbor of John Cunningham (Allan's father) at Ellisland Farm, Dumfries from 1788-1791. According to Cromek's notes (provided by Cunningham) in 1810 Martha Crosbie the informant of "O who knocks at my Window" was also the informant for the "Seventeen Come Sunday" song, "The Waukrife Minnie" which was collected from recitation by Burns himself.
Cromek's Notes: This old song is taken down from the singing of Martha Crosbie, from whose recitation Burns wrote down the song of "The Waukrife Minnie."
According to Cunningham: Martha Crosbie, a carder and spinner of wool, sometimes desiring to be more than commonly acceptable to the children of my father's house, made her way to their hearts by singing the following ancient strain:
Since Allan Cunningham was born in 1784 I assume he was one of the children that Crosbie sang to.
So did Cromek meet Allan Cunningham in 1808 while working on his 1808 book, "Reliques of Burns, consisting chiefly of Original Letters, Poems, and Critical Observations on Scottish Songs"?
Then I assumed he had Allan collect songs in 1808-1809 and Alan submitted his recreated "O who knocks at my Window" as well as other recreations?
Since Allan provided the traditional text in 1834, what date should be given to "O who knocks at my Window"? 1809? Or earlier when Burns collected his version "How Old are you My pretty Little Miss?"