"There are plenty of clues if you actually study the material, who wrote them, stylistic clues,"
There are plenty of stylish indication, particularly the use of vernacular and familiarity with subject matter (all of which you have attempted to explain away rather than give rational reasons for) to suggest that they come from the people they represent.
The overall stile of broadside writers is that of clumsyiness - doggrell.
Taking that period as representative of the tradition is like describing a footballars skills after he has retired with a leg injury - it represents nothing
"I don't remember anyone stating otherwise."
Aren't you one of those who has re-defined folk song to include everything a traditional singer sings - Roud is
The conditions of rural England were certainly no worse than those of Ireland - in the period you are talking about a million had been wiped out by famine, another million endured enforced emigration, those that stayed at home faced eviction, land wars, two major uprisings - not to metion comscription into other people's wars.... the riches period for Irish song-making - not despite the conditions but because of them
What te hell have printes got to do with it - songs were made to be sung, not to be sold - that has always been the case
That seems to be a concept you are unable to grasp
One of the great oversimplifications if the idea that these songs were mede simply as entertainment and they were works of the imagination - they most certainly were neither
Jim Carroll