The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #61225   Message #4077142
Posted By: Steve Gardham
28-Oct-20 - 03:24 PM
Thread Name: Becket Whitehead, Delph, Saddleworth, UK
Subject: RE: Becket Whitehead, Delph, Saddleworth, UK
Hi Brian
I have 6 different Jone O' Grinfelt/Grinfilt/Grinfield broadside ballads all printed in Lancashire or Leeds, but none of them appear to be earlier than 1850.

Regarding Oldham Weaver there is a weaver ballad 'The Owdham Chap's Visit to th' Queen' which starts 'It happen'd t'other Monday morn, while seated at my loom, sirs...' again not earlier than 1850.

Most of these were printed by Bebbington and Harkness.

The 'original Jone o' Grinfield' is as you say, with probably the Wheeler printing the earliest.

The song we are concerned with Jone o' Grinfield/Poor Cotton Weaver, Bebbington is probably the earliest I have 'I'm a poor cotton weaver as many a one knaws' in 10 6-line stanzas.