The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #171276   Message #4141826
Posted By: Steve Gardham
16-May-22 - 08:25 AM
Thread Name: Origins: The Young and Single Sailor
Subject: RE: Origins: THE YOUNG AND SINGLE SAILOR
The earliest datable street lit copy I have is dated 1802.
Its title is The Sailor's Return, printed in a chapbook by Robertson of Glasgow. You can look at it in the National Library of Scotland website LC2836 (18). Some kind person might do you a blue clicky. The chapbook is titled The Shepherd's Lament for the Loss of his Sweetheart.

However there may be earlier undated versions. I'll check later.