Timothy Connor was an American privateersman who was captured at sea by the RN in 1777. He spent two years in Forton Prison, Portsmouth.

During that time he wrote down the words to songs that he knew. His version of "The Sailor's Meeting," however, is not. He wrote it out in 1778. Even if the broadside predates this text, the Connor's is almost certainly from oral tradition - fuller too:

                               A TAR'S SONG        

                As I was walking through Francis Street
                A lovly Frigate I changed for to meet,
                She was well fitted for the Sea,
                And all he wanted was company.
                                foldrol etc -

                2
                I asked where was her place of abode
                She told me in black Squirs road,
                And at that night she'd send me word
                That I was welcome to come on board.
                                foldrol etc -
                                                        
                3
                I boarded her the truth I'll tell
                Because the Boatswain had sign'd her so well
                With her tacks and her sheets and bobins too
                With her collours flying both red and blue
                                foldrol etc -

                4
                Her sails was of the Sattin fine
                Her ropes was of the hollow twine
                But when I entered her cabin fine
                I found her to be Venous Wine

                5
                I called for my lead and line
                To plum her depth was my design
                I called for her line and lead
                I stopt her ebb and I stem'd her flood

                6                
                All you young men I would have you be where
                When first you enter a Man of War,
                I would have you all be sure for to know
                Whether she be a fine [sic] ship or know
                                        foldrol etc -

                7
                For if she be a fine [sic] ship bold
                By you she'l scorn to be control'd
                For first she'l fire and then she'll run
                O then my boys you are all undone
                                        foldrol etc -

                8
                I ask'd her when she would sail
                She told me seamen did her fail
                For by misconduct and miscast
                For the want of Seamen she sprung her mast
                                        foldrol etc -
                

Francis Street in London, a short thoroughfare by the post-1829 Regent Square, was renamed Seaford Street in 1865. Blackfriars [sic] Road was laid down as Surrey Street in the 1760s. I'm not sure when the name was changed.

"Venous" is, again, "Venice," with a possible play on words. Stanza 8 may be misplaced.

Connor's singular collection was published by George G. Carey in 1976.