I've been going through Peter Kennedy, ed. "Folksongs of Britain and Ireland".London: Cassell, 1975 and was surprised to find "The Bald-Headed End of a Broom" therein, with very similar lyrics to version 1 in the DT. Seamus O'Boyle and Seamus Ennis recorded the song from Martha Glillen, Antrim, N Irland in 1954 (BBC 21839) - of course, maybe she learned it from an American recording??? or did the song originally travel to America from Europe?? - the notes also list a recording by Lee Monroe Presnell of North Caroline, Folk Legacy FSA 23
[so maybe Sandy Paton has some info// the are a couple of songs collected from Lee Presnell, Tn. by Frank Warner listed in the DT]