Harry Clifton (1824-1872) was a prolific songwriter for the English music hall; I've found reference to him being the author of over 500 songs! An article by Roy Hudd mentions him briefly Music Hall Songwriters, and notes that he 'borrowed' most of his tunes from folk songs.

Well it would seem that in turn a few of his songs have been picked up by traditional singers, and I've been surprised to find out that there are so many. Does anybody know if there are more out there?

Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green is in the DT, as is THE GOOD SHIP KANGAROO which Elizabeth Cronin sang.
Also in Elizabeth Cronin's songbook was "Paddle your own Canoe" by Clifton.

"The Watercress Girl" by Clifton was quite widely sung by traditional singers such as Johnny Doughty, and he is also credited with a version of "Lanigan's Ball". GUEST bigJ, in a thread on 'The Good Ship Kangaroo' The Good Ship Kangaroo, mentions a book by Michael Kilgarriff Sing us one of the old songs where Clifton is credited as the author of such songs as 'The Calico Printer's Clerk', 'Dark Girl Dressed in Blue', 'I'll go and Enlist for a Soldier' and 'Ten Minutes Too Late' none of which I'm familiar with. Apparently he also wrote 'The Weeping Willer' which Vesta Victoria made famous.

He seems worth a bit of research. I'll see if I can transcribe the words for 'The Watercress Girl'.