Here is some info using "Shiloh" lyric the from the Limber Jim/Buckeye Jim family:

From the O.E.D. he found an item on "limber-holes" and "limber-ropes". He says that "Limber-holes are holes made in the floor timbers of a ship to allow bilge water to pass through [along with mud from boots etc.] for pumping." And a "limber-rope" is a "rope used to clean the limber-holes so the stuff can go through for pumping out." Perhaps there is a shanty connection for "Limber Jim"/"Buckeye Jim".

Here are two lyrics from Masato's post above:

William Rino sold Henry Silvers--
Hilo! Hilo!

Johnny come down de hollow--
Oh, hollow.

Ruth Crawford Seeger's AMERICAN FOLK SONGS FOR CHILDREN, pp. 96-97, called "Scraping Up Sand In The Bottom Of The Sea". The chorus goes:

Scraping up sand in the bottom of the sea, Shiloh, Shiloh,
Scraping up sand in the bottom of the sea, Shiloh, Liza Jane.

From Black them Boots:

Black those shoes and make them shine,
Shiloh, Shiloh,
Black those shoes and make them shine,
Shiloh, Liza Jane.

Excerpt from Limber Jim:
Limber Jim,
[All.] Shiloh!
Talk it agin,
[All.] Shiloh!
Walk back in love,
[All.] Shiloh!
You turtle-dove,
[All.] Shiloh!

There seems to be some similarities between Masato's posted songs and Limber Jim.

Does anyone have Daniel Emmett's "John come Down de Holler"? It seems remarkable that Emmett's music is so hard to find considering his stature as an American arranger and composer.

-Richie