Lyr Add: In the Township of Danville

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: IN THE TOWNSHIP OF DANVILLE
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 02 Nov 02 - 08:34 PM

Another spin-off from the search for tunes for songs in the DT that have none.

THE QUEENSTOWN MOURNER   was taken from Helen Hartness Flanders and George Brown's Vermont Folk-songs and Ballads; it is a transcription of an unspecified broadside ("of early date", whatever that means) and no tune is mentioned. The Roud Folksong Index has no references to any printed music for this one, though it lists sound recordings of traditional versions -under a variety of titles- in the Edith Fowke collection (Canada) and the Library of Congress (made by Flanders and Lomax). Having said all that, Flanders and Brown precede the song with another, this time from tradition, In the Township of Danville, which is evidently a shortened version of the broadside. Short of anybody being in a position to get at the archive recordings, the tune that came with it is the closest we are likely to get for the broadside text. Obviously, that text may never have been sung to that tune, but in the absence of one known traditionally to have been used , the Danville melody seems to be the closest we can get. I think that the song should be posted here in its own right, particularly as it's an example from tradition as opposed to a broadside text.

IN THE TOWNSHIP OF DANVILLE

(Noted by Alice Brown from Ella Collins Mattison, Windsor Home, Bennington, Vermont; July 17 1930)

In the township of Danville I courted my love,
And the truth that I told her, not worthy I was,
And if she looked for riches to turn me away,
And not to encourage my suit for one day.

She paused a few moments and made this reply,
"I look not for riches that take wings and fly;
To marry for riches I do not uphold;
I look for contentment more precious than gold."

On the tenth of July she gave me her hand
And before Elder Palmer we boldly did stand.
She looked like an angel as she stood by my side,
And promised to take me as her friend and guide.

I moved her to Barnard that very same day,
Awhile with my father and mother to stay
Until a place more fit could prepare,
Which caused me the life of this damsel so fair.

Come all ye good people who companions have got,
Be you healthy or wealthy or what be your lot,
Unite your affections and be of one mind,
And unto your companions be loving and kind.

For soon they must leave you and soon you must part
Although they seem near and dear to your heart.
There's a God in his mercy sits high on his throne.
He'll take them quick from you; he takes but his own.

You proud and you haughty, you, too, though must fall;
Your riches won't save you when death gives a call;
Your gold and your silver will canker and rust,
And leave your old body; it will turn into dust.


Vermont Folksongs and Ballads, Helen Hartness Flanders and George Brown, 1931. Mrs. Mattison had learned the song from her grandmother, Julia Slocum Olin, whose husband, Archibald Olin, fought in the war of 1812. A history of the life of Mrs. Mattison was in the Bennington Evening Banner, January 21, 1929. Ms. Flanders also noted that Mrs. Mattison, who was 78 at the time of publication, wrote daily news for the Banner.

DT #683
Laws H14
Roud 2195

X:1
T:In the Township of Danville
S:Ella Collins Mattison, Windsor Home, Bennington, Vermont; learned from her grandmother, Julia Slocum Olin.
N:Noted by Alice Brown, July 17 1930.
B:Vermont Folksongs and Ballads, Helen Hartness Flanders and George Brown, 1931
L:1/8
Q:1/4=100
M:6/8
K:C
G/ G/|G A G C D E|G G E D2
w:In the town-ship of Dan-ville I court-ed my love,
G/ G/|A G A d3/ 2c/ d|e c G A2
w:And the truth that I told her, not wor-thy I was,
G/ G/|A G A d c d|e d G (c B)
w:And if she looked for rich-es to turn me a-way,_
A|G A G C D E|G G E D2|]
w:And not to en-cour-age my suit for one day.

Traditional Ballad Index entry

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Township of Danville
From:
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 02:06 PM

My family came from Vermont, and my mother recently passed away at 81.
As I was sorting through her things, I found this old (appears old) hand written ballard or folk song if you will, called the Queenstown Mourner. It was all folded up and yellowed on two old pieces of tablet paper. I started to throw it away, but I was sitting at the computer and on impulse, I typed in the title and up came your web site. Each verse is labeled 1-10 and although it is somewhat the same, it is different ie verse No. 6 Twas the 11 of June that she gave me her hand" It talks of Elder Palmer, but there are added words to the verse". I have no idea where mom got this the only possibility, as I said, we migrated from VT. Mom had a cousin that was married to a Charles Mattison. Just thought this interesting and decided to pass the information on. Lucy Cooley, Garden City, KS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Township of Danville
From: Amos
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 02:39 PM

Lucy:

Woul yoube willing to type out the lyrics you found?


A

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Township of Danville
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 02:40 PM

Lucy thanks for that, the full version would be gratefully received.
Thanks
giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Township of Danville
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 09:23 PM

I would also very much like to see the words. Old variants are well-worth preserving.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Township of Danville
From: Dani
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 08:47 PM

Is that Danville VA? Or is there a Danville VT?

Dani

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Township of Danville
From:
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 12:35 AM

Sorry I'm Just getting around to this - we moved. This was also found with a small book in the same handwriting. The book refers to England.

The Queenstown Mourner is on yellowed paper and some words are a bit blurry, but here goes....and spelling as it is written.
#l
Oh my friends and relations I pray lend an ear,
Of my sad misfortans you quickly shell hear,
Although I am a musher I'll sing you a song
Of my once dear companion that is now dead and gon
No2
In the township of Danville
I courted my love
I told her the truth that not withy I was
that if she looked for riches
to turn me away
And not to encourage my wishes ane day.
No3
I did not decieve her I plainly will show
I said I should move her to some foreigen land
to be my companion, my wife and my friend
No4
She paused for a moment
Then made this reply
I wish not for riches they take wings and fly
To marry for riches I do not uphold
I wish for contentment mor preshaus then gold
No5
She acceped my offer and shortly became
the friend of the poor man
and wife of the same
Heer Feather and Mother did give their consent
And affard to be willing and likewise content.
No.6
Twas the 11th of June that she
gave me her hand
And before Elder Palmer she boldly
did stand
And like unto and angel she stood
by my Side
And promised to take for her
her friend and guide.
No7
I moved her to Barnet the very
Same day
Awhile with my Feather and Mother to stay
Till I for my fatel remove
should prepare.
Which cost me the life this
damsel so fair
No8
In the month of October the
very same year
We started on our fatel and tedious career.
Although it was lenthy of hour
hundred miles
yet we was healthy through
deserts and wilds
No9
Near the village of Queenstown
we made our abod
By the river Niagara and near
the main road
some beautifull fruit trees a
house and a shop
Five acres of land which
comprised our whole Slick??
No.10
No mortals on earth more
contented could be
A couple were nevermore
happay then we
No enchanted magician could
give more delight
then the voice of my true love
both morning and night

Any questions, please email me [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Township of Danville
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 12:59 AM

? in No. 9: our whole stick= our entire holding.
This expression was still common when I was a child.
Also used for our occupation, which is a separate meaning.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Township of Danville
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 01:03 AM

Forgot to say many thanks! Lucy. I prefer your version to the one posted at the beginning of the thread. The moral drawn at the end of the Brown-Mattison version is heavy-handed.