Here’s the oldest version I can find with Google.

From Hadaway's Select Songster
edited by T. H. Hadaway (Philadelphia: Gihon & Kucher, 1840*), page 18:


THE FARMER'S BOY.

The sun had gone down behind yon hill,
And o'er yon dreary moor,
When weary and lame, a boy there came
Up to a farmer's door—
Saying, can you tell me, if any there be
Can give to me employ,
For to plough, for to mow, for to reap, for to sow,
For to be a farmer's boy.

My father is dead, my mother is left,
With her five children small;
And what is worse for mother still,
I'm the eldest of them all.
Though small I am, I fear no work,
If you will give me employ,
For to plough, &c.

If you cannot me employ,
One favour yet I ask,
That is to shelter me this one night
From the cold winter's blast;
At the break of day, I will trudge away,
Elsewhere to seek employ;
For to plough, &c.

The farmer says we will try the lad,
No further let him seek;
O! yes, dear father, his daughter cried,
While the tears rolled down her cheek;
For him that can labour it is hard to want,
Or elsewhere to seek employ;
For to plough, &c.

At length of years this boy grew up,
This good old farmer died;
He left the boy the farm he had,
And his daughter for his bride.
The boy that was, is a farmer now,
And he oft times thinks with joy,
On the happy, happy day, he came that way,
For to be a Farmer's boy.
For to plough, &c.


* The title page says 1840 but the copyright page says 1839.