In an old Sing Out magazine I recently read an article from Pete Seeger about him and Woody going to Seattle and teaching the n Haglund later owner of Ivan's Acres of Clams restaurant.
Looked it up...Seeger says, "The author found things about [the song] that I didn't know. It was written by an Olympian Probate Judge named Francis Henry in 1877 for a dinner party celebrating his election victory. The melody was best known in the 19th century as Rosin the Beau, but in the 17th century as The Gentle Maiden. Who knows before that," says Seeger
The quote is in the summer 89 issue, p61.

Richard