Interestingly enough I have the original broadsheet here in an album and apparently the last verse is written as this: (whether it got sung like this is another matter - I can't make all of it out either!)

Then they hired men with thrashers,
To beat him high and low;
They came smick-smack upon poor Jack's back
Until the blood began to flow;
Then they threw him into a mashing-bin,
Thinking to burn his tails;
And when he came out, they changed his name,
For they called him home-brewed ale.

Oh, and hi Tom! It was good to see you the other month and catch up with some of the old folkies, hope all is well with you :)

-Emily Stephenson