Keith - Two sepparate issues here.

First the enslaving of raid victims by Corsairs, Viking, French, Irish etc. (Oh Yes, the Welsh Coast was plagued by these raids up untill the time that Henry IV dealt with the Irish)

Secondly the enslaving and transportation of felons, the loosing side in rebellion,etc. Judge Jeffries, notoriously, had a hand in this, victims being sent out first to the America's, then later Australia.

Transportation Ballads to Australia are well covered, and some of them are genuine. (ie sung by transportees)

Please hold in mind that a significant proportion of the population of the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Barbados are decended from transportees.

Some of the Eastern American States had significant population growth through transportees.

Funny how history seems to overlook this aspect.

But back to the music - I suspect if a proper analasis is done (and HELP has anybody done this - Some 'Catter must know !!) root traces of 16th an 17th Centuary Welsh, Irish, and Scots,and West Country Folksong will be found in the West Indies and Eastern USA.

Just a thought.

And that should enrage the "Politically Corect"

Gareth