I read that Sam Hall was written by an English music hall comedian C.W. Ross in 1850. He added the cursing and swearing to the "Jack Hall" of 1700. He also made the tune more boring. The words may seem mild to you young folk, but on http://www.smsu.edu/folksong/maxhunter/0552/index.html
you can hear a live performance in 1960 by a lady who was so embarrased that "May told Halpert to do the cussing for her".