Edna, might as well put in my tuppenceworth to add to all the speculative talk abot shanties. Can't think of any probable connection, but there's a wee song containing the line "she went in ablow the bed an' tummle't ow'r the chanty!" Er---don't request the rest of the lyrics for this particular ditty! I trust this wont trigger another "origin' discussion!
P.S. Are you about to launch a new career doing stuff like "the Alabama" and "General Taylor"?