You're right, this could be a huge project, and going back much further than you anticipate. Might be worth having a good look about to see how much of it has already been done. I just looked up two at random ( well, I was dancing them/to them last night ), and got to this.

"The lea rig"
Song by Robert Burns, set to an old Scots air, with associated dance, that predate the song. Contempary with early Playford, but not recorded there.
Irrelevant bit( I know from various dancing friends thats in one of the muesems that visitors always seem to end here in Edinburgh has a video with a set dancing the Lea Rig on it, as the tune gets stuck in their head, so I've heard this story enough times to believe it, and it's put down as historical, probably 17 cent.)

james

"The rakes of Mallow"

Song and tune recorded in a variety of sources in period 1740-1790.
I've heard the tune turn up as reels of various lenghts, plus in a millitary collection as part of a 'set of jigs'