The text Joe quotes was noted by E J Moeran from George Hill, East Stonham, Suffolk, in 1921. It originally appeared in Journal of the Folk-Song Society VIII (35) 1931, 270-1, and has been re-printed as detailed above. It is obviously the ultimate source of the incomplete text quoted by 'The Vulgar Boatman', though a few changes or mis-rememberings have crept in in his case.

Cecil Sharp got a set from John Webb at Pillerton, Warwickshire, on 23 August 1911; a reference is given in the notes quoted above from Peter Kennedy's website.

Beyond that, and the example from Ireland quoted here, it hasn't turned up all that much. There was a broadside, 'The Silly Mare and Foal', which is probably where it came from; but I haven't seen that. The song is number 1477 in the Roud Folk Song Index for anyone who wants to look further into it.

There may well be a connection with 'The Soldier and the Sailor' / 'Parson and Clerk' group; but on the whole I doubt any relationship with 'Rigs of the Time' except in a generic sense.