Thank you all once more for your responses. Each time I come into this place I understand a little more about the songs I sing.   Among the things of which I am stll ignorant about music of this period is, where would these broadside ballads be performed.?

The other thing that puzzles me is the lack of composers name on any of the prints of this song which I have looked at. Is this because there was no such thing as royalties so all of the money went to the printer?