Here's a version of the Carter family song "Beautiful Isle O'er the Sea" from 1916. There's also a reference to a version collected by Sharp. I have that but can't find the book right now:

http://books.google.com/books?id=vqWp2UIaKSwC&pg=PA132&dq=Beautiful+Light+O%27er+the+Sea&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Note that the singer changes the word "light" for "isle" which is certainly understandable and even makes sense.

Richie