I haven't the time to look through the messages again, but I'm sure the 'Mary Barton' reference has been mentioned at some point on this thread or another one. It's widely recognized that the text of 'Four Loom Weaver' is drawn from one of the Jone O'Grinfilt (spell it how you like!) broadside ballads of the 19th century. The mystery surrounding it relates to its 'collection' by MacColl from Beckett Whitehead of Delph. Was it actually part of Mr. Whitehead's apparently small repertoire of songs, and from where did it acquire that mighty tune?