Jacobs Well is found in lots of different versions on both sides of the Atlantic. All the versions stem from an original by Joseph Grigg (c1720-1768), a minister in London who retired early to St Albans. The text, based on John 4 v5-15,is about the difficulties faced by the Evangelical Revival in the mid 1700s. As people have said the first printing of text and tune together was in 1801 by John Beaumont, who was a musician and Methodist preacher from Holmfirth in Yorkshire.

The great popularity of the song seems to have been its appearance in Collection of Hymns for Camp-Meetings, Revivals,Etc for the use of Primitive Methodists. This was published by Hugh Bourne around 1820. Its effects can be found in popular culture, place names, pubs and elsewhere.

For those who want a less anglocentric version the normal American way was to replace Britain with Columbia. However Asahel Nettleton in his Village Hymns did a major rewrite that made it independent of place.

If anyone wants one of my booklets, they are available for £3.50 including postage. Please email me at cbrowo-at-tesco.net replacing the -at- with the @ sign.

Chris Brown