The earliest score entry in the British Library catalogue is for 1848: The Jeannette and Jeannot Quadrilles etc by Charles William Glover, C. Jefferys.

The catalogue also has an entry for Jeannette and Jeannot; or, the Conscript's row A romance - published in 24 parts by E. Lloyd, 1846. I don't know how this might relate to the song, but it may have been suggested by the song, suggesting the song predated 1846.

There is also Jeannette & Jeannot, Or The Conscript's Vow: A Musical Drama in Two Acts (1852) (at archive,org), which definitely contains the song.


Q - re the Arpitan version, I had a quick look at the score and one of the English version scores at Levy and the tune is definitely not the same. The Arpitan score also says Version originale abrégée du folklore jurassien, so you may need to look elsewhere in France for the a possible relative.


Mick