Cox's version F of 73. Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
is dated 1716 by tracing it back through the family in 1916.

It begins:


Lord Thomas- Miller (WV) 1916 Cox F

O mother, O mother come tell unto me,
And tell the story true,
Whether I shall bring fair Ellen dear home,
Or bring the brown girl home, home, home,
Or bring the brown girl home?

A broadside of the earlier English broadside from the 1700s was printed in the US circa 1840s.

Richie