Two interesting songs.

The versions I have heard of William Taylor mostly have him as a soldier which somehow makes more sense. In one version (sung by Jo Freya) the captain even makes the girl a commander over his men for her actions. Some reward for murder!!

There's an excellent version of the Cruel Ship's Carpenter in Cecil Sharpe's book of Appalachian folk songs with a very fine modal melody. I learnt it once with concertina accompaniment but the words have not stuck and I have been meaning to relearn it, perhaps using ukulele for accompaniment. I also heard a fine version from a visiting American at a local folk club which did not have the supernatural element, though I think the young man still got his come-uppance. The singer had, I think, collected that version from someone in his home area and commented on the lack of the supernatural element.