The "two ballad strains" are of course "The Bramble Briar" and "Constant Farmer's Son." It seems that the UK versions are about a farmer than a merchant. Why is that?
Is "Constant Farmer's Son" based on "Bramble Briar" or do they just have the same theme?
Here are the four early US versions:
A. The Bridgewater Merchant, from New York MS taken from an aunt of Artemas Stevens; dated circa 1820, part of Douglass/Stevens MS from A Pioneer Songster- Thompson, 1958.
B. The Apprentice Boy from Ohio/Michigan taken MS book (c. 1852) of Mrs. Elsie Clark Lambertson.
C. The Bramble Brier, from Henry J. Wehman (Wehman Brothers); No. 28, p. 23; 1890.
D. The Jeaolus Brothers, sung by Mr. Doney Hammontree of Farmington, Ark; from Randolph, Ozark Folksongs dated 1890s.