'reconstructed broadside ballad'. If I haven't made it plain that this is my reconstruction then I need to remedy that. The 2 long American early versions make a hypothetical reconstruction of the orginal possible. All it is is a probable based on the existing evidence.
As for Bridgwater (note correct spelling), the evidence is overwhelming.
The most complete, earliest extant version is actually titled 'The Bridgewater Merchant', and most of the earlier American versions have 'Bridgewater'. Several English versions, even those collected more recently have it.
Bruton mentioned in some influential English versions is just a few miles up the road from Bridgwater.
As previously mentioned the existence of a similarly-worded ballad printed in Bristol just 40 miles away.