Hi,

TY Lighter, I assume that Frank Moore and ‎John Anthony Scott needed some ballads during the revolutionary period 1775-1781 and included Polly Wand. Both the 1967 (I assume you meant it was published in 1960) edition of the book and "Sing Out" in 1967 say it was from oral transmission, but give no details.

I guess they got the similar text from somewhere. They said the broadside was from Nathaniel Coverly after 1800 but he did not print it so already they are providing wrong info.

Regardless of what you think of the "fountain/mountain of snow" some singers refer to it as Molly's/Polly's ghost: "Molly's ghost will stand before you like a mountain of snow." [Moore's]

Since her ghost has already appeared it seems more likely that it is her ghost. Others believe it is her in the form of a swan and most versions do not mention anything supernatural (as Steve wrote).

With two more versions to go it look like there are 60 North American versions on my site- a number of them are fragments.

Richie