I'm wrapping up the UK versions and have 54 UK versions of which 8 are unique print versions. I'm missing recent versions from Peter Hall (Scotland) and one early print version: "The Morning's Golden Dawn, or Answer to the Dawning of the Day" To Which is Added "Molly Brown[sic]." (Galway: G. Connolly, Ca. 1804?). A copy is in the National Library of Ireland, Dublin. If anyone has access to these let me know.
I'm not sure if I understand Huntington's version (Sam Henry) that is a compilation dated 1926- apparently it comes from "Molly Bawn Aroo" and another trad version but the text of "Molly Bawn Aroo" doesn't scan.
TY everyone for contributing- I'll still be checking in and finishing up teh main headnotes.
Total traditional versions from North America and UK (one from Aust.) are over 130 with about 25 that I don't have access to.
One conclusion which I feel is important is:
The three authentic versions where Molly's ghost appears in the "form of a swan" show that it is likely an isolated (Dorset/Somerset) modern interpretation of the ballad.
This means all the mystical transmutation interpretations (of an ancient Celtic origin) by Gilchrist, Sharp, Baring-Gould, Barry and others about the ballad are irrelevant. In my opinion this ballad is about an accidental shooting with a revenant visitation by her ghost (not as a swan) which frees her lover.