The earliest versions I have obviously predate 1766 as they are both very different. Both are in Standard English and both printed by William Forrest of Edinburgh but one looks to be anglicised Scottish. The English one 'The Maid's Lament for the Loss of her Maidenhead' dated 1766 has only 7 stanzas whereas the other undated 'The New Lovers Garland' has 8 stanzas and a chorus with a 4-stanza answer. Later versions printed in England show a wide variety.

The song was definitely sung at the London pleasure gardens in the middle of the 18th century and that is its likely origin. The British Harmony, part the Second, being a choice Collection of Most of the New Favorite SONGS sung This and Last Season at both the Theatres, Vauxhall, Ranelagh, Sadler's Wells &C. Here it is titled 'The Encouraging Gardener' with 8 stanzas, again very different to the 2 Edinburgh printings.