Hi all, further to earlier discussion, I've written a short blog researching the origins of 'Thousands or More' - hopefully it may be of interest!

https://afolksongafortnight.blogspot.com/2021/03/afolksongafortnight-no5-thousands-or.html

Regarding the Samuel Arnold link, I've done quite a lot of foraging so far, but hit a dead end - I'm trying to contact a scholar of his work, so fingers crossed for further progress...

I've also included a clip of me and others singing it, but I feel less able to recommend that, ha ha.