More Ben Brace & Scrapewell:

“You must n't sit on the roof' said the coachman to me and Bill and Scrapehard, who had got on the quarter-deck of the coach, the old fiddler playing 'Moll in the Wad,' and slewing round on his stern like a fifer in the capstan when it's 'up anchor!'”
[Ben Brace, the Last of Nelson's Agamemnons, Chamier, 1836]



“...It has been the practice, time out of mind, in getting the anchor up on board ship, to have the marine drum and fife play those beautiful airs, “Moll in the Wad,” and “Off she goes,” while the sailors heave round the capstan. This noise serves merely to give a cadence of step to the men, but has small power as an excitement. Give them, in place of this monotonous rattle, a couple of good warlike musical instruments, well played on, and there could be little doubt that the messenger would travel faster.”
[Wilkie, On Military Music, Colburn's United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal, Pt.II, Vol.48, 1845]
Note: Lieut.-Colonel David Wilkie was the nephew of Scottish painter Sir David Wilkie.

Lyr Add: Moll in the Wad
Moll in the Wad (2) - Traditional Tune Archive