The Boston Burglar (a.k.a. "Louisville Burglar" and several other things, is described on the d.t. as "Irish-American." Now, I'm sure that's right, but I think somewhere I was told it had an English antecedent called the "Cornwall Apprentice." I would swear I have even heard it sung, but recall only a few lyrics - "I was brought up in Cornwall" (of course) and "I ripped, I roamed, I rambled."

There is a "Sheffield Apprentice" on dt (and four times in the Bodelian collection) which has a different story but possibly is related. But there is no "Cornwall Apprentice" in the Bodelian, or in googol, and so far as I can tell, it isn't mentioned on Bruce O's website either.

Does anyone know - is there a "Cornwall Apprentice," or did I dream all this stuff?