The song from Hammond' MSS in Frank Purlsow's 'Marrow Bones', p. 46, 1965, has some differrences.

"John Appleby", six verses of eight lines, is in 'The Universal Songster', I, p. 385, 1828 (without music). There's also a copy, five verses of 4 lines, in Alfred Williams' 'Folk-Songs of the Upper Thames', p. 225, 1923 (also without music).

The song is a reworking of a broadside ballad by Martin Parker that was entered in the Stationers Register on Sept. 15, 1634. It's "John and Joan: Or, a mad couple well met", ZN3079 in my broadside ballad index at www.erols.com/olsonw.