Good question, Boab - the Digital Tradition says it was written by George Scroggie, whoever he was. I have two Judy Collins albums that say the song is traditional, arranged by Judy Collins. Not much information in the Traditional Ballad Index, except that it appears that A.L. Lloyd recorded the song. I'll post the Ballad Index information. The Baddad Index, in turn, cites only the Digital Tradition and the Lloyd recording.
-Joe Offer-

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Farewell to Tarwathie

DESCRIPTION: Sailor bids farewell to Tarwathie, his girl and his friends as he sets off for the Greenland whaling grounds. He describes the harsh conditions in Greenland, saying they'll not tarry there, but head for home as soon as possible
AUTHOR: George Scroggie ?
EARLIEST DATE: 1908 (GreigDuncan1)
KEYWORDS: love farewell separation whaler
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Greig #85, p. 1, "Farewell to Tarwathie" (1 text)
GreigDuncan1 15, "Farewell to Tarwathie" (1 text)
DT, TARWATHI*
Roud #2562
RECORDINGS:
A. L. Lloyd, "Farewell to Tarwathie" (on Lloyd3, Lloyd9)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Green Bushes" (tune)
cf. "The Grand Hotel" (tune)
File: DTtarwat

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We have two versions in the Digital Tradition. I believe the first is a transcription of the Judy Collins recording, although I haven't checked it.

FAREWELL TO TARWATHIE
By George Scroggie

Farewell to Tarwathie, adieu Mormond Hill
And the dear land o' Crimond, I'll bid you fareweel
I'm bound out for Greenland and ready to sail
In hopes to find riches in hunting the whale

Adieu to my comrades, for awhile we must part
And likewise the dear lass that fair won my heart
The cold ice of Greenland, my love will not chill
And the longer my absence, more loving she'll feel

Our ship is well rigged and she's ready to sail
Our crew, they are anxious to follow the whale
Where the icebergs do float and the stormy winds blow
Where the land and the ocean are covered with show

The cold coast of Greenland is barren and bare
No seed time nor harvest is ever known there
And the birds here sing sweetly on mountain and dale
But there isn't a birdie to sing tae the whale

There is no habitation for a man to live there
And the king of that country is the fierce Greenland bear
And there will be no temptation to tarry long there
Wi' our ship bumper full, we will homeward repair

@Scottish @parting @animal @travel
recorded by July Collins on Whales and Nightingales
filename[ TARWATHI
TUNE FILE: TARWATHI
CLICK TO PLAY
SOF

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And the second version in the DT:

FAREWELL TO TARWATHIE (2)
(George Scroggie)

Farewell to Tarwathie
Adieu, Mormon Hill
Land of my fathers
I bid you farewell.

Your hills and your valleys,
Your mountains of heath
Still dear to my heart
Is the land of my birth.

Adieu to my comrades
May God bless you all;
My friends and relations
I bid you farewell.

For a while I must leave you
And go to the sea
Heaven prosper the bonny ship
That I will go wi'

May He who never slumbers
From danger us keep,
While viewing his wonders
On the mighty deep.

Our ship she is rigged
And ready to sail,
Our crew they are anxious
To follow the whale.

Where the icebergs float,
And the stormy winds blow;
Where the land and the ocean
Is covered with snow.

The cold clime of Greenland
Is barren and bare;
No seed time nor harvest
Is ever known there.

The birds here sing sweetly
On mountain and dale;
But the songsters are mute
In the land of the whale.

There is no habitation
For man to live there
The king of that country
Is the fierce Greenland bear.

But when I am sailing
Upon the wide main,
Be cheerful and happy
Till I come again.

And you my dear mother,
O weep not for me,
But trust in His mercy
That ruleth the sea.

Who saves on the ocean
As well's on the land,
For we are all guarded
By His mighty hand.

He rides on the billows
And walks on the wave
His arm is powerful
To sink or to save.

And though I be absent
You need never fear;
There's no place so distant
But God will be there.

I will pray night and morning,
Dear parents, for you;
For the hope of returning
Takes the sting from adieu.


George Scroggie
from "The Peasant's Lyre, A Collection of Miscellaneous Poems"
Strichen, Aberdeen, printed by William Bennett 1857
This song was also recorded by Ewan MacColl on the Washington album, "Whaling Songs," MacColl and Lloyd. It is also in the anthology, "The Singing Island," MacColl-Seeger. The notes, in both cases by Lloyd give no authorship but do state that the tune is also that of "Green Bushes" and "The Waggoner"s Lad."
A further look at "The Singing Island" yields the following, Fareweel To Tarwath
ie -- Contributed by A.L. Lloyd, who learned it from John Sinclair, a native of
Ballater, in Durban, South Africa, 1938.
filename[ TARWATH2
JRO

This second version is taken from my 2001 post in this thread (below). -Joe Offer/JRO-