Doc Watson also does a similar version

I was born in old east Virginia
North Carolina I did go
There I courted a fair young lady
What her age was I do not know

Her hair it was a brown dark curly
Her cheeks they were a ruby red
Upon her bosom she wore a ribbon
Oh the tears for her I shed

Her papa said that we might marry
Her mama said it would not do
Some dark night if you'll take a ramble
I will run away with you

I'd rather live in some dark hollow
Where the sun don't never shine
Than have you be some other man's woman
Never more on earth to call you mine

(Doc Watson on Doc Watson and Jean Ritchie in concert)
-Good song, but no idea how old. Sorry

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 25-Jan-03.