And we might mention the continuing question of which came first: "De Camptown Races" or the Gold Rush Era sea shanty "Californi-o" which has a similar melody. The first verse and chorus run:

As I wuz rollin' down the street,
Hoodah, hoodah,
A charmin' gal I chanct to meet,
Hoodah, hoodad, day.

Chorus:

Blow, boys, blow!
For Californ-eye-o!
There's plenty o' gold,
So I've bin told,
On the banks o' the Sacramento.

I've reviewed the thread discussion on this question and Stan Hugill's discussion in SHANTIES OF THE SEVEN SEA. My general conclusion is that the "plantation song" or "Foster creation" came first, and was then adapted by the shantymen.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble