Lindahl,
The oldest version known to Child was from a broadside "The Miller and the King's Daughter" dated 1658, assuming there were no later additions (I can't tell right now as my volume 5 has been borrowed - Alison are you listening ;-).

Jon W,
I can't help noticing the similarity between the version you mention and Arlo Guthrie's "Percy's Song"; tune, structure and refrain (turn, turn the wind and rain). The stories are different but Guthrie must have been influenced by the older song.

Cheers,
Alan