There's not much in the Traditional Ballad Index. The Digital Tradition has the lyrics found in Kennedy's Folksongs of Britain and Ireland. Kennedy recorded Bob and Ron Copper in 1955. The 1955 recording is available on an extraordinary Topic CD, Come Write Me Down: The Early Recordings of the Copper Family of Rottingdean (Topic #TSCD534). I got my copy from Dick Greenhaus at CAMSCO.
-Joe Offer-

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Traditional Ballad Index entry:

Spencer the Rover

DESCRIPTION: "These words were composed by Spencer the Rover, who travelled Great Britain and most parts of Wales." After much rambling and assorted adventures, he returns "to his family and wife" and decides to go roving no more
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1856 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(3617))
KEYWORDS: rambling family return
FOUND IN: Britain(England(All))
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Williams-Thames, pp. 130-131, "Spencer the Rover" (1 text) (also Wiltshire-WSRO Wt 327)
Kidson-Tunes, pp. 154-156, "Spencer the Rover" (1 text, 1 tune)
Kennedy 331, "Spencer the Rover" (1 text, 1 tune)
Copper-SoBreeze, pp. 264-265, "Spencer the Rover" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, SPENCROV*
Roud #1115
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(3617), "Spencer the Rover" ("These words were composed by Spencer the rover"), J. Cadman (Manchester), 1850-1855; also Firth c.21(8), Johnson Ballads 1880, Harding B 11(3616), Harding B 25(1824), Firth b.25(257), Johnson Ballads 1842 [some words illegible], Harding B 11(3620), 2806 c.16(36), Firth c.26(209), Harding B 11(3618)
LOCSinging, as102610, "Spencer the Rover" ("These words were composed by Spencer the Rover"), Jackson & Son (Birmingham), no date
File: K331

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