I believe "Bruce O" has inadvertently confused this song with the one Hugill calls "Ratcliff Highway," which has been regarded as a descendant of "Watton Towns End." The resemblance seems to me to be rather superficial.

A possible missing link may be a song called "The Frigate Well-Mann'd," supposed to be in a chapbook called "Lovely Peggy's Garland" at the British Library, catalogued T.C.6.a.8 (44). Sea song aficionados would be grateful if any 'Cat at said Library could look it up and post the lyrics, or report if they are unfindable. I'm trying to trace the development of these songs.