Origin: Ballad of Grace Brown and Chester Gillette

Subject: RE: Ballad Of Chester Gillette & Grace brown
From: georgeward
Date: 07 Aug 02 - 01:11 AM

If memory serves as it should, this is on Folk-Legacy's recording of my old mentor and friend, Adirondack singer Lawrence Older.

I've heard others sing it. Bill, I'm sure some of your older-generation country music buddies would know it. Seems to me that either Smokey Green or Dick Richards knew it over here (I'm in Saratoga County,NY), maybe both.

What I've never heard is an author attribution. Maybe if you post it, someone who knows more will rise to the bait. I'd live to know. -George Ward (no relation to the DA )

Subject: RE: Ballad Of Chester Gillette & Grace brown
From: masato sakurai
Date: 06 Aug 02 - 03:45 PM

It's "Grace Brown and Chester Gillette" [Laws F7] (See The Traditional Ballad Index: Grace Brown and Chester Gillette). THE BALLAD OF GRACE BROWN AND CHESTER GILLETTE is in the DT. The title in Olive Woolley Burt's American Murder Ballads (Oxford UP, 1958, pp. 32-34; with music) is "The Murder of Grace Brown."

~Masato

Subject: RE: Ballad Of Chester Gillette & Grace brown
From: MMario
Date: 06 Aug 02 - 03:29 PM

The ballad is listed as circa 1910 - so yes, it should be in the public domain.

a little history behind the sotry is here

Subject: Ballad Of Chester Gillette & Grace brown
From:
Date: 06 Aug 02 - 02:58 PM

I've come across the above ballad and would like to post its lyrics on BGrass-L. Is this permissable; is the song in public domain? Thanks.

Bill Knowlton