Origins: James McDonald murder case

Subject: Origins: James McDonald murder case
From: Franz S.
Date: 01 May 04 - 01:44 PM

My mother recently published a ballad study on "Naomi Wise", in which she noted the relationship between that song and the "James McDonald" ballad. I told her about Mudcat, so she asked me if someone out here could give us information on the historical background of "James McDonald". I've done some searching and found nothing but the 1997 Mudcat thread.

According to the broadside title, Jame McDonald murdered Anne O'Brien and was executed for this in Co.Longford, Ireland, sometime in the 18th century. Unfortunately, I don't have access to any research facilities except the internet. Is there a historical background? Wher could I find it?

Subject: RE: Origins: James McDonald murder case
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 01 May 04 - 07:31 PM

Cecil Sharp collected a version of this song from Betsey Holland a traveller whom he met in Simonsbath, Somerset in 1907. He published it in Folk Songs of Somerset Vol 4 in 1911. In Maud Karpeles' 'Cecil Sharp's Collection of English Folk Songs' published in 1974 it is reprinted with the words more accurately transcribed from Cecil Sharp's notes.
Betsey Holland learnt the song from her grandmother, Rebecca Holland. Sharp comments that the words are modern but the song seemed Irish to him.It is in the lydian mode.
I don't know anything about the historical incident it describes.
Mary Humphreys

Subject: RE: Origins: James McDonald murder case
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 01 May 04 - 08:17 PM

On the face of it, the early-to-mid 19th century seems more likely than the 18th. Beside broadside editions mentioned in the earlier Longford Murderer thread, there are some at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

James M'Donald who was executed in Longford for the murder of Anne O'Brien

All apparently printed in Dublin, post 1850. The Roud Folk Song Index lists several examples at no.1412, chiefly from Canada, the USA and Scotland. James Ord noted that the song was brought to Aberdeenshire by Irish migrant labourers in the early C19, and Gavin Greig considered it to have a basis in fact (which the broadsides, which he may not have known of, would seem to support); but that's about as far as it goes at the moment. I don't know of any study of it or investigation into the historical background, but it's certainly the sort of thing that somebody may have looked into.

Subject: RE: Origins: James McDonald murder case
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 May 04 - 08:17 PM

Can anybody post the Sharp version?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Origins: James McDonald murder case
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 01 May 04 - 08:24 PM

I forgot to suggest that your mother (Eleanor Long-Wilgus, I take it?) might usefully ask John Moulden about this.

Subject: RE: Origins: James McDonald murder case
From: Franz S.
Date: 02 May 04 - 12:26 AM

Malcolm, she would be ecstatic to know that anyone would know who she was. I will tell her tomorrow about your message. i think that John Moulden (who I don't know but she might well)   was the spark for this thread. I saw some of his postings on another thread and described them to her (she and I live on opposite sides of North America, so I see her three times a year). She suggested that I might put this out to mudcatters. I will follow up on your suggestion, since she can't these days Thank you very much.

Subject: Lyr Add: NAOMI WISE (from Long-Wilgus)
From: Franz S.
Date: 02 May 04 - 01:00 AM

This is the version in "Naomi Wise: Creation, Re-Creation, and Continuity in an American Ballad Tradition" by Eleanor Long-Wilgus (from what she says is an 18th century broadside in the Harvard College Library):

Young men and old, I now make bold,
Pray lend to me an ear,
This is as cruel a murder,
As ever you did hear.

All on a lovely female
Her age was scarce 16,
Her beauty bright did me delight
Our hearts she did ensnare.

Her rosy cheeks and milk-white skin,
The fairest of the fair,
Because she had no fortune
I did the maid betray.

This creature being an orphan,
As you may see,
So when I got my will of her
I proved her destiny.

This girl was a servant maid
And I a farmer's son,
All in the County Longford,
Convenient to Rahone.

In private there we courted
till I got her with child.
And then to take her precious life
I planned it in my mind.

'Twas on a Sunday evening,
as quickly you'll hear
I Sent for her in private
and soon she came to me.

I said, dear Anne if you comply
To Longford we will go.
And both there get married.
I am sure no one will know.

"Twas late that night we went across the country,
It would draw tears from your eyes
When I was going to murder her, I made her this reply.
"Now, Anne, youl'll go no further,
for here you are to die."

"Oh, James, think on your infant dear,
and don't give me a fright.
Nor don't commit a murder
this dark and dismal night.

"I'll promise God on my knees,
if you spare my life,
That I'll never come to trouble you
or seek to be your wife."

What she said was all in vain,
I gave her dreadful blows,
With a heavy loaded whip
I left her in her gore.

Her blood and brains fell like the rain,
Her moans pierce your heart;
I was sure that I had murdered her
Before I did her part.

She was alive next morning
just by the break of day,
There was a shepherd's daughter
by chance came that way,

She seen her lying in her blood
And came to her relief,
Saying, I was murdered here last night.
Will you bring me to a priest.

The priest and the doctor was sent for,
and the policeman likewise,
When they got information
They went in disguise,

Its quickly they surrounded me
For she told my name.
They brought me back a prisoner,
and lodged me in Longford jail.

I lay there with a troubled mind
Until my trial day,
The jury found me guilty,
And the judge to me did say,

Now, for this cruel murder,
On an orphan, all may see
On the 29th of April
You die on the gallows tree.

My name is James M'Donald
My life I now must part.
For the murder of Anne O'Brien
I am sorry to the heart.
But I hope the Lord will pardon me
Against the judgement day.

(Text as it appears in her book).

Malcolm, I agree that 19th century seems more likely than 18th, because of the reference to "policeman", but who am I to dispute my mother?

Subject: RE: Origins: James McDonald murder case
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 May 04 - 12:34 PM

We have two threads on this murder, not cross-referenced. See older thread 3039: The Longford Murder