From W Newport
Collected by Francis Collinson, Boughton Aluph, 15th June 1952
Francis Collinson Manuscript Collection COL/3/7D
The Thresher Man
From Mr Barling
Collected by Francis Collinson, South Willesborough, 3rd December 1942
Francis Collinson Manuscript Collection COL/1/15
This is very similar to the version of the song collected by Cecil Sharp from Clarke Lonkhurst at Hamstreet in 1908.
In Collinson’s MS the last two lines of verse 5 are highlighted and these alternative lines provided at the foot of the page (although with the note “don’t copy this”):
With my frail [sic] upon my shoulder and a bottle of strong beer
I’m as happy as those with ten thousand a year
The Thresherman and the Squire
From Clarke Lonkhurst
Collected by Cecil Sharp, Hamstreet, 23rd September 1908.
Cecil Sharp MSS, Folk Words CJS2/9/1774, Folk Tunes CJS2/10/1921
A similar version of the song – although in 4/4 rather than 6/8 – was noted by Francis Collinson from Clark Lonkhurst’s cousin Harry Barling. See The Thresher Man.