“The Sheffield Apprentice”

Description

The singer abandons his work in London to go to Holland. His new mistress proposes marriage. He refuses her; he is already engaged. His mistress plants evidence on him and has him condemned as a thief. He bids his Polly farewell and is hanged

Notes

Compare this story to the biblical tale of Joseph and Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:1-20) - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Child Owlet" [Child 291]

Broadsides

• Bodleian, Harding B 28(23), "Sheffield Apprentice," W. Armstrong (Liverpool), 1820-1824; also Firth b.26(316), Firth b.34(270), Firth b.26(499), Harding B 11(624), Harding B 15(281a), "Sheffield Apprentice"; 2806 c.16(20), Harding B 11(3489), Firth b.34(269), Harding B 25(1763), Harding B 17(282a), Harding B 28(235), Harding B 28(249), Harding B 11(4098), Harding B 11(3490)[a few illegible words], Harding B 15(282a), Harding B 20(127), "[The] Sheffield 'Prentice"

References

1. Laws O39, "The Sheffield Apprentice"
2. Belden, pp. 131-132, "The Sheffield Apprentice" (1 text)
3. Flanders/Brown, pp. 94-96, "In the Town of Oxford" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. FSCatskills 55, "The Holland Song" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Warner 80, "Way Up in Sofield (or, The Sheffield Apprentice)"; 152, "The Sheffield 'Prentice" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
6. JHCox 83, "The Sheffield Apprentice" (1 text)
7. BrownII 120, "The Sheffield Apprentice" (1 text plus 1 excerpt and mention of 1 more)
8. Chappell-FSRA 80, "The Sheffield Prentice" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. Brewster 57, "The Sheffield Apprentice" (1 text)
10. Cambiaire, pp. 80-81, "Farewell, Lovely Polly" (1 text)
11. Dean, pp. 18-19. "The Apprentice Boy" (1 text)
12. Gardner/Chickering 16, "The Sherfield (sic.) Apprentice" (1 tex t plus mention of 1 more)
13. SharpAp 97, "The Sheffield Apprentice" (5 texts, 5 tunes)
14. SHenry H31, p. 411, "The 'Prentice Boy" (1 text, 1 tune)
15. Huntington-Whalemen, pp. 192-194, "The Sheffield 'Prentice Boy" ( text)
16. Ord, pp. 421-422, "The Sheffield Apprentice" (1 text, 1 tune)
17. Creighton/Senior, pp. 203-206, "The Sheffield Prentice" (3 texts, 1 tune)
18. Creighton-SNewBrunswick 17, "The Sheffield Prentice" (1 text, 1 tune)
19. Peacock, pp. 709-710, "The Sheffield Apprentice" (1 text, 1 tune)
20. Leach-Labrador 132, "The Sheffield Apprentice" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
21. DT 489, SHEFFAPP*
22. Roud #399
23. BI, LO39