William Bolton - Identify song?

Subject: William Bolton - Identify song?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 08:22 AM

In the mid-80s, I did some research into the life of William Bolton who was the source for three songs - including "Rounding the Horn" -published in the "Penguin Book of English Folksongs". The songs had been collected from Bolton in Southport, Lancashire by Anne Gilchrist in 1905 and 1907. My subsequent artictle on William Bolton was published in the E,S and D magazine in 1986. I was very lucky in my research as Bolton had a surviving son, Reg. Now, Reg could only remember one verse of a song that his dad used to sing which had a similar tune to "Hanover" ( which is used for the hymn "O Worship the King")..
   
    There was an old women who lived in a cot,
    and scarely a blanket to warm her she'd got.
    Her arms they were thin and the walls they were bare,
    and the cold winter's wind often whistled in there.

Can anyone identify this song?

Subject: RE: William Bolton - Identify song?
From: GUEST, Clive Pownceby
Date: 03 Mar 15 - 03:22 PM

It's been a long time since this post but as a Southport lad, I'd be interested to learn anything further. It's not a song I know either Tunesmith. The world needs to know more!

Subject: RE: William Bolton - Identify song?
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 11:24 AM

I think it might be 'The Old Woman who had Nothing' Roud 19684

It's a child's song, which might ring true with his son remembering it.

Subject: RE: William Bolton - Identify song?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 06:52 PM

It is a poem called Dutiful Jem by Jane Taylor.

Google

Dutiful Jem by Jane Taylor

and you'll find many. I cannot copy PDF, so it looks like you'll be writing it out by hand. I know zip about the melody or any of that.

Subject: RE: William Bolton - Identify song?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 10:35 AM

PS If anyone knows how to reach tunesmith, it might be worth drawing his attention to this thread.

Subject: RE: William Bolton - Identify song?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 10:45 AM

Dutiful Jem

THERE was a poor widow, who lived in a cot,
She scarcely a blanket to warm her had got ;
Her windows were broken, her walls were all bare,
And the cold winter-wind often whistled in there.

Poor Susan was old, and too feeble to spin,
Her forehead was wrinkled, her hands they were thin ;
And bread she'd have wanted, as many have done,
If she had not been blessed with a good little son.

But he loved her well, like a dutiful lad,
And thought her the very best friend that he had :
And now to neglect or forsake her, he knew,
Was the most wicked thing he could possibly do.

For he was quite healthy, and active, and stout,
While his poor mother hardly could hobble about,
And he thought it his duty and greatest delight,
To work for her living from morning to night.

So he started each morning as gay as a lark,
And worked all day long in the fields till 'twas dark :
Then came home again to his dear mother's cot,
And cheerfully gave her the wages he got.

And oh, how she loved him ! how great was her joy !
To think her dear Jem was a dutiful boy :
Her arm round his neck she would tenderly cast,
And kiss his red cheek, while the tears trickled fast.

Oh, then, was not this little Jem happier far
Than naughty, and idle, and foolish boys are ?
For, as long as he lived, 'twas his comfort and joy,
To think he'd not been an undutiful boy.

That is from

http://archive.org/stream/originalpoemsoth00tayl/originalpoemsoth00tayl_djvu.txt

Number 279.

Subject: RE: William Bolton - Identify song?
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 04:42 PM

I can't find confirmation of the author.

The words come from "Original Poems for infant minds" by Ann Taylor, Jane Taylor, Rev. Isaac Taylor, Isaac Taylor, Jr., Adelaide O'Keeffe, and Bernard Barton.

The authors are not identified in the book, although in The Taylors of Ongar: An Analytical Bio-Bibliography, Christina Duff Stewart confirms attributions of Original Poems based on the publisher's records.

Ann Taylor's son, Josiah Gilbert, wrote in her biography, "two little poems - 'My Mother,' and 'Twinkle, twinkle, little Star,' - are perhaps, more frequently quoted than any; the first, a lyric of life, was by Ann, the second, of nature, by Jane; and they illustrate this difference between the sisters."

Subject: RE: William Bolton - Identify song?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 05:29 PM

Dutiful Jem by Jane Taylor

Google that, henry.

Look under the heading

the band of hope record - Page 102 - Google Books Result

It is attributed to Jane there and more than a few other places. Hope that helps.

Subject: RE: William Bolton - Identify song?
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 06:37 PM

Thank you, but I'm not sure the internet is going to reveal the answer.

After Jane's early death, "much of Ann's work came to be ascribed to Jane, a borrowing which, Ann ruefully remarked, she could ill afford and which Jane certainly did not require."

Ann Taylor's son, Josiah Gilbert, wrote in her biography, "two little poems - 'My Mother,' and 'Twinkle, twinkle, little Star,' - are perhaps, more frequently quoted than any; the first, a lyric of life, was by Ann, the second, of nature, by Jane; and they illustrate this difference between the sisters."

I'd say that Dutiful Jem is more a lyric of life than one of nature.

Subject: RE: William Bolton - Identify song?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 07:14 PM

Thanks, henryp. I was not at all aware of that. I appreciate your patience :-)

Subject: RE: William Bolton - Identify song?
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 06 Mar 15 - 02:24 PM

Really pleasing to read all of the above. Thanks so much. It just shows that after 12 years, there's life in the old thread yet!