Butcher Boy- Lem Griffis (GA) 1966 Burrison
[From Storytellers: Folktales & Legends from the South edited by John A. Burrison; 1991. This is an archaic version from Lem Griffis of Fargo in south Georgia, born about 1896 and died in 1968. He was Georgia's best-known traditional storyteller. By his recollection it is dated back many years:
Lem Griffis: Well, I know another one, but I declare. My great-grandparents brought it from across the ocean, when they came over hyer. An' I think I still remember that song, all of it. But I know, my grandmother useta sing it years an' years ago.
His grandmother and grandfater were born in 1794 in Georgia.
R. Matteson 2017]
Butcher Boy- sung by Lem Griffis of Fargo, Georgia (on the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp) collected about 1966 and dated back to the late 1700s, early 1800s by his grandmother.
In London City where I did dwell,
A butcher boy I loved so well;
He's courted me my heart away
An' along with me he will not stay.
He goes downtown an' he sets 'isself down,
He takes a stranger upon his knee.
He tells to them things he won't tell me,
An' don't you know that it's grief to see.
He courts them shy, I can tell you why,
Because they have more gold than I.
But gold will melt and silver will fly,
But conscious love can never die.
It was late one night when her father came home,
Inquiring where his daughter had gone
She's gone away her life to destroy;
She's hung herself for the butcher boy.
He ran upstairs and the door he broke,
And found her hanging on a rope
He taken his knife and he cut her down,
And in her bosom this note was found:
"I love you Johnny, I love you well,
I love you better than tongue can tell.
I love my father an' mother too,
But I don't love them like I do you.
I wish an' I wish, but it's all in vain
I wish I was made [a maid?] over again
__________________________
[Lem Griffis' father] Samuel Pompey Griffis (1854-1917) M: Elizabeth Mixon-- Samuel Pompey Griffis (son of Samuel B Griffis, Jr and Naomi Kirkland) was born February 15, 1854 in Ware County, Georgai, and died date unknown.He married Elizabeth Mixon on February 19, 1880 in Clinch County, Georgia, daughter of Josiah Mixon and Lucinda Horton.
[Lem Griffis' grandfather] Samuel B Griffis, Jr (b. 1794, d. April 27, 1884) Samuel B Griffis, Jr (son of Samuel Griffis and Nancy LNU (American Indian)) was born 1794 in Montgomery County, Georgia, and died April 27, 1884 in Clinch County, Georgia. He married Naomi Kirkland on Abt. 1828 in Appling County, Georgia, daughter of John Kirkland and Elizabeth Lane.
Samuel Griffis Jr. was Captain of the 586th District, Ware County Militia, 1826-1827. He was a private in Captain David J. Miller's company of Ware County Militia in the Indian War of 1838.
The Griffis home place was on lot of land # 484, 12th district of Clinch County where he lived until his death. Mr. Griffis moved from Appling County to his new home in the 12th district in 1847.
[Lem Griffis' great-grandfather] Samuel Griffis (son of John Griffis, R S and Barbara LNU) was born 1775 in Four Holes, Orangeburg District, South Carolina, and died December 30, 1859 in Homerville, Clinch County, Georgia.He married (1) Nancy LNU (American Indian) on 1793 in Georgia.He married (2) Mary "Polly" Register on December 05, 1835.
[Lem Griffis great-great-grandfather] John Griffis, R S (b. 1754, d. Bet. 1781 - 1783) John Griffis, R S (son of Josep Griffis and Margaret Hutto) was born 1754 in Orangeburg District, South Carolina, and died Bet. 1781 - 1783 in Revolutionay War, South Carolina.He married Barbara LNU.
Josep Griffis (b. Abt. 1723, d. Bet. 1781 - 1783)
Josep Griffis1 was born Abt. 1723 in Germany???, and died Bet. 1781 - 1783.He married Margaret Hutto, daughter of Issac Hutto and Maria Catherina Von Stern.