Captain Glen- Henneberry (NS) pre1932 Creighton
[From Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia; Creighton. This ballad may be much older than 1932, because of Henneberry vast repertoire was learned many years before that date. Her first visit in 1928.
Benjamin Howard Henneberry (1863-1951) was a fisherman from Devil's Island Nova Scotia. His father was Andrew Thomas Henneberry of McNab's Island, NS (1817– 1876) and his mother was Maria Edwards (1820– 1871) of Popes Harbour, Nova Scotia.
Ben was first visited by Helen Creighton in 1928. He married Priscilla Seward in 1888 and they had a large family. After his wife's death he married Johanna DeYoung in 1913. Edmund (1898-1984) one of his sons, carried on the music tradition.
R. Matteson 2014]
No. 55. Captain Glen- Sung by Ben Henneberry, Devil's Island pre1932
1. THERE was a ship, and a ship of fame
Launched off the stocks bound across the main,
A hundred and fifty brisk young men
Were picked and choosen every one.
2. William Glen was our captain's name.
He was a tall and a nice young man,
As fine a sailor as ever went to sea,
And we were bound for New Barbee.
3. One night our captain on his pillow did lay,
A voice came to him, those words did say,
"Prepare yourself and ship's company
To-morrow night you must lay with me."
4. Then he awoke in a terrible fright,
It being the hour of twelve at night,
And for his boatswain he did call
And told to him his secrets all.
5. "Boatswain," he says, "it grieves me to the heart,
To think I've acted a villains part,
To take what was not my lawful due
And starve my passengers and crew.
6."There's one thing more I have to rehearse
Which I shall mention in this verse.
A squire I slew in Stratfordshire
All for the sake of a lady fair.
7. "And on my servant I lay the blame
And he was hung and all for the same."
8. "O dearest captain, if that be so
Don't let none of our ship's crew know,
Keep that secret within your breast
And pray to God to give you rest."
9. Next morning early the storm did rise,
Which give our seamen much surprise,
The sea broke over us fore and aft,
Till scarce a man on deck was left.
10. Then our boatswain he did declare
That our captain was a murderer.
It soon enraged our whole ship's crew
And overboard our captain threw.
11. When this was done the calm was there,
Our goodly ship onward did steer.
The wind abated and calmed the sea
And we got safe to New Barbee.
12. And when we did arrive out there
Our goodly ship for to repair,
The people all were amazed to see
What a poor distressed ship's crew were we.