Little Sister Mary- Hicks (NC) pre1939 Abrams
[From a MS in the Abrams Collection online where it is titled: Lizie Wan, Variant 1. Abrams, however, knew it was a version of Edward and made a recording of Miss Callie Hicks singing the version:
http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/docapp/abrams/field_recordings/edward3.html
Callie sings six stanzas; the first five stanzas below and she adds a stanza before the 5th. Abrams calls Callie Hicks-- Nora's daughter-in-law (Addie Hicks is her daughter) and with all the intermarriages in that family it may be so. Even though Callie's version is slightly different it's the same family version.
On the MS is says: Sung by Nora Hicks; Copied by Addie Hicks (Nora's daughter); Given me by Edith Walker. Edith Cavell Walker (1919-1994) of Madison, NC discovered Nora Hicks (1886-1953) of Sugar Grove, Watauga County, North Carolina in the late 1930s. Even though this is dated c. 1939 when it was collected-- it is an ancient version.
The version Sharp collected from Jane Hicks Gentry in 1916 (Sharp A) also came from the Hicks-Harmon family. Edith Cavell Walker may have found the Mast Gap "Hicks" through I. G. Greer, who also visited Nora. According to a source I'd forgotten, Thomas Burton, said the Nora Hicks was descended from Fanny Hicks, who was the main source of the family songs. After talking on the phone with Burton he wasn't so sure he said that but after checking- he was right! Here's more from In American Folklore: An Encyclopedia edited by Jan Harold Brunvand:
Council Harmon's grandfather on his mother's side was "Big Sammy" Hicks. Fanny Hicks (1837–1914), who was Big Sammy's granddaughter on her father's side, passed on her immense repertoire of songs to her granddaughter Nora Hicks.
The informant Nora Hicks, 1886-1953, of Sugar Grove, Watauga County, North Carolina, made several recordings for Abrams around 1940. This version was not one of them. It was written down from Hicks' singing by her daughter Addie. This seems like an ancient version and was probably learned by Hicks before 1900, but there's no way of ascertaining a date.
Through family lines, we can trace the possible ballad source back much further. The excellent version by informant Nora Hicks, 1886-1953, of Sugar Grove, Watauga County, North Carolina, was copied by her daughter Addie and sent to Abrams (or Edith Walker) around 1939. Her version came from her grandmother Fannie Hicks (1837–1914), who was Big Sammy's (Samuel Hicks 1753- 1835) granddaughter. "Big Sammy," was descended from David Hix (also spelled Hicks) whose great grandfather, also named Samuel Hicks, came from England to Virginia in 1638. In 1778 David moved to Watauga County, NC. There no way of proving when this version was learned but very likely it came to Virginia in 1638 and to North Carolina in 1778 when the family moved to the isolated region of Watauga County in the Appalachian Mountains. This version was probably passed from Big Sammy to Fannie Hicks to her granddaughter Nora:
How come that blood on your shirt sleeves?
Oh, tell me, son, I pray.
It is the blood of little Sister Mary
I killed her yesterday.
Nora's version dated 1939 is clearly an ancient version, unusual in that the murder victim is the sister. Not every version was retained from their forebearers like the Hicks family- well known in that remote region of North Carolina for their folklore. What's even more remarkable is this version, which I would consider to be one of the most important US/Canada versions, is not even known- has not been published or talked about by folklorists.
R. Matteson 2014]
LITTLE SISTER MARY- Nora Hicks, 1886-1953 Location: Sugar Grove, Watauga County, North Carolina
How come that blood on your shirt sleeves?
Oh, tell me, son, I pray
It is the blood of a little gray mare
That ploughed that ground for me.
It is too much for a little gray mare,
Oh, tell me, son, I pray
It is the blood of a little gray hound
That run that deer for me.
How come that blood on your shirt sleeve?
Oh, tell me, son, I pray.
It is the blood of a little gray hound
That ran that deer for me.
How come that blood on your shirt sleeves?
Oh, tell me, son, I pray.
It is the blood of little Sister Mary
I killed her yesterday.
Oh, what did you kill her over? [1]
Oh, tell me son, I pray.
I killer her over a willow bush
That will never make a tree.
Oh, what will you do when your papa comes?
Oh, tell me son, I pray.
I'll sit my foot on yonder boat
I'll sail across the sea.
Oh, when are you coming back?
Oh tell me, son, I pray.
I am never coming back until the sea goes dry
And you'll know that never be.
1. originally "own" which means "about" or "over."