Nell Cropsey- John Squire Chappell (NC) 1912 Chappell
[From Louis Chappell in his 1939 book, Folk Songs of the Roanoke and Albemarle, probably a relative, not researched. John Squire Chappell's wife contributed a version of George Collins (Bronson TTCB). He may be a descendant of John Squire Chappell and Susannah Blanchard Chappell-- he should be John S. Chappell, Jr. born 6 Dec., 1887 died 5 Sept. 1930.
This is a North Carolina variant of "Lexington Murder" attached to Nell Cropsey who was murdered in 1901 in Elizabeth City, NC.
R. Matteson 2016]
Nell Cropsey III- sung by John Squire Chappell of Tyner, NC in 1912
My dear old parents brought me here,
Provided for me well,
And in the city of Dixie Belle
They placed me in the mill.
Last Saturday night three weeks ago,
When cursed be the day,
The devil put it in my head
To take her life away.
I went over to her sister's house,
'Twas eight o'clock that night,
And" little did the poor girl think
Against her I had a spite.
I asked her to take a little walk,
A little ways with me,
So we might have a little talk
About our wedding day.
So off we went both side by side
Till we came to a silent place;
I drew a slab from off the fence
And struck her in the face.
Down on her bended knees she fell
And oh for mercy cried-:
For heaven's sake don't murder me,
I'm not prepared to die.
But little did I heed to her
But only struck her more,
Until I saw the innocent blood
Which I could not restore.
I wound my hands in her coal black hair
And tried to hide my sins;
I drug her down to the river's edge
And there I plunged her in.
As I went back to the mill that night
I met my servant John;
He asked me why I was so pale
And why I was so wan.
And what was the cause of so much blood
All on my hands and clothes;
I told him 'twas a dreadful case
Of bleeding at the nose.
As I went to my room that night
And tried to take a rest,
It seemed as though the flames of hell
Were burning in my breast.
So come all young men and warning take
When love gets out untrue,
And never let the devil get
The upper hand of you.