Pretty Polly- Elizabeth Waddell (MO) 1929 Randolph B
[From Ozark Folksongs II, 1947 by Randolph.
His notes follow.
Randolph spells the broadside, "The Gaspard Tragedy" which is Mackenzie's spelling. The date for the William Chapman is about 30 years later and Combs' version although titled "The Gosport Tragedy" is just a version of Pretty Polly.
R. Matteson 2016]
153. PRETTY POLLY
"Pretty Polly" is a condensation of "The Gaspard Tragedy," a long British ballad that dates at least to the middle of the eighteenth century (Ebsworth, Roxburghe Ballads, 1899 VIII, pp. 143, 173). see Kittregge JAFL 20, 1907, p. 261) for references.
American texts have been reported by Campbell and Sharp (English Folk songs from the southern Appalachian:
1917, No. 39), Mackenzie (Quest of the Ballad, 1919, p. 55; Cox (Folk-Songs of the South, 1925 p.308), Kincaid (My Favorite Mountain Ballads, 1928, p.35); Niles (More songs of the Hill Folk, 1936, pp. 2-3), and Scarborough (A Song Catcher in Southern Mountains, 1937 pp. 128-134). Cox (Traditional Ballads, 1939, p. 62) reports a West Virginia text with a reference to one Polly Aldridge, murdered by William Chapman near Warfield, Ky, about 1820
"The Gosport Tragedy" is given by Combs (Folk-Song from the Kentucky Highlands" 1939, pp.35-37), and "Pretty Polly" by Brewster (Ballads and Songs of Indiana, 1940, pp. 298-299. Compare also the phonograph record, by Dock Boggs (Brunswick 132) and B. F. Shelton (Victor 35538).
B. [Pretty Polly] Miss Elizabeth Waddell, Ash Grove, Mo., June 9, 1929, supplies two [four] stanzas of another version:
He led her through hedges and ditches so deep,
At last this poor maiden began for to weep,
Saying I'm fearful, sweet Willie, you've led me astray,
On purpose my innocent life to betray.
Oh yes, pretty Polly, you've guessed it just right,
I was digging your grave the biggest part of last night.
The grave it is dug and the spade lying by,
Oh yes, pretty Polly, you're sure going to die.