Bridgewater Merchant- Stevens (NY) 1820 Thompson
[From Douglass/Stevens MS printed in A Pioneer Songster- Thompson, 1958. Thompson comments: "This great-aunt died in the early 1850's so the ballad apparently antedates those years by some time."
This is the main version used by Gardham to create his composite. This is the original MS- spelling not corrected.
R. Matteson 2016]
The Bridgewater Merchant
1. At Bridgewater there lived a Merchant,
Who had two sons and a daughter fair.
Of life by death they were berieved[1],
Which filled their children's heart with care.
2. 'Twas o'er the seas their(his) sons did venture
All for to bring, bring back their gain.
They had an apprentice by firm indenture
They sent him factor o'er the main.
3. He was of a fair complexion,
Strate[2] and complete in every limb;
Their sister placed her whole affection,
On this young man, unbeknown to them.
4. Three thousand pounds it was the portion
All for this fair and butiful[3] dame.
To this young man that crossed the ocean
She was resolved to bestow the same
5. It was one day the youngest brother
By chance did see them sport and play.
He told it secret to the other
And then these words they both did say,
6. Of parents mean he has descended,
May be he thinks her for to have;
But this courtship shall soon be ended,
We'll send him headlong to the grave.
7. Now to contrive this bloody slaughter,
They did conclude it should be so,
That this young man they both would flatter
With them a hunting for to go.
8. In a small wood not much frequented
Where harmless lambs did sport and play
These villains could not be contented
But must take his precious life away
9. In a dry ditch where there was no water
Where thorns and briers had overgrown
There for to hide their bloody slaughter
There this young man was killed and thrown
10. When they returned to their sister
Who asks where is your serveant man
I ask because you seem to whisper
Dear brothers tell me if you can
11. We lost him in our game of hunting
And nothing more of him could see
To tell you plain I am affronted
What makes you thus examine me.
12. That very night as she lay sleeping
There this young man he came and stood
By her bedside he stood a weeping
All covered o'er in gore of blood
13. It is vain says he my jewel
For you to murmur or repine
Your brothers have killed me being cruel
And in such a place you may me find
14. The very next day to the woods she retired
With many a sigh and a bitter grown
And there she found whom she admired
In that same place was killed and thrown
15. Although his lips with blood were dyed
Her tears as salt as any brine
She ofttimes kissed him and cried
Alas! thou bosom friend of mine
16. Although my brothers have been cruel
To take your precious life away
One grave shall serve for both my jewel
While I have breath I will by thee stay
17. Three days and nights there she sat weeping
'Till seemed her heart would burst with woe
Feeling sharp hunger on her creeping
Homeward she was forced to go
18. When she returned to her brothers
Who when these murderers came see
With blushes they of her inquired
What makes you look so mournfully
19. Oh! dear brothers thou knowest the reason
That makes your sister look so wan
Against the law you have acted treason
And for the same shall surely swing. [4]
20. The murderers knowing their grief and sorrow
Strateway on board of a ship did go
If you will believe me on the morrow
Black clouds and storms were seen to blow
21. While in a rage and a foaming billow
Which cast both ship and gunnel too
These murderers knowing their grief and sorrow
Began to tremble and look blue
22. For to look blue it was no wonder
Just like an overbreaking wave
Both these young men were washed over
And the seas became their silent grave.
1. bereaved. The beginning of this line is improved in Graham's version: "And through life to death"
2. Straight
3. beautiful
4. Note by original copyist: You may use either the last line of the 19th verse or the line below:
By killing of your servent man.