Oxfordshire Lass- Jason Ritchie (KY) pre1949
[From: An Appalachian symposium: essays written in honor of Cratis D. Williams by ‎Jerry Wayne Williamson - 1977; p. 195, 196. A quote by Jason follows. The three ballads by Jason Ritchie are in an essay, "Living is collecting," by Jean Ritchie.
Jason Ritchie was born December 17, 1860, and died September 1959[1] in Talcum, Knott County, Kentucky. He is the cousin of Balis Ritchie and was known to Balis' daughter Jean Ritchie as "Uncle Jason." Jean met Jason in July of 1949 and got his version then.
This is a remarkable version. Even though Jason Ritchie was familiar with some print versions, there is nothing in his version that is from print unless it has been rewritten. As far as I've able to determine this version is legitimate. Jason was a lawyer, and an avid ballad collector and enthusiast which began around the time Josephine McGill came to Hindeman to collect ballads --he took her to visit a number of informants and was mentioned in her book. He was to be an informant for Cecil Sharp in 1917 but never showed up for the meeting. He has supplied ballad to Jean Ritchie and several of them appear to have been taken from print or were arranged from print.
Although this appears to be only the second extant traditional version based on the Berkshire Tragedy reduction it also has bits of text from the Lexington Murder/ Lexington Miller reductions. Jason's last two stanzas directly quote Berkshire and most of the stanzas are close to Berkshire.
42 Lord grant me grace while I do stay,
that I may now repent,
Before I from this wicked world,
most shamefully am sent.
44 Lord wash my hateful sins away,
which have been manifold.
Have mercy upon me [I] thee pray,
and Christ receive my soul.
This is much more polished than Pollyanna Harmon's version collected in 1930.
R. Matteson 2016]
Jason is quoted saying this about his version: They'uz sweethearts, and. . . she got pregnant. went'n told 'im 'bout it and he killer 'er. . . tuck 'er off in th' night. . . let me think on the tune of it. . . some of the Williamses, I heard 'em sing it. . ."
The Oxfordshire Lass- Jason Ritchie as learned from the Williams family, no date given but before 1949.
1. My parents raised me tenderly
And provided for me well,
It was in the town of Oxfordshire,
They placed me in a mill.
2. It was there I met an Oxford lass
with a dark and charming eye,
I asked her if she would consent
one night with me to lie.
3. Then what to do I did not know
I considered night and day;
The devil he persuaded me
To take her life away.
4. I went unto her sister's house,
At eight o'clock at night,
Poor creature little did she think
I owed her any spite.
5. I asked her if she would walk with me,
in the field a little way.
That we could talk and soon agree,
and appoint the wedding day
6. All hand in hand we went along,
unto a lonesome place;
I drew a stake out of the hedge
And smote her over the face.
7. Down on her bended knees she fell
and did for mercy cry,
For heavens sake don't murder me
for I am not fit to die
8. No mercy on her I did show
but wounded her full sore,
O there I put my love to death
whom I cannot restore.
9. Then for to wash the stain away
I took her by the hair;
And dragged her to the river
and I threw her body there.
10. Then straightway to the mill I run
like one all in a maze.
The miller fixed his eyes on me
and at me he did gaze.
11. Saying "What's this blood upon your hands,
likewise upon your clothes?"
I answered him immediately,
"The blood is from my nose."
12. Next day this maiden she was missed
and nowhere could be found,
And I was apprehended soon,
to the high sheriff bound.
13. Her sister there against me swore,
she said she had no doubt,
She swore she thought I murdered her,
by me calling of her out.
14. O Lord, give me a praying heart
and time for to repent,
I soon will leave this wicked world,
so shamefully I am sent.
15. Lord wash, my sins and guilt away,
they are of the darkest fold;
O lord from heaven look down on me,
and Christ receive my soul.
1. Jean says Uncle Jason was 83 years old in 1949 and died in 1957.