The ballad was written only once, in 1783 (or shortly before), from Anna Brown, by her nephew, Robert Eden Scott, and in the same year was sent by her father, prof. Thomas Gordon, to William Tytler with other 14 recorded songs (so-called Tytler-Brown MS).
In the year 1783 (or shortly prior), a ballad was written by Anna Brown's nephew, Robert Eden Scott, and at the same time, her father, prof. Thomas Gordon, shared it with William Tytler as part of a group of 14 recorded songs.