Thomas Hampton was born at Blaisdon in Gloucestershire (baptised March 1844), and probably worked on the canals for a while. By 1870 he was living in Hereford, being married there that year. He died in 1896, still resident at Bath St. Hereford. He left a manuscript containing tunes, which is now in the possession of his great-great granddaughter, Becky Dellow, who is researching both TH and the tunes. Although the manuscript was compiled in Hereford, Becky believes some of the tunes were remembered from TH’s childhood in Gloucestershire.

The Ship that never Returned was composed by Henry Clay Work in 1865. TH’s notation is very sketchy. See the version to play for a reinterpretation, which is close to traditional versions of the song.
note by Charles Menteith

In the linked abc file this is tune number X:40