Chris Beaumont’s manuscript has the inscription “F. W. Davoll” on the front cover, but was purchased in a second-hand bookshop. Davoll is an unusual name mainly found in Staffordshire, but a F W Davoll was Headmaster at Upton Bishop (Glos / Hereford border) primary school and lived in the School House there in 1901. He died in 1918. He was born in Staffordshire in the mid 19th Century and seems to have married in Cheadle. He may have been the owner and compiler of the book.

In the linked abc file this is tune number X:16

The Morpeth Rant The melody was composed by William Shield, a Northumbrian musician of the 18th century. The dance associated with this tune, which shares the same name, has been performed for over almost two centuries. The title appears in Henry Robson’s list of popular Northumbrian song and dance tunes (“The Northern Minstrel’s Budget”), which he published c. 1800. See http://www.folknortheast.com/learn/core-tunes/morpeth-rant