Soldiers & sailors

        Gallant Female Sailor.

[NLS note: a graphic appears here – see image of page]

        AIR.—THE FEMALE DRUMMER.

GOOD people give attention and listen to my song,
I will unfold a circumstance that does to love belong,
Concerning a pretty fair maid who ventur'd we are told
Across the briny ocean as a Female Sailor bold.

Her name was Ann Jane Thornton, as you presently shall
            hear,
And as we are informed she was born in Glo'stershire,
Her father lived in Ireland, respected we are told,
And never thought his daughter was a Female Sailor bold.

She was courted by a captain when scarce fifteen years of
            age,
And to be bound in wedlock this couple did engage,
But the captain had to leave the land as I will now unfold,
And she ventur'd o'er the ocean like a Female Sailor bold.

She dressed herself in sailors clothes and overcome with
            joy,
She with a captain did engage to serve as cabin boy,
And when New York in America this fair maid did behold,
She ran to seek her lover did the Female Sailor bold.
Then to her true-loves father she hastened with speed
And enquired for employment,—but dreadful news indeed,
Her lover had some time been dead, this pretty maid was
            told,
Then in agony and sorrow wept the Female Sailor bold,

Some thousand miles she was from home, from parents far
            away,
She travelled 70 miles thro' the woods in North America,
Bereft of friends and kindred, no parent could behold,
My true-love's gone in anguish,—cries the Female Sailor
            bold.

Then she went on board the Adelaide to cross the briny
            wave,
Through wind and hail in storms and gale, she did danger
            brave,
She served as cook and steward in the Adelaide we are told,
Then sail'd on board the Rover, did the Female Sailor bold.

From St. Andrews in America, this fair maid did set sail,
In a vessel called the Sarah, thro' tempest, storm, and gale,
She done her duty like a man, did reef and steer we are
            told,
By the captain was respected well the Female Sailor bold.

With pitch and tar her hands were hard, tho' once like
            velvet soft.
She weigh'd the anchor, heaved the lead, and boldly went
            aloft,
Just one and thirty months she braved the tempest we are
            told,
And always done her duty, did the Female Sailor bold.

In the month of February, eighteen hundred and thirty five,
She to the port of London in the Sarah did arrive,
Her sex was then discovered and the secret did unfold,
And the captain gazed with wonder on the Female Sailor
            bold.

This female was examined, of course by the Lord Mayor,
And in the public papers all reasons did appear
Why she did leave her father and her native land she sold,
To cross the briny ocean like a Female Sailor bold.

It was to seek her lover that she sail'd across the main,
Thro' love she did encounter storm, tempest, wind, and
            rain ;
It was love caused all her trouble and hardships we are told,
May she rest at home contented now the Female Sailor
            bold.

                                                                      [191]

PRINTED BY GEORGE WALKER, JUN., SADLER-STREET,
                                         DURHAM.