From a page in Ely Playter's Diary - Toronto the Ely Playter fonds F556, Archives of Ontario. Ely Playter (1776-1858) was a farmer, lumberman, militia officer, and member of the Upper Canada House of Assembly, who lived in and around York (Toronto). Judging by it's placement in the diary the song seems to have been put there in about 1815. It is one of at least two 18th century songs with this title. The other more common one, is about a Scottish bandit named Gilderoy. The tune shares a lot of "musical DNA with "Star of The County Down". I have heard the melody played just as a fiddle tune. Thanks to David Raymont for bringing this material to my attention.