Emma Overd born Emma Weaver (10 October 1838 – 21 June 1928) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

agricultural worker and folk-singer in Somerset.

Life

Overd was born in

Langport Langport is a small town and civil parish in Somerset, England, west of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The parish, which covers only part of the town, has a population of 1,081. Langport is contiguous with Huish Episcopi, a separate ...

in 1838. Her parents were Elizabeth (née Suttiett) and Charles Weaver. She was brought up by her father's mother as her own mother died when she was young. She worked in agriculture from a child including stripping willow saplings. The wood could be used for basket work. She was a keen singer who would entertain drinkers with local songs. She came to the notice of

Cecil Sharp Cecil James Sharp (22 November 1859 – 23 June 1924) was an English-born collector of folk songs, folk dances and instrumental music, as well as a lecturer, teacher, composer and musician. He was the pre-eminent activist in the development of t ...

in 1904 who heard of her skill at folk singing. Sharp had already met local singers

Lucy White Lucy Anna White (4 September 1848 – 17 February 1923) was a British folk-singer from Somerset. She was an early source of songs for the folk song collector Cecil Sharp and she is said to have shaped his interests. Her half-sister was another s ...

and Louie Hooper. Sharp was Principal of the Hampstead Conservatoire of Music. Overd met

and is reputed to have said ''Lor, girls, here's my beau come at last!'' in reply to his interest. Sharp enthused about her singing and transcribed many of her songs. Six Pretty Maidens in 1904 from Emma Overd by Cecil Sharp

Six Pretty Maidens in 1904 from Emma Overd by Cecil Sharp

Sharp's income was derived after 1905 largely from lecturing and publishing folk music. Overd's songs ''Bruton Town'', ''Wraggle-Taggle Gipsies'', ''Sweet Kitty'' and ''Geordie'' were included in the first volume of Sharp's and

Marson Marson () is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. center, Church. See also * Communes of the Marne department The following is a list of the 613 communes in the French department of Marne. The communes cooperate in the ...

's ''Folk Songs from Somerset'' which was published in 1905. Her songs ''The Crabfish'', ''Briery Bush'' and ''New Year's Song'' were in his later volumes. Sharpand Overd met five times over the next eleven years and Overd introduced him to other folk singers she knew. After 1909 she was given an old age pension which allowed her to buy a beer each week at Langport's Railway Hotel where she would frequently sing. William died in 1914. Overd died a widow in

in 1928 and she was buried in

Curry Rivel Curry Rivel is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated west of Somerton and east of Taunton in the South Somerset district. The parish has a population of 2,148. The parish includes the hamlet of Burton Pynsent. History The ...

but the precise location is unknown.

Private life

She married William Overd on 25 February 1860 and they had nine children although three did not survive childhood. They lived around Langport.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Overd, Emma 1838 births 1928 deaths People from Langport Agricultural labor English folk singers