Emma Overd (; 10 October 1838 – 21 June 1928) was an English folk-singer from

Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...

Life

Overd was born in

Langport Langport is a town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Somerset, England, west of Somerton, Somerset, Somerton. The parish, which covers only part of the town, has a population of 3,578. Langport is contiguous with Huish Episcopi, ...

, Somerset in 1838. Her parents were Charles and Elizabeth (née Suttiett) 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 collector of folk songs, folk dances and instrumental music, as well as a lecturer, teacher, composer and musician. He was a key figure in the folk-song revival in England dur ...

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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, British Traditional singer, folk-singer from Somerset. She was an early source of songs for the Roots revival, folk song collector Cecil Sh ...

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 Communes of France, commune in the Marne (department), Marne Departments of France, department in north-eastern France. image:Église Saint-Nicolas de Marson 2.JPG, center, Church. See also * Communes of the Marne department Ref ...

'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.

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. 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, around west of Somerton, Somerset, Somerton and east of Taunton in the South Somerset district. The parish had a population of 2,347 at the 2021 census, and includes the hamlets ...

but the precise location is unknown.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Overd, Emma 1838 births 1928 deaths People from Langport Agricultural labor English folk singers 19th-century English women singers 20th-century English women singers Musicians from Somerset