# Emma Overd

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**Emma Overd** (; 10 October 1838 – 21 June 1928) was an English folk-singer from [Somerset](/source/Somerset).

## Life

Overd was born in [Langport](/source/Langport), 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.[1] 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](/source/Cecil_Sharp) in 1904 who heard of her skill at folk singing.[2] Sharp had already met local singers [Lucy White](/source/Lucy_White) and Louie Hooper.[3] Sharp was Principal of the [Hampstead Conservatoire of Music](/source/Hampstead_Conservatoire).[4] Overd met [Cecil Sharp](/source/Cecil_Sharp) and is reputed to have said *Lor, girls, here's my beau come at last!* in reply to his interest.[1] Sharp enthused about her singing and transcribed many of her songs.

Sharp's income was derived after 1905 largely from lecturing and publishing folk music.[4] Overd's songs *Bruton Town*, *Wraggle-Taggle Gipsies*, *Sweet Kitty* and *Geordie* were included in the first volume of Sharp's and [Marson](/source/Charles_Marson)'s *Folk Songs from Somerset*[2] which was published in 1905.[5] Her songs *The Crabfish*, *Briery Bush* and *New Year's Song* were in his later volumes.[2] Sharpand Overd met five times over the next eleven years and Overd introduced him to other folk singers she knew.[1]

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.[1] William died in 1914. Overd died a widow in [Langport](/source/Langport) in 1928 and she was buried in [Curry Rivel](/source/Curry_Rivel) but the precise location is unknown.[1]

## References

1. ["Overd, Emma (1838–1928), folk-singer"](https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-74829). 2004. [doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/74829](https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/74829). Retrieved 2020-09-17.

1. ["Overd, Emma - Cecil Sharps People"](https://cecilsharpspeople.org.uk/emma-overd.html). *cecilsharpspeople.org.uk*. Retrieved 2020-09-17.

1. ["White, Lucy Anna (1848–1923), folk-singer"](https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-74830). 2004. [doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/74830](https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/74830). Retrieved 2020-09-25.

1. Heaney, Michael (2004). ["Sharp, Cecil James"](http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/36040). *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)*. [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press)

1. Sharp, Cecil J. & Marson, Charles L. (1905). [*Folk Songs from Somerset*](https://books.google.com/books?id=zLbxvgEACAAJ&q=Sharp's+Folk+Songs+from+Somerset). Simpkin ; Schott.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Emma Overd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Overd) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Overd?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.