Origins of nursery rhymes

[Pennies]

I was talking to a friend today about where nursery rhymes come from and we were both aware of the whole plague / ring-a-ring-o-roses thing but we wondered where some of the other ones came from.

Anyone know anything about this?

I know Jack and Jill was based on a real story of an unmarried pregnancy. Comes from a small village in Britain (can't remember where) and there is still a lot of people there with the surname 'Jilson'/'Gilson' - Jill's son - geddit.

this should give you some information.

ooh some interesting stuff there, thank you. tho it has a more regal origin for Jack & Jill, though I think I prefer the pregnancy version!