* Earliest known print: The earliest known printed version of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" appeared in a book called "The Juvenile Miscellany" in 1830. This version is credited to Sarah Josepha Hale, an American author and editor.
* Possible origins: While Hale is credited with publishing the rhyme, it's possible that the song existed in some form before her publication. Folklore suggests it may have been based on a real event in the 18th century involving a girl named Mary Sawyer and her lamb in Massachusetts.
* Folklore and evolution: Nursery rhymes often evolve over time, with variations in lyrics and melodies. It's possible that the "Mary Had a Little Lamb" we know today is a result of this evolution and wasn't definitively written by one person at one specific time.
So, while we don't know the exact year of its creation, the earliest documented version of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" appeared in 1830.