COLLECTED FROM GEORGE PATTISON

THE BLACKBALL LINE

Capstan
George Pattison
Cape de Couedie Lighthouse
Kangaroo Island
South Australia
4 Dec 1924 (and 1941)
Clive Carey SS413

In the Black Ball Line I did serve my time
To my weigh-ay-ay, Ay-a weigh oh
In the Black Ball Line I served my time
Hurrah! For the Black Ball Line.

The Black Ball ships they do roll and toss
The North Atlantic plough across

They sail from Liverpool to Baltimore
Through winter gales Black Ballers tore

With sparkling spars and lofty masts
Reeling fifteen knots when the log was cast

The Black Ball ships the lee cathead
Now it’s back the mainyard, heave the lead

The limejuice ships are clippers fine
And in the Black Ball line I served my time

This song is not included in Hugill and I have not been able to locate these verses in other collections. I am not sure what the reference ‘the lee cathead’ refers to however it might possibly have been Carey’s interpretation of what Pattison sang – possible ‘they leave the head’ or even ‘they leave Spithead’

The Black Ball Line was a fleet of packet ships running between Liverpool and New York, the first scheduled trans-Atlantic service, founded in 1817. In operation for some 60 years, it took its name from its flag, a black ball on a red background. The line was founded by a group of New York Quaker merchants headed by Jeremiah Thompson, and included Isaac Wright & Son, Francis Thompson and Benjamin Marshall. In 1851, James Baines & Co. of Liverpool entered the packet trade using the same name and flag as the New York Company, despite its protests. Thus, for about twenty years, two "Black Ball lines" under separate ownership were operating in direct competition on the transatlantic packet trade. James Baines & Co. also operated ships running between Liverpool, UK and Australia, including famous clipper ships such as Champion of the Seas, James Baines, Lightning, Indian Queen, Marco Polo and Sovereign of the Seas.