American sources show three forms: an ordinary red swallowtail with a black ball, a tapered swallowtail and a rectangular flag. Mystic Seaport gives B444 as the original 1816 form, B363 as an alternative and B555 for the Marshall period after 1836. Rosanoski’s later summary instead says “post 1816” for the rectangular form and twice prints “red ball”; these discrepancies are retained in the original record rather than silently reconciled. He cautions that ball size and flag proportions may reflect artists or makers rather than distinct historical designs.
A painting of Fidelia by Samuel Walters supports the tapered form. One cited account says the black ball on crimson was chosen in 1816 from the US Navy “Meatball” emblem as a sign of efficiency. Sources also describe a black ball on the sails, but differ in placing it below the foretopsail’s close-reef band or on the foresail.
The rectangular design continued with Charles E. Peabody, Benjamin Marshall’s grandson, as Alaska Steamship’s first flag and subsequently with Puget Sound Navigation. The later ferry flag with a white-edged black ball is recorded separately in the discussion; these later companies are not merged into the two original lines.
The American Black Ball Line, later called the Old Line, pioneered scheduled New York–Liverpool sailings rather than waiting for full cargoes. Sources date its foundation to 1816, 1817 or 1818. South Street names Isaac Wright & Son, Benjamin Marshall, Francis and Jeremiah Thompson, with a November 1817 prospectus and operations from January 1818. Another account attributes formation in 1816 to Charles H. Marshall. Rosanoski explicitly declines to resolve the dates because the quoted accounts do not establish their underlying authority.
Benjamin Marshall soon left shipping, and Jeremiah Thompson failed in the 1827 crash. South Street records sale of the original line on 29 January 1834 and transfer of control to Goodhue & Co. and others in 1836, followed by Captain Charles H. Marshall’s management and purchase of Goodhue’s interest. The flag sources also distinguish the earlier line from its Marshall period.
Closure is variously dated 1878 or 1879. Ruth Major suggested survival to 1881 because her relative W.W. Urquhart sailed in Isaac Webb, which she believed sank that year. The Palmer vessel list instead places the ship under Charles H. Marshall & Co. after the line’s dissolution and dates its loss to 25 October 1880. The conflicting accounts remain distinct.
USA, New York.
Keep the explicit scope label independent; no alias or company identity is inferred.