Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-01-27
agricultural department.
THE VERMONT MORGAN HORSE.


colt of the noted Sherman Morgan's get,
which was the youngest of the four
stations by the old Justin Morgan, was
formerly owned by Benjamin Thurston
Of Lowell Mass, and afterward fell
into the hands of David Hill & Son,
who kept him for service during the
last ten years of his life at Bridport,
Vt.
In those palmy days Black Hawk
rose to be the most popular entire horse
on the American continent. His stock
were sought out and admired every
where. He was the sire of no inferior
colts, but his get comprised numerous
beautiful, fast trotting, high priced an
imals, forming an exception, in many
respects, to all others at that time.
Previous to his debut at BridpOrt, the
Morgan family of horses were quietly
but favorably known and appreciated as
roadsters. for earring great weights and
general work. They were sound, easily
kept on simple fare, ready for the har-
ness and docile. Even the most timid
could manage them in facts they were
and are the farmers pet, the backman's
pride, the liveryman's idol. Being so
full of noble and generous spirit, how
could one help but admire them-as
we'll as other model horses-that stand
several hands above the lowest half of
human animals in intellect, enduring
abuse, like "the lamb, dumb before its
shearer," opening not their mouths.
Fast horses were born in progressive
age, and in the fitting time for fitting
place in this world of railways. How
ever. no great sums of money were de-
manded or paid for single teams of Nor
gan stock anywhere until the year l848.
True BritOn, beautiful bay, owned by
General De Lancey of Long Island, N.
Y, was the sire of the first Morgan
horse" so called. The noted military
horse. Traveller, which General James
De Lancey brought with him from Eng
land, and rode in Revolutionary times,
saw the sire of True Briton, whose pedi.
gree traces back to Godolphin Arabian
The dam of the first Morgan was by
Wild Air, and his great grandsire Go
dolphin. In 1895 Mr.. Justin Morgan
of Randolph. VT, took this colt, ther
two years old, which subsequently bore
his name, from Springfield, Mass, tt
his home in Vermont, at which place ht
was afterwards kept for stock purposes
The prevailing color of his descendant
was chestnut brown, some bay, and SOM
coal black. They were noted for thei
heavy, wavy names and tails.
The dam of Black Hawk was a thor
ough-bred English mare, owned in Can
ada, near the north line of New Hamp
shire, where Black Hawk was foaled
1t was from this strain of blood tina
the crow black hairs were derived. Thi
English dam was a coal or crow black
while his sire-old Sherman-was quit
fine-haired, dark chestnut. brown i
color, with white line down the fac
and three white feet.
No particular excitement over tn
Morgans existed at that time, nor wa
any extra attention paid to the famil
descendants Of the old Justin Morgan
Not one farmer in ten had any know
edge of the Morgan name or pedigre
until after Black Hawk had passed on
season at Bridport. AS the history pre-
ceeds the great advantage of public &C
vertising will be seen. The winter a
ter Black Hawks first season, beir
conversant with this breed of horse
made a special journey out to see "h
highness," and his owners, and W;
soon favorably impressed with BlaC
Hawks commanding appearance, beaut
full color and form, lofty style of actit
easy gait and graceful motion, wi
light step, and great deetness on t
trot, which, with other points of exec
lence, make up the best carriage al
work horse.
On the ground at the time l took
pencil sketch of Black Hawk, with
description of his feats over trotti
course at Cambridge, Mass, togeth
with the performances of the Morgan
generally, all of which soon appear
in the Cultivator, though not until
ter Sanford Howard, the associate e
tor, was delegated to examine the hor
and confirmed all the statements.
Immediately following these pub
notices brood mares were brought f
ward from all parts within radius
100 miles, to mate with Black Hav
The previous season $40 only was
manded for service. The farmers arou
looked upon this sum of $40 as
tortionate, as the usual charge for S
gle service had been from 81 to
The first season his patronage was Iii
his owners receiving little over o
third of the original price paid for h
which was prOmissory note for IS
But the second year $40 was demand
with no warrants. Brood mares ca
to Bridport from Boston and the Ca