Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-03-19
HISTORY OF VERMONT BLACK
HAWK

bic sources that were then available con.
corning the breeding and early history OF
the renowned Vermont Black Hawk
several communications have been rcceiv.
ed from parties in the Green Mountain
State who profess to believe that this
celebrated animal. whose progeny NAV
be found in every locality from Maine to
California where horse of the highest
Intelligence. docility. style and beauty.
combined with good degree of trotting
speed. is appreciated, originated in Cana
da. Partly on this account. but more
particularly owing to certain discrepal-
cies and omissions occurring in the state
ments of those who had apparently in
vestigated the matter and put on record
the facts CLEANED from their researches.
we began another investigation in the
hope of getting more complete informa-
ton upon some points, the results of
which will be given.
All writers who had investigated the
subject agreed that Black Hawk was
bred by a Mr.. Twombly, formerly of
Durham. \. II. Mr.. Linslev in his Is
say on Morgan Horses" states that
"Black Hawk was foaled in 1893. the
property of Wingate Twombly of Green
land fornerly of Durham) y. H." In an
interesting article published in Uullocc's
Moathiy February. 1879. DR.. :. II. Green
states that Mr.. Kelley, who formerly
owned the dam of Black Hawk. bred her
to sherman Morgan and afterwards "Sold
her to one Shade Twombly. living about
two miles out of Durham VILLAGE. who
kept her till the following spring or sum
mer, when She produced Il fine horse
colt
Mr.. Howard Henderson. resident of
New Hampshire, stated. in a commmica-
ton to the Spirit ofHe Times a few wear.
since. that ''hc knew the dam of Black
Hawk well when she was owned bv Ben
jamin Kelley. that he often drove his
team over the bridge Just to run them by
the side of this mare to see her trot. that
Kelley bred her to sherman Morgan and
soon afterward sold her. then CARRYING
Black Hawk. to Ezekiel Twomhlv of
Durham Mr.. Henderson also mentions
lawsuit that, rs he claims. grew ont of
the service fee of Sherman Morgan. bur
III this he was mistaken. a. will be shown
at the proper time. All agree that this
mare was black. tinc-loOkimg. fast trot-
er, was bred to Sherman Morgan and
produced Black Hawk the following wear.
but all disagree in regard to the Christian
name of Mr.. Twombly. whose propertv
the colt was foaled. a very trihing mat
ter to be sure. yet sufficient to excite
suspicion in the minds of those who hon
estly believe that the version given WAS
not the true one concerning the brood
ing of this wcll-knOwn animal. I'm his
hrst volume of the .4mcricoa Trotfiu1
HegtSter, Mr.. j. II. Wallace gives Win
gate Twombly as the breeder of Black
Hawk, but in volume four it is stated
that he was bred by Benjamin Kelley of
Durham, y. H., and foalcd the property
of Mr.. ;. Twombly. near that place.
Thinking that some of the Twonblv
family might be still living whose Der
sonal knowledge of the affair would on
able them to help solve the problem.
letter was addressed to the town clerk of
Durham Y II o.,.in.if ~ ~ vi
tbe name IF Two,nII,' , r,'Vr.' ~
sum lNHlS
thoi'' also II the records showed that
either Il Wingate or Shadracll Twomhlv
died somewhere ohout 1874 =.
+,,o I,,ou rr,; '"i vi
~ I"'iS "IouShl th' Iol-
io"IhS IcplE'
.r,,,.., M '"' y H. 'uhe 90 lSs''
"' ,"'""" '""''"'"F' Dear Sir
49,. '''' me records OF ia" town
,,,, ,i,,,, ,,',,' '''"' an? i""i'i"NH med near
Twomblv here NJ one timn I.n. ,,'',' ''ns'','
called shade, but the man Thar owned nl.,,.l.
Hawk was Ezekiel Twou,hly He Ii,,I T.,
1887. went to his grave vestrrd,, uon.',.