Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-08-25
THE RANDOLPH MORGAN.
Randolph Herald and News. !

A recent editorial note in an exchange
claims that the original Morgan horse in
Vermont came from Lyndon, thus deny
ing to Randolph it's proud claim to be
considered as the place from which this
famous breed of roadsters sprang.
The story of the Morgan begins with
True Briton, whose ancestry extended
back to the finest thoroughbreds of Eng
land and some of the Arabians and Barbs
imported at great expense by gentlemen
Of Great Britain in the early part OF the
eighteenth century True Briton was the
property of Col. James Delaney, an Off
Ger of the British army, from whom he
was stolen at Fishkill, N. Y, in 1880 by
Lieut.. Wright Carpenter, in retaliation for
the loss of some cattle plundered by COW
boys, to whose rascality Col. Delaney,
when Lieut.. Carpenter applied to him
for redress, proved Indifferent. Carpenter
took the horse to Hartford, Conn, and
sold him to a merchant, who finally dis
posed of him to Selah Norton.
In the course of time Mr.. Norton, with
True Briton, happened at a small tavern
on the banks of the Connecticut river
kept by Justin Morgan, who was born in
West Springfield, Mass, in 1747. In 1888,
Mr.. Morgan removed from Springfield to
Randolph, bringing with him a colt named
Figure, the son of True Briton and the
original Morgan horse.
Mr.. Morgan, who was a tall, slim man
Of feeble health, was a singer, a composer
Of church music written in the fugue
style, teacher of singing schools and
penmanship and OF the common district
schools. A man of urbane manners he
became well-liked by the townspeople and
was chosen lister and town clerk, serv-
ing in the latter capacity three years from
1880. He took up his residence near the
Brookfield line north Of the village of
Randolph Centre, and there II may be
IN ha fNTrn Of
In the fall of 1895, Mr. Morgan intended
to apply his valuable animal on the pay
ment OF note but was not able to secure
what he regarded as a reasonable price for
him. and instead, let him TO man
named Robert Evans for a year for SIS.
Mr. Evans undertook to clear Is acres
of heavily timbered land and completed
the work in seven months with no other
assistance than that of Figure. The next
spring the horse was taken for debt from
either Evans or Morgan by William Rice,
also of this town, who went to Wood
stock with him and sold him to Jonathan
Shepard of Montpelier. After this the
founder Of a noted equine family passed
through many hands, being owned in st.
Johnsbury, Montpelier, again in Randolph,
Claremont, N H., and Chelsea.
Figure, whose name was changed to
that Of his first owner. Justin Morgan, led
no idle existence. He was kept hard at
work hauling logs and clearing land, and
for while was part of a siX-horse team
drawing freight from Windsor to Chelsea.
He was able, however, wherever he
labored, 1t is boasted, to out-trot, out
run. out-draw or out-walk any horse put
against him. and his style was the pride
OF the community. He was also kind and
gentle and considered perfectly safe for
a lady to drive. Finally broken down by
hard work. he came into the possession
of Levi Bean of Chelsea, who retained
him until the lamented Figure died in
1921 at the age of - years.
me original Morgan was not over IA
hands high, weighed about $50 pounds
and was a dark bay in color accentuated
by black legs. name and tail. His feet
were small well-shaped and he-was
in every respect perfectly sound and
without a blemish. He is said to have
been a very fast walker and in trotting
to have had low, smooth gait, with a
short and nervous step.
Figures first master. Justin Morgan,
died in Randolph. March %. 1898, in the
5lst year OF his age. In the first book of
probate records, his estate, of which Ezra
Edgerton was administrator is appraised
at $37490, and in the long inventory of
personal property, covering coats and
vests household goods and even halters
and blankets, there appears no item of a
horse. Morgan or any other kind showing
that he had parted forever with the hand
some beast on which he proudly rode to
singing schools hundred years ago.