| Morgans trace back to one foundation sire
| |
| | breeding, until he fell into debt to
|
| named Figure. The stallion was born in
| |
| | Colonel John Goss. Goss collected the
|
| West Springfield, Massachusetts in 1789.
| |
| | horse as part of the debt, and used him
|
| The small, dark colt is now believed to
| |
| | to review troops and also entered him in
|
| have been sired by the English
| |
| | a pulling bee, which the little horse
|
| Thoroughbred "True Briton", also known as
| |
| | won. He later traded Figure for a mare
|
| "Beautiful Bay" and "Traveller," who was
| |
| | owned by his brother, David Goss, in
|
| foaled in 1768. His dam was of Wild-air
| |
| | 1805.
|
| breeding, sired by Diamond, foaled in
| |
| | David Goss owned Figure from 1805-1811,
|
| 1784 in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
| |
| | where he worked on the farm for 10
|
| The bay mare was, in fact, bred by Justin
| |
| | months, and was used for breeding for two
|
| Morgan, for whom the breed is named.
| |
| | months each year. He was sold in 1811 to
|
| Figure is thought to have stood about 14
| |
| | Philip Goss for the breeding season.
|
| hh (1.42 m), and to have weighed about
| |
| | Philip Goss then sold Figure to Jacob
|
| 950 lb (430 kg).
| |
| | Sanderson, who sold him to Jacob
|
| In 1792, Figure was advertised for stud
| |
| | Langmeade. Langmeade used the horse to
|
| before he was given as a payment for a
| |
| | haul freight, and is thought to have
|
| debt to Justin Morgan (1747-1798), a
| |
| | abused the aging stallion.
|
| singing teacher and one-time Randolph,
| |
| | Langmeade sold Figure to Joel Goss and
|
| Vermont Town Clerk. Justin Morgan owned
| |
| | Joseph Rogers at the end of 1811. Figure
|
| Figure from 1792-1795, advertising him
| |
| | stood at stud for several years, before
|
| for stud in Lebanon, New Hampshire and
| |
| | he was sold to Samuel Stone in 1817.
|
| Randolph, Vermont (1793), Randolph and
| |
| | Stone exhibited the stallion in the
|
| Royalton, Vermont (1794), and Williston
| |
| | Randolph fair. Figure was used as a
|
| and Hinesburg, VT (1795). Figure was then
| |
| | parade mount by President James Monroe
|
| lent out to Robert Evans in the fall of
| |
| | later that year.
|
| 1795 to clear land for a Mr. Fisk at a
| |
| | In 1819, Figure was sold to his final
|
| rate of $15.00 a year.
| |
| | owner, Levi Bean of Chelsea, Vermont.
|
| Justin Morgan later traded the horse for
| |
| | Toward the end of his life, Figure was
|
| land in Moretown, Vermont, to a Samuel
| |
| | put out to pasture without shelter to
|
| Allen, who then sold the stallion later
| |
| | fend for himself. He died in 1821 from an
|
| that year to William Rice of Woodstock,
| |
| | injury to the flank, caused by a kick, at
|
| VT.
| |
| | the age of 32. Figure is now buried in
|
| In 1796, Figure raced in a Sweepstakes in
| |
| | Tunbridge, Vermont.
|
| Brookfield, VT, beating New York horses
| |
| | The popular children's book, Justin
|
| to win $50. That year, he was advertised
| |
| | Morgan Had A Horse by Marguerite Henry,
|
| at stud by Johnathan Shepard of
| |
| | has unfortunately tended to perpetuate
|
| Montpelier, Vermont, who also raced him
| |
| | some misconceptions about the breeding of
|
| in several match races in which he did
| |
| | Figure (in the book called "Little Bub")
|
| well. Figure became known as the "Justin
| |
| | and his early life. There is far less
|
| Morgan horse."
| |
| | mystery about Figure's ancestry than is
|
| Figure was traded again in 1797, along
| |
| | popularly supposed. This has, however,
|
| with a blacksmith shop, to James Hawkins.
| |
| | been widely researched by celebrated
|
| It is not known what became of him until
| |
| | artist and author, Jeanne Mellin, in her
|
| 1801, when he was in the possession of
| |
| | work entitled The Complete Morgan Horse.
|
| Robert Evans of Randolph, Vermont. Evans
| |
| | Figure was also known for his prepotency,
|
| owned the horse until 1804, using the
| |
| | passing on his good looks, conformation,
|
| stallion for logging, racing, and
| |
| | temperament, and athleticism.
|
