Transactions of the State agricultural society of Michigan; with reports of county agricultural societies, for the year 1849-59. Pub. by order of the Legislature. v. [1]-11.
Michigan state agricultural society.
11 v. front. (v. 10) illus. (incl. diagrs.) plates (2 fold.) 21-23 1/2cm.
Lansing,
1850-61.

The Morgans

As considerable difference of opinion exists respecting the origin of this much celebrated breed of horses, we will make a few extracts from various sources which may serve to set this matter at rest. The evidence of George Barnard and John Stearns goes to support the opinion that the Justin Morgan was brought from Montreal, in Canada, whilst the following letter from the owner of the horse, after whom he was named, proves, we think, very satisfactorily, that the animal was brought from Massachusetts.

In the Albany Cultivator, for June, 1842, page 99, is the following letter:

"Messrs. GAYLORD & TUCKER:

"Mr. Edward Terry, of Rochester, Vermont, lately sent me two numbers of your " Cultivator," containing some account of the origin of the Morgan breed of horses, and also an affidavit of John Stearns, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, relative to the same subject. I have read the affidavit of the said Stearns attentively, and know that he is entirely mistaken in all his statements relative to the time said horse was taken into Vermont, the place from which he was brought, and the manner in which his uncle, John Goss, obtained him from my father. For I know very well that said John Goss never obtained the horse from my father in any way whatever; as my father owned said horse until the day of his death, and in the settlement of his estate, the horse passed into the hands of William Rice, then living in Woodstock, Vt., but since deceased." I will now relate the facts concerning the said Morgan horse, as I recollect them. My father, Justin Morgan, brought said horse, or rather said colt, into Randolph, Vt., in the summer or autumn of 1795. Said colt was only two years old at that time, and had never been handled in
any way, not even led by a halter. My father went to Springfield, Mass., the place of his nativity, and the place from which he removed to Randolph, in the spring or summer of 1795, after money that was due him at that place, as he said, and instead of getting money, as he expected, he got two colts, one a two year old gelding, and the other a
two year old stud colt; the latter followed him all the way from Springfield to Randolph, having been, as my father said, always kept with and much attached to the colt he led. Said two year old colt was the same which has since been known all over New England as the Morgan horse.

"My father broke said colt himself, and as I have before remarked, owned and kept him to the time of his decease, which took place in 1798. Said horse was five years old the spring my father died; and as before stated, soon after my father's decease, he passed into the possession of William Rice, of Woodstock, Vt. I cannot state positively that my father purchased said colt in Springfield, Mass., but I am very confident that he purchased him either in that town or in the immediate vicinity, and I know that my father always called him a Dutch horse.

JUSTIN MORGAN.
"Stockbridge, Vt., March 1st, 1842."