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I n 1760, the Governor of New Hampshire commissioned Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable to complete a survey of an unbroken tract of wilderness along the Connecticut River north of Charlestown, marking boundaries for townships

every six miles on either side. The tract now known as Orange County, Vermont, was then claimed by both New York and New Hampshire, but had never been surveyed before and no part of it ever granted to either individuals or corporations. The first settler of the area was John Hosmer, in 1765, and the area was first called Waits Town, or Waits River. In 1770, a royal charter of 30,000 acres,

was obtained from King George III for Moorestown, to be named after Sir Henry Moore, 1st Baronet. In 1788, the name was changed to Bradford by the Vermont General Assembly.

THE PETERS FAMILY OF BRADFORDThe history of the Peters family traces to the emigrant ancestor Andrew Peters, born in England about 1634, the youngest son of William Peter and Ann Williams of Bristol, England. The name had various spellings, including Peter, Peters, Peeter, and Petre, and the line can be traced back to the 1300s. Most of the Peters men, down through the generations, were tall and strongly built, often

ABOVE: Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d (left) and his sire Peter’s Morgan (right) (The Morgan Horse and Register, Vol. 1).

Peter’s Ethan Allen 2dCORNERSTONE OF THE LIPPITTS

u HISTORY LESSON u

By Brenda L. Tippin

Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d, cornerstone of the Lippitts, was among the most influential Morgan sires of the 1800s, and his contribution is still felt today. It would be impossible to cover all the many lines and descendants of this remarkable horse, but those mentioned here will perhaps give some idea of

the extent of his great legacy.

EARLY HISTORY – BRADFORD, VERMONT

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six feet or more, mostly blue-eyed with strong features and long straight noses, and described as having a characteristic bullet head accompanied by great intellect and shrewd business sense. Andrew arrived in the coastal town of Ipswich, Massachusetts, at the age of 24, and found himself picking his way through the deep mire of the trails that served for streets. Looking up he saw a pretty young woman looking out the window watching him with some amusement. He made up his mind on the spot that he would win her for his wife. He was soon successful in his conquest, for he and Mercy Beamsley Wilbourn, a widow with a small child, were married in Ipswich on the 16th of April that year, which was 1658. Several more children followed. Andrew was an innkeeper and distiller, in Boston and Ipswich, and soon became prosperous, later removing to Andover. Three of his older sons were killed in battles with the native tribes, including William, the next to carry on the line. William was scalped in 1696, leaving a widow and infant son, John, a few months old. John was the first of the Peters to settle in Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut, and it was his grandson, the third John born in 1740, who was the first to move to the Bradford, Vermont, area about 1771, and built the first grist mill in the area, in 1772. Due to his sympathies with the British government as a strong loyalist, he was given a commission as Colonel of a regiment known as the Queen’s Rangers. This caused a strong division in the family, as his brother, General Absalom Peters, as well as most of his sisters, were very much in favor of American independence. Colonel John then took his family to Nova Scotia, and after the war, leaving his family at Cape Breton, traveled to England to prosecute claims against the government, and died there at the age of 48, leaving his widow with eight sons and one daughter. His second son, Andrew Barnett Peters, born in Hebron in 1764, was about seven years old when the family first came to Bradford, and during the Revolution, followed his father’s influence, serving in the British Royal Navy. After the war, however, seeing no prospect of promotion with the British government, or further need for his services, he decided to return to Bradford where he settled down to become a loyal American citizen, actively involved in public service for the next 50 years. He was chosen Town Clerk, an office he occupied for 40 years, also officiating as Justice of the Peace, and at times serving in the State Legislature, and in 1851 died a well-respected citizen at the age of 87. Joseph Howard Peters was born in 1817, the son of Andrew Barnett Peters and his third wife, Keziah Howard. It was he who first began focusing on expanding his agricultural interests, and breeding Morgan horses and other registered livestock including Merino sheep, and Guernsey and Jersey cattle. He was married to Clarissa Culver Washburn on November 25, 1841 and, of several children born, his son Arthur W. chose to remain on the farm and go into business with his father under the name J. H. Peter & Son. The county fairgrounds were situated on the Peters’ land, which was convenient. The Peters’ Morgan tradition continued with J. E. Peters, one of the sons of Arthur W. Peters and Velma Louise Jenkins. Born in 1890, he was just three years old when his grandfather, J. H. died. Like his father before him, he chose to remain on the old home

place, and continue the family agricultural business and breeding Morgan horses, carrying on after his father’s death in 1936, until his own death in 1977. He was married to Sarah Anna Robinson at Hardwick, Massachusetts, on September 1, 1909. Six children were born to this union, all on the old home farm. William “Bill” Andrew Peters, the second son of J. E. and Sarah, was born in 1914 and lived to the remarkable age of 98, passing away in 2012. Bill recalled early life on the farm when he was a small boy, and many trips by buggy behind the tireless and spirited Morgans up to the Northeast Kingdom where Lake Memphremagog spans the Vermont-Canada border, and is one of the great spots for trout fishing. Bill, who obtained his degree in agriculture from the University of Vermont, also recalled using the Morgans to drive the cows to summer pastures many miles from the farm house each year.

PETERS’ ETHAN ALLEN 2DPeters’ Ethan Allen 2d foaled on May 10, 1877, was among the first of the Morgans bred by J. H. Peter & Son, and undoubtedly the most famous. He was a handsome, smooth made horse of balanced proportions, standing 15 hands tall and weighing 1,000 pounds, dark chestnut in color, and marked with a stripe in the face. He was sired by Peters’ Morgan and out of the Stephen Dow mare, a daughter of old Ethan Allen (Black Hawk x Poll). Peter’s Morgan was a dark chestnut bred by Noah Humphrey, foaled in 1872, got by Peter’s Vermont (Gifford x Jennie by Hale’s Green Mountain), sold to J. H. Peters & Son as a suckling colt, and raised by them. He was dark chestnut in color, standing 15½ hands tall and weighing 1,030 pounds. Dr. J. L. Woods of Boston was the breeder of both Peter’s Vermont and of his dam Jennie, who was also the second dam of Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d. In addition, Dr. Woods owned Jennie’s dam Phoebe, a daughter of Tom Morgan, who was out of a daughter of Justin Morgan, and sired by True Briton, the sire of Justin Morgan. Phoebe was bred by John Muzzy of Peterborough, New Hampshire, and her dam was a daughter of the Muzzy horse (also known as Nondescript), a son of Gray Eagle. This Gray Eagle was a spirited and beautiful dapple gray, brought to Peterborough in 1814 or 1815, then an old horse. According to some sources, this Gray Eagle was thought to be a son of Brutus by Justin Morgan, who was foaled about 1794 near Lebanon, New Hampshire, which may be possible. Dr. Woods then sold Jennie to Stephen Dow of Woburn, Massachusetts, and sold her colt, Vermont, to John Steele, of Stoneham, Massachusetts, both of these men living within 10–11 miles of his home. Steele then sold the colt to Peters, while Stephen Dow kept Jennie for a number of years and continued to breed from her. This can be confirmed by cross examining several other pedigrees in Volume I of The Morgan Horse and Register, and it is apparent that an error was made in confusing Dr. J. L. Woods of Boston with David Wood of Hancock, New Hampshire, in crediting David Wood as the breeder of Peter’s Vermont and saying he was sired by the Wood Horse. Jennie was never owned by David Wood nor kept in that vicinity. Peter’s Vermont was a prolific sire, though only five of his offspring were registered, he had sired more than 1,300 foals by the 1872 season when Peter’s Morgan was foaled. The dam of Peters’ Morgan was a daughter of Morgan Hunter

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HISTORY LESSON u Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d2d, a son of Morgan Hunter. Morgan Hunter, a son of old Gifford by Woodbury Morgan and out of a daughter of Gifford, won second premium at the New York State Fair in 1851. The dam of Morgan Hunter 2d was a daughter of the Colby Horse by Sherman Morgan, and second dam by Bulrush. Morgan Hunter 2d was kept at the stable of F. H. Goldthwait in Newport, New Hampshire, for 23 years, during which time he got more than 900 colts. He took first premium at the Charleston county fair in 1858, and was known for his style, action, and speed. Although he was never trained, he could trot a mile in 2:50 with two men in a buggy, and was also timed a mile in 2:45 hitched to a 135- pound sulky. The second dam of Peter’s Morgan was a daughter of General Hibbard by Woodbury Morgan, and third dam was a daughter of Bulrush. Again, the second dam of Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d was Jennie, the same mare who produced his grandsire, Peter’s Vermont, as described above. Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d was used primarily for stock purposes, and although only 52 of his offspring were ever registered, he was to have a tremendous influence on the breed. J. H. Peters was very proud of his horse, and he and his son believed they had in him the purest and most concentrated blood of any Morgan then living, for he boasted more than 20 crosses to Justin Morgan within the first seven generations of his pedigree. The Lippitt Club was organized in 1973 to preserve ancient Morgan bloodlines which had no outcrosses to non-Morgan blood since the late 1870s. Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d was chosen as the cornerstone stallion, with 25 horses named as foundation horses, all having close crosses to him. All Lippitt Morgans today are registered Morgans, but are descended solely from these 25 Lippitt foundation horses. Many of these horses were from the intensive breeding program of Robert Lippitt Knight, bearing the Lippitt prefix—yet not all of Mr. Knight’s horses with the Lippitt prefix met the definition established by the Lippitt Club. All Lippitt Morgans trace solely to Justin Morgan in sireline through Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d. No Rule II registrations were allowed. The foundation horses, all close descendants of Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d were as follows:

MARES BONNIE JEAN 0343

Bonnie Jean 0343 (Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d x Bessie by Phelps Horse; 2d dam Lady Chesley by Morrill Champion; 3d dam Bay Nellie by Defiance; 4th dam Black Bess by Oregon Pathfinder; 5th dam Lady Clifford by Hale’s Green Mountain Morgan). Foaled in 1895, Bonnie Jean was registered in both Volume II (p. 381) and Volume III (p. 443) of The Morgan Horse and Register, when she was sold to J. Rich Steers of New York, who sent a registration, not realizing she was already registered. Steers was a partner of C. C. Stillman. Battell apparently caught the fact that it was a duplicate registration as he inserts a note in Volume III referring the reader to the page and number of Bonnie Jean’s registration in Volume II. However, when Battell suddenly died in 1915 and Stillman took over the registry, and took on the project of assigning registry numbers to the mares, he evidently missed this detail and assigned Bonnie Jean two numbers #0342 and #0343. It is one and the same

TOP TO BOTTOM: Bonnie Jean (Peters’ Ethan Allen x mare by Phelps Horse) (Allbreed Pedigree); Sadwin, 1941 Horse of the Year, The Morgan Horse Jan-Feb 1942 (© Neill); Lippitt Miss Nekomia (Lippitt Moro x Ne Kornia).

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HISTORY LESSON u Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d

TOP TO BOTTOM: Croydon Prince (Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d x Doll by Mor-gan Hunter 2d) (AMHA Archives); Ashbrook (Croydon Prince x Nancy) (AMHA

Archives); Okan Joyous Heart, with Don Curtis at the 2016 Kitchen Sink CDE, traces her sireline through Ashbrook.

horse. Bonnie Jean was the dam of five foals, the most familiar being Cornwall Lass (x Donald), dam of Cornwallis (x Sealect).

BRIDGET 02852Bridget 02852 (Bob Morgan by Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d x mare by Mountaineer; 2d dam by Streeter Horse; 3rd dam by Royal Morgan). Foaled in 1904, Bridget was the dam of four foals, including John A. Darling (x Moro) and Ne Komia (x Ashbrook). John A. Darling was sire of the great endurance mare Sadwin and her full sister, the wonderful producer Townshend Lass, both out of Gladwin, who was yet another daughter of Ethan Allen 3d and out of Delight (Result x Topsy by Billy Bodette). Sadwin, Ana Ela’s prized mare, which she gave to her daughter Nancy when she was learning to ride, was first entered in the Green Mountain Morgan Horse Association 100-mile ride in 1937. Sadwin finished the ride, and though she did not place this time, was winner of the coveted Trail class prize. She was third in the 1938 ride, and just two points below the winner while carrying 176 pounds, though she herself weighed only 900 pounds. She was also first in the Registered Morgan class that year. In 1939, she finished the 100-mile ride, was second in the Registered Morgan class, and won the Maine Trail Ride. In 1940, she was second in the hotly contested 100-mile ride, which had sixty-three entries that year, and again won first in the Registered Morgan class, as well as winning the Maine Trail Ride. 1941 was her greatest year as she won the 100-mile ride lightweight division carrying 158 pounds, and was judged the best Morgan in the contest. She also won the Maine Trail Ride for the third year in a row, retiring the Governor Barrows Trophy. Sadwin was voted Morgan Horse of the Year in 1941. In 1944, she returned once more, placing fifth in the 100-mile ride and winning third in the Morgan class, and in 1945, she won both the 100-mile ride and the Morgan class. She retired in 1958 at age 27 and was featured on the cover of the September issue of The Morgan Horse that year. Ne Komia (Ashbrook x Bridget) was the dam of Lippitt Miss Nekomia (x Lippitt Moro), another great endurance mare. Foaled in 1935, she went on to compete six times in the 100-mile ride, each time while she was in foal and raising a foal. She won the 100-mile ride in 1942, was second in 1943, and third in 1946. She won the Mare In-Hand class at the 1947 National Morgan Show, as well as the Mare and Foal class. Lippitt Miss Nekomia produced 14 foals, and was weeks away from delivering her 15th foal when she died at the age of 22.

CROYDON MARY 02900Croydon Mary 02900 (Croydon Prince x Kate by Radway Horse; 2d dam by Viele Horse; 3d dam by Major Downing; 4th dam by Stanton Horse; 5th dam by Billy Root; 6th dam by Sherman Morgan). Foaled in 1917, Croydon Mary remarkably carried a very close line to Justin Morgan in only six generations. She was the dam of eight foals, including Lippitt Croydon Ethan (x Lippitt Ethan Ash), who sired the full sisters Belldale (dam of 16 foals) and Conniedale (dam of 19 foals), both out of Annadale (Monterey x Florette). Conniedale was the dam of Easter Twilight and his full sister Katie Twilight (x Lippitt Sam Twilight). Croydon Mary was also the dam of several full siblings by Moro (Welcome x Polly

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Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d u HISTORY LESSON

Rogers), including Lippitt Moro (sire of Lippitt Miss Nekomia); Lippitt Kate Moro (dam of Lippitt Mandate and Lippitt Mormon by Mansfield); Lippitt Mary Moro (dam of Griselda Morgan by Ethan Eldon); and Lippitt Polly Moro (dam of the full siblings Hy-Crest’s Tommy and Golden River Dona by Patrick Geddes).

EMILY 03026Emily 03026 (Ethan Allen 3d x Maggie W by Brown Harry; 2d dam Molly by Streeter Horse; 3d dam Kitty by Royal Morgan). Foaled in 1909, Emily was the dam of just one foal, the lovely mare Green Mountain Twilight by Rob Roy. Green Mountain Twilight in turn was the dam of seven foals, including Lippitt Sam Twilight (x Lippitt Sam [Ashbrook x Lippitt Sallie]), sire of Easter Twilight. Hippolyta 03222 (Ethan Allen 3d x Maggie W) foaled in 1910, Hippolyta was a full sister of Emily. She produced five foals, including the mare Hepsibeth (x Ashbrook)

EVELYN 0684Evelyn 0684 (Ethan Allen 3d x Nellie by Goldfinder, son of John Lambert by Daniel Lambert; 2d dam untraced). Foaled in 1909, Evelyn was the dam of six foals, including Sonny Bob (x Bob B).

HANNAH 03196Hannah 03196 (Donaldson x Maggie Morgan by Stephen’s Morgan; 2d dam Nellie Allen by Ashley’s Ethan Allen; 3d dam Nell by Morgan Enterprise; 4th dam mare by Churchill Horse). Foaled in 1919, Hannah was the dam of one foal, the mare Nubbin by Bilirubin. Nubbin in turn produced eight foals including the full siblings Allen’s Major and Nubbin’s Pride by Cornwallis.

JENNY WOODBURY 03258Jenny Woodbury 03258 (Ethan Woodbury x Jenny C by Chetco; 2d dam Jenny Lind by Mountaineer; 3d dam mare by Streeter Horse; 4th dam mare by Billy Folsom). Jenny Woodbury foaled in 1917 was the dam of 10 foals including Allenwood (x Sir Ethan Allen).

LIPPITT SALLIE 04565Lippitt Sallie 04565 (Billy Hoffman x Mary Allen by Ethan Allen 3d; 2d dam Doyle Mare by Houghton’s Beauty; 3d dam mare by Dr. Sias Black Horse) was foaled in 1918 and became the dam of eight foals, all by Ashbrook, including Lippitt Sam and Lippitt Sallie Ash.

LIPPITT TRIXIE X04695Lippitt Trixie x04695 (Ethan Roberts x mare by Knox Morgan; 2d dam Maggie by Billy Roberts; 3d dam Lucy O by Hampshire 2d; 4th dam Lucy B by Darlington Chief; 5th dam mare by Rex Patchen; 6th dam mare by Cushing’s Green Mountain; 7th dam mare by Brigham horse). Foaled in 1916, was the dam of seven foals including Lippitt Trixie Ash (x Ashbrook), who in turn produced Diana-Mansfield (x Mansfield), dam of Whippoorwill Duke, (x Squire Burger), the grand old foundation stallion for Whippoorwill Morgans.

LUCILLE 01547Lucille 01547 (Comet x mare by Ethan Allen 3d; 2d dam mare by

TOP TO BOTTOM: Rob Roy (Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d x mare by Starlight) (AMHA Archives); Lippitt Rob Roy (Lippitt Sam x Adeline Bundy) (AMHA Ar-

chives); Marvelous Ideal’s sire, dam, and second dam all trace their sire-lines through Ashbrook (AMHA Archives).

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TOP TO BOTTOM: Easter Twilight (Lippitt Sam Twilight x Conniedale); Donald (Bob Morgan x Fanny by Ethan Allen 3d) (AMHA Registry Vol III); Don-lyn (Donald x Chestnut) was exported to Japan.

Black Morgan; 3d dam mare by Amasa Bemis horse; 4th dam by Morgan stallion untraced; 5th dam by Sherman Morgan). Foaled in 1902, Lucille was the dam of three registered foals including Vigilant (x Welcome).

LUCINNE 04542Lucinne 04542 (Lyndon x Lady Laura by Bob Morgan; 2d dam Laura by Morgan Tiger; 3d dam mare by Dr. Abel Brown Horse; 4th dam Milkingstool by Billy Root; 5th dam mare by Royal Morgan; 6th dam mare by Sherman Morgan). Foaled in 1918, Lucinne was a half-sister of Artemisia, being out of the same dam. Lucinne produced five registered foals including Ethanelda (x Sir Ethan Allen), dam of Ethan Eldon; and the memorable mare Vigilda Burkland, dam of 10 foals including the full brothers Orcland Leader and Orcland Vigildon by Ulendon.

NANCY 03553Nancy 03553 (Ethan Allen 3d x Dew of June by Pete Morgan; 2d dam Flossie by Hope Colt; 3d dam Jossie by Vermont Boy, 4th dam Peggy Hackett by Hackett Horse; 5th dam Old Leben by Gifford; 6th dam mare by Woodbury; 7th dam mare by Justin Morgan). Foaled in 1911, Nancy was the dam of three foals, including Ashbrook by Croydon Prince.

POLLY ROGERS 02109Polly Rogers 02109 (Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d x Annie Florette by Peter’s Morgan; 2d dam Nancy by Carleton Horse; 3d dam mare by Bailey Horse; 4th dam mare by Woodbury Morgan) was the dam of four foals, including Moro (x Welcome).

ROSE OF SUTTON 02232Rose of Sutton 02232 (Bob Morgan x mare by Streeter Horse Jr; 2d dam mare by Caledonia; 3d dam mare by Streeter Horse; 4th dam mare by Billy Root) was foaled in 1904 and was the dam of two foals, including Adeline Bundy by Rob Roy).

STALLIONSCROYDON PRINCE 5325

Croydon Prince 5325 (Ethan Allen 2d x Doll by Morgan Hunter; 2d dam mare by Ethan Allen; 3d dam mare by Morgan One-Eye). Foaled in 1890, Croydon Prince was the sire of 18 registered foals including Ashbrook (x Nancy by Ethan Allen 3d) and Croydon Mary (x Kate by Radway Horse). The sireline through Ashbrook is one of the strongest lines which survive to the present day. The outstanding CDE mare Okan Joyous Heart (Good News Joshua x Karenza Queen Of Hearts is a wonderful example of the Lippitt line tracing to Peter’s Ethan Allen through Ashbrook and Croydon Prince.

ROB ROY 4483Rob Roy 4483 (Peter’s Ethan Allen 2 x Melissa Kelly mare by Starlight; 2d dam by Peter’s Morgan; 3d dam by Vermont Morgan; 4th dam by Morgan One Eye). Rob Roy was foaled in 1893 and bred by Melissa Kelley. He was the sire of 12 registered offspring including the mare Adeline Bundy, who in turn produced Lippitt

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Rob Roy. Lippitt Rob Roy was the sire of 76 registered offspring, including three full sisters out of Alrita (Allansus x Rita by Sir Ethan Allen). These were Lippitt Robrita, Lippitt Rita Roy, and Lippitt Royal Margarita. Lippitt Robrita produced seven full siblings by Jubilee’s Courage (Jubilee King x Townshend Lass) including Criterion, foundation sire for the Quietude Lambert family of Morgans, and his sister Cathy Serenity. Cathy Serenity was dam of Bennfield’s Ace, Grand Champion Stallion at the 1970 Mid-Atlantic and Eastern National, together with his full sister Katy Bennfield who was Grand Champion Mare. Katy Bennfield went on to become dam of Courage Of Equinox, the most prolific sire in modern Morgan history with 378 foals, and his full sister Special Kay, who was World Champion Mare in 1981. This pair had at least 39 crosses to Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d. Bennfield’s Ace was also 1972 Mid-Atlantic National Champion Stallion; and World Champion Stallion in 1973, 1979, and 1980. Lippitt Rita Roy was the dam of Moro Hills Royrita (x Dyberry Ethan), who in turn produced the excellent stallion Marvelous Ideal (x Ivy’s Grand Mariner), bred by Ellie Mason of Marvelous Morgans, sire of 115 offspring. Lippitt Royal Margarita was the dam of 12 foals including Moro Hill’s Mariner (x Dyberry Ethan), sire of Ivy’s Grand Mariner (x Ransomvale Barbyalan), sire of Marvelous Ideal. Rob Roy was also sire of the lovely mare Green Mountain Twilight, dam of Lippitt Sam Twilight, who in turn sired the great stallion Easter Twilight.

DONALD 5224Donald 5224 (Bob Morgan x Fanny by Ethan Allen 3d; 2d dam Nell by Cushing’s Green Mountain; 3d dam mare by Wood’s Comet; 4th dam mare by Crane Horse; 5th dam mare by Batchelder Horse; 6th dam mare by Justin Morgan). Foaled in 1904 and bred by Jonathan Jenkins, Donald became the foundation sire for C. C. Stillman, as well as his favorite horse, and went on to sire 73 registered foals. Several of his sons were used in the Remount program, including Donlyn, who won many prizes at the Vermont State Fair. In 1912, Donlyn won three stallion championships, in hand, under saddle, and in harness, and was later exported to Japan. His full brother Donwindsor won Grand Champion Stallion at the Vermont State Fair in 1915. Donald also sired several important daughters, including Donbelle (x Belle C Graves by Billy Roberts) who produced 15 foals for Elmer Brown; and Cornwall Lass (x Bonnie Jean), dam of Cornwallis.

BOB B 5282Bob B 5282 (Bob Morgan x Doll by Kirby Boy; 2d dam untraced). Foaled in 1905, Bob B was the sire of 34 registered offspring, and won the special prize for stallion conforming most nearly to ancient Morgan type at the 1910 Vermont state fair.

WELCOME 5702Welcome 5702 (Morgan Dan x Dolly Burke by Comet; 2d dam Nelly C by Village Boy; 3d dam mare by Mascomba Chief; 4th dam

TOP TO BOTTOM: Bob B, winner of the special trophy for ancient type most closely resembling Justin Morgan at the 1910 Vermont State Fair (AMHA Registry Vol. III); Sealect, one of two surviving sirelines through Bor-den’s Ethan Allen 3d (AMHA Archives); Borden’s Ethan Allen 3d (Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d x Kitty Thurber) (AMHA Registry Vol. I).

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TOP TO BOTTOM: Devine Cool Hand Luke moving cows in Lincoln, Mon-tana with Josey Sutton (photo © Heidi Osgood-Metcalf); Moro, with Harold Terry, is one of two surviving sirelines through Borden’s Ethan Allen 3d (AMHA

Archives); Bob Morgan (Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d x Topsey by Cushing’s Green Mtn) (AMHA Registry Vol. III).

by Mascomba Morgan). He produced seven registered offspring including Moro (x Polly Rogers) and Vigilant (x Lucille).

SIR ETHAN ALLEN 6537Sir Ethan Allen 6537 (Ethan Allen 3d x mare by Corbett; 2d dam by Henry S; 3d dam by Tattersall). Foaled in 1909, Sir Ethan Allen was the sire of 43 registered offspring, including Sealect (x Bell Marea).

SEALECT 7266Sealect 7266 (Sir Ethan Allen x Bell Marea by Knox Morgan; 2d dam mare by Ned Norton; 3d dam Little Fannie by Black Billy; 4th dam Nellie by Ed McKay Horse). Foaled in 1921, Sealect sired 38 offspring for Townshend Farm and went on to have a tremendous influence through his descendants (see The Morgan Horse, September 2013).

BILIRUBIN 7462Bilirubin 7462 (Donaldson x Mayflower by Prince Charlie; 2d dam Nellie by Cobden S Jr; 3d dam Lady by Billy Root; 4th dam mare by Colby’s Young Green Mountain; 5th dam by Colby’s Young Morrill). Foaled in 1925, Bilirubin sired just three registered offspring, but has many descendants among Morgans today through his daughter Nubbin (x Hannah), who was the dam of eight foals, including the stallion Allen’s Major (x Cornwallis), who was the sire of 45 registered offspring.

OTHER IMPORTANT SONSBORDEN’S ETHAN ALLEN 3D

Ethan Allen 3d (Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d x mare by Cushing’s Green Mountain) was bred by Allen J. Wiggins of Burke, Vermont, and foaled on June 20, 1885. A dark chestnut in color, he was marked with a large white stripe in the face and white on the right hind ankle. His mane and foretop were long and thick, and his head was exceptionally noble with a broad forehead, and large eyes with a kind expression. He was sold to J. H. Peters & Sons, then to D. B. Cushing, and finally to Spencer Borden of Fall River, Massachusetts, by whose name he became known. Major C. A. Benton of Fall River described him in Volume I of The Morgan Horse and Register, “His disposition is so remarkable my children enter his box stall and mount him without fear; his style far beyond that of any hackney I have seen; his endurance wonderful, and, were he trained, his speed could be materially increased.” Later he was sold to E. H. Hoffman, who exhibited him at the 1911 Vermont State Fair at the age of 26 with three of his 1911 foals. He was awarded first prize against six entries. Only 41 of his offspring were registered, but his sireline still continues, particularly through Sealect (Sir Ethan Allen x Bell Marea). The beautiful Lippitt stallion Devine Cool Hand Luke (Sandrock Joel x M Classic Tabby Sue) is a wonderful current day example of this line. Ethan Allen 3d’s influence is especially felt through his daughters. Some notable examples are, of course, the great mare Artemisia (x Lady Laura by Bob Morgan), dam of the famous full brothers Mansfield, Canfield, Ulyssess, and Querido, all by Bennington (General Gates x Mrs. Culvers); and Nancy (x Dew Of June by Pete Morgan), dam of Ashbrook (x Croydon Prince);

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Laura Jay (x Fanny Jay by Billy Roberts), dam of Ruth (x Reynard), who in turn produced the mare Quietude (x Troubadour Of Willowmoor), dam of both Upwey Ben Don and his full sister Upwey Benn Quietude (x Upwey King Benn) as well as the great Western working sire Sonfield (x Mansfield); and Trilby (x Tilly by Billy Rosebrooks), dam of Lippitt Ethan Ash (x Ashbrook), to mention just a few. Ethan Allen 3d was often exhibited at the Vermont State Fairs, and was one of five stallions considered the “Old Guard” by early Vermont breeders, a progenitor of the true old-type Morgan. Ethan Allen 3d was also the sire of Morgan Dan (x Laura by Morgan Tiger), a three-quarter brother to Artemisia as his dam Laura was the second dam of Artemisia. This sireline is rare but still exists through Moro (Welcome x Polly Rogers).

BOB MORGANBob Morgan (Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d x Topsey by Cushing’s Green Mountain, 2d dam Dinah by Black Morgan). Another considered by Vermont breeders to be one of the “Old Guard,” Bob Morgan was bred by William Rosebrooks of Island Pond, Vermont, and foaled in 1888. He was deep bay in color with black points and no white markings, stood 15 hands tall, and weighed 1,000 pounds. Although the sireline through Bob Morgan did not survive to the present day, he nevertheless left many descendants that are influential in today’s pedigrees. In addition to his sons Donald and Bob B, both chosen as Lippitt Foundation stallions, Bob Morgan sired several important daughters. These include Rose Of Sutton (x mare by Streeter Horse Jr), dam of Adeline Bundy (x Rob Roy); Lady Laura (x Laura by Morgan Tiger), dam of Artemisia; Bridget (x Chase’s Mountaineer), dam of John A. Darling; Brown Beauty (x Beauty by Pete Morgan), dam of Lady Lyndon; Fanny 2d (x Fanny by Ethan Allen 3d), dam of Troubadour Of Willowmoor; and several more.

HEADLIGHT MORGANHeadlight Morgan was among several outstanding horses bred by the Morgan Horse Company of Carpentersville, Illinois, during its relatively short existence. Foaled in 1893, he was a son of Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d, and out of the exceptionally well-bred mare Lady Stratton (Vermont Morgan x mare by Hale’s Green Mountain; 2d dam by Dr. Abel Brown Horse, son of Billy Root). Although he was not included in the Lippitt registry, he carried an equally high percentage of the blood of Justin Morgan with no outcrosses, and would have met that definition. He was dark liver chestnut in color with a white stripe in the face and a little white on the right front coronet. Lady Stratton was bred by Truman Stratton of Chelsea, Vermont. Headlight Morgan was sold to Margaret C. Parks of Englewood, Kansas, and then to Mrs. Dick Skinner of Meade, Kansas, who sent in his registration. Headlight Morgan was Grand Champion Stallion at the Kansas State Fair from 1903-1906, and was used heavily by many Kansas breeders, including Elmer Brown. He was sold to Richard Sellman of Rochelle, Texas, at the age of 21 for use on Sellman’s Mountain Vale Ranch, and went on to sire another 112 foals for a grand total of 170 registered offspring.

TOP TO BOTTOM: John A Darling (Moro x Bridget) (AMHA Archives); Head-light Morgan (Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d x Lady Stratton by Vermont Morgan) (AMHA Archives); Redman with W. J. Halliday, Long Lake and Bishop Pass (The Morgan Horse, May 1945).

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HISTORY LESSON u Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d Many may be unaware of the extent of Headlight Morgan’s influence. He has many, many descendants among Western working, sport, and even show Morgans. His daughter Sunflower Maid (x Fanny P by Julian Morgan) was used by the U.S. Government Morgan Horse Farm, and was the dam of Linsley (x General Gates). The Sellman bred stallion Romanesque (x Red Oak) out of the Headlight Morgan daughter Mariah K (x Sweet Marie by The Admiral) was used in the Remount program. Many crosses to Headlight Morgan can be found through his daughter Hazel S (x Diamond by Telescope Ethan), and the Linsley daughters, Viola Linsley (x Donbelle by Donald) and Ella Linsley (x Lemax by Sparhawk), as well as the Linsley son, Hawk Jim (x Lady Spar by Sparhawk) and his full brothers Roscoe Morgan and Chocolate. All Morgans bred by the L.U. Sheep Ranch in Dickie, Wyoming, trace to Linsley’s son Linspar (x Sparbelle by Sparhawk), and therefore to Headlight Morgan. All descendants of Waseeka’s Nocturne (Starfire x Wanda by Highview King), whose sire was bred by the L.U. Sheep Ranch, also trace to Headlight Morgan. Many other crosses to Headlight Morgan frequently appear as well, such as Easter Allen Morgan (x Bessie Morgan by Flying Morrill); to mention just a few. For example, 2017 World Champion Stallion Merriehill After Hours GCH (Mizrahi x Merriehill Dusk To Dawn) carries more than 40 crosses to Headlight Morgan through multiple different lines, in addition to many other crosses to Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d. The Headlight Morgan sire line still survives through his son Redwood Morgan (x Bonnie A by Major Antoine), which traces down through the coveted California sirelines of Kings River Morgan (Gold Dollar x Iva Sonfield by Sonfield) and Joe Bailey (Headlight Morgan x Polly by The Admiral), which traces down through Mountcrest Sellman (Joe Bailey x Kitty E. by The Admiral) and his son Redman (x Red Dot by Pongee Morgan). These bloodlines were used by William Randolph Hearst and many other old California breeders. The beautiful stallion Antman (Mountcrest Sellman x Pontez by Antez) bred by Hearst became the foundation stallion for Sid Spencer, known for breeding outstanding working ranch horses in California. Among the exceptional horses she bred from Antman was the great endurance gelding Suds (x Bubbles by Juzan), who won the 1962 North American Trail Ride Conference lightweight division and Sweepstakes Award, and became the subject of the book Around the World on a Horse, by Maxwell Dickinson.

LASTING INFLUENCEOverall, Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d was certainly one of the most influential Morgan stallions foaled during the late 1800s, a time when many Morgans had been lost during the Civil War, and those that remained were in danger of being swallowed up by the Standardbred breed. At least half a dozen distinct sirelines tracing to Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d have survived for more than 125 years,

and he may be found in the pedigrees of almost every Morgan living today, and his descendants excel in virtually every discipline. In addition to being the cornerstone stallion for the Lippitts, descendants of Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d have played a key role in helping to preserve the rare Lambert family of Morgans, which is the only other concentrated Morgan line focused on a single family and sireline with no modern outcrosses. Descendants of Peter’s Ethan Allen 2d have made numerous significant contributions to Western working, sport, and show disciplines, and continue to be a treasured example of the versatile, all-around Morgan. n

RESOURCES• Abbott, Abiel A. M. History of Andover, From its Settlement to

1829, Andover: Flagg & Gould, 1829.• Allbreed Pedigree, www.allbreedpedigree.com • American Morgan Horse Association, “Online Morgan Registry.”• Battell, Joseph. American Stallion Register, Vols. I-III, Middlebury,

Vermont: American Publishing Company, 1909–1913.• Battell, Joseph. The Morgan Horse and Register, Vol. I, Middlebury,

Vermont: Register Printing Company, 1894.• Battell, Joseph. The Morgan Horse and Register, Vols. II-III,

Middlebury, Vermont: American Publishing Company, 1905–1915.

• Collins, Edward Day. A History of Vermont, Boston: Ginn & Company Publishers, the Athenaeum Press, 1903.

• Family Search, www.familysearch.org • Griswold, Rufus. The Biographical Annual of Eminent Persons

Recently Deceased, New York: Linen and Fennell, 1841.• Library of Congress, www.loc.gov • Lippitt Morgan Breeders Association, www.

lippittmorganbreedersassociation.com • McKeen, Silas. A History of Bradford, Vermont, Montpelier,

Vermont: J. D. Clark & Son, 1875.• Middlebury Register, August 13, 1886. • New England Genealogical and Historical Society. New England

Genealogical and Historical Record, LIV, Boston, 1900.• Noyes, Charles. Noyes-Gilman Ancestery, New York: Gillis Press,

1907.• Olivey, Hugh P. Notes on the Parish of Mylor, Cornwall, Taunton:

Barnicott & Pearce, Athenaeum Press, 1907.• Our Dumb Animals, Vol. 44, June 1911.• Peters, Edmond Frank, and Eleanor Bradley Peters, Peters of New

England, New York: The Knickerbocker Press, 1903. • Peters, Hugh. A Dying Father’s Legacy to an Only Child, London,

G. Calvert, T. Brewster, 1660.• Peters, Rev. Samuel. A History of the Rev. Hugh Peters, A.M., New

York: Samuel Peters, 1807.• USDA Department Circular 199.