DESCENDANTS OF SHERMAN MORGAN 348-* 



Since this interview with Mr. Moore we have obtained the following 

 additional, interesting information of this horse. He was foaled, almost 

 certainly, as early as 1822. He was first named Morgan Rock, which name 

 he retained until purchased in the fall of 1831, by George Bellows who re- 

 named him Morgan Cock of the Rock, and, at the same time, assisted by 

 S. C. Gibb, as Mr. Wier states, and as the advertisement shows, made up the 

 story that his dam was by Barnum's Cock of the Rock. 



In 1832 and '33 George Bellows advertised Morgan Cock of the Rock 

 to be kept at Durham, N. H., and neighboring towns. In 1834 he stood 

 him at Brattleboro, Vt., and neighboring towns, at least a part of the season, 

 selling him that summer or fall, as we understand, either directly to a cousin, 

 John Bellows, then keeping a livery in New York, or to parties who 

 sold him to this John Bellows. This John Bellows was a son of Theo- 

 dore Bellows of Charlestown, N. H. He moved to New York, previous to 

 1830, became quite wealthy and was accustomed to return to his old home 

 at Charlestown, N. H., to buy horses, and also summers, taking with him his 

 carriage and negro driver. He stopped when at Charlestown with his father, 

 whose farm adjoined that of Judge Sumner, that at one time owned Cock 

 of the Rock, and it is thought that at the same time he purchased Cock of 

 the Rock he bought a very elegant son of Cock of the Rock from the estate 

 of Judge Sumner, and took to New York, with his sire. The young son of 

 Cock of the Rock referred to, bred by Judge Sumner, was undoubtedly the 

 horse known as Coburn's American Star. These two horses passed to Ira 

 Coburn, and it is most probable that he purchased them in New York city 

 of John Bellows. 



Our last trip to secure testimony of this matter was to Brattleboro, Vt., 

 Northampton and Springfield, Mass., New York city and Brooklyn, differ- 

 ent places in New Jersey, Boston, Mass., and Walpole and Charlestown, 

 N. H. ; with following results : 



Mr. Shepherd of Northampton, Mass., born about 1812, said: 

 "Cock of the Rock was a rangy horse. He was kept here in Frink's 

 stable, about 1836, and I bred a mare to him whilst he stood there. 

 I think he came here from Pittsfield way. He stood here one year, perhaps 

 two. About 1835 I took a mare to Bradford, Vt., and bred her to Wood- 

 bury Morgan. Both the Bulrush and Woodbury Morgans were at Bradford at 

 that time, owned by the Johnsons. The Bulrush was a very different shaped 

 horse from the other. He was a big, little horse, head on top, just like a 

 rooster. He was more of a Canuck shape, chunky-built, but was fine. I 

 liked the Woodbury best. The Bulrush was not quite rangy enough to suit 

 me. The Woodbury was larger and rather more rangy. The Bulrush had a 

 short, straight back, and had heavy legs that were, perhaps, covered with 

 hair." 



An elderly gentleman stopping at the Massasoit House, Springfield, 

 Mass., whose name we neglected to take, said : " Mr. Stockbridge had a 

 chestnut Morgan stallion here fifty or sixty years ago, a little fellow, but very 

 proud and very stylish ; he was a ,beautiful horse. Almost always at fall 



