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