Tradition defines Morgan families by their sireline, and thus it is with Lamberts. This article focuses on the Lambert sireline that sets this family apart from other Morgans. That is in no way meant to detract from the mares within Lambert pedigrees. Many a good Morgan breeder has found that mares make or break a breeding program. But the mares in the Lambert family must wait to be the topic of an article of their own.

This article present a quick overview, rather than a detailed analysis, of the origins and history of the Lambert family. As such, it should be of particular interest to newcomers to Lamberts. Part I reviews the Lambert sire line from the Morgan breed's founder, Justin Morgan, to the Lambert family's founder Daniel Lambert; Part II begins where Part I leaves off and continues the sire line through Cavendish and Criterion; Part III looks at Lambert stallions of today, and Part IV makes some projections about what the family's future might hold. Since more than 200 years are condensed in this article, a lot of ground is covered rapidly, and many details are left out. The reader is referred to Joseph Battell's Volume I of The Morgan Horse and Register for an in-depth review of the lives of Justin Morgan, his sons, and their progeny.

Part 1: Justin Morgan to Daniel Lambert
Justin Morgan 1. Justin Morgan, originally named Figure, was foaled in 1789 in West Springfield, MA. He was taken as a two year-old by his music-teacher owner, whose name he assumed, to Randolph, VT. There are numerous theories as to the origin of Justin Morgan. The one most accepted holds that he was sired by a bay thor- oughbred stallion named True Briton, who was stolen from a British Revolutionary War officer. Justin Morgan's dam was a light bay Connecticut-born mare tracing to imported thoroughbred and Arabian blood. Justin Morgan was dark bay with no white, stood 14 hands high, and weighed around 950 pounds. The little horse passed through many owners during his life, but wherever he went in the rural Vermont countryside, he was put to hard work. He soon developed a reputation as a horse who could perform far beyond what his diminutive size would suggest. Whether the measure was speed, endurance, or brute force, he was matched against highly bred horses much larger than himself, and he beat them all. He was used extensively at stud, but seldom allowed a break from his grueling work. Although he sired many offspring, there was no Morgan breed or Registry in that day, and consequently, all trace has been lost of most of his progeny. His three most noted sons, Sherman Morgan, Woodbury, and Bulrush, went on to found Morgan families of their own. Justin Morgan died a lonely death due to a pasture-mate's kick in 1821, never during his life receiving the care and appreciation due a stallion of his significance. The Morgan breed, the first to originate in America, is unique in that it was founded by a single horse, Justin Morgan. The Lambert sire line descends from Justin Morgan through the horse who was called his best son, Sherman Morgan.

Sherman Morgan 5. Sherman was foaled in 1808 or 1809 in Lyndon, VT by a light chestnut mare said to be of Spanish or Barb breeding. Like his sire, he was small in stature, rising to 13.3 hands tall and weighing 925 pounds. Sherman was a bright red chestnut with white halfway to the hock on his off hind leg and a narrow stripe on his face -- characteristics quite common in the Lamberts of today. Also like Justin, Sherman was put to heavy toil clearing land and hauling a freight wagon for the first third of his life. After changing owners, however, he became recognized for his ability to sire fine horses. Subsequently, he was widely used at stud in Vermont and New Hampshire and, unlike his father, received the full appreciation and care he deserved. Sherman's offspring were known for being tough, courageous and speedy, and more tractable and easier broken than the get of his brothers, Woodbury and Bulrush. Sherman died in his stall from an apparent heart attack in 1835, but three years earlier he sired his greatest son, Black Hawk. Black Hawk attained fame as great as any horse in America and continued the sire line that would eventually bring forth the Lambert family.

Black Hawk 20. In Durham, NH, in the spring of 1833, a small, homely, solid black colt was foaled by a stylish black mare. She was from Nova Scotia and said to be of imported English blood. First observers felt the colt would not amount to much, yet belying their predictions, he grew to become a stallion of striking beauty. Not only was he handsome, but speedy as well, and the colt named Black Hawk went on to found a great Morgan trotting family. His popularity in 19th century America was so great that he nearly founded a whole new breed by his name. Black Hawk was about 15 hands high, weighed 1,000 pounds, and possessed a disposition second to none. Many who knew him claimed in their old age that he was the best horse they ever saw. As one might expect of such a respected stallion, Black Hawk was used extensively at stud. His $100 stud fee was the highest commanded by any stallion of the day. The many fine offspring he sired, many of which could trot a mile in under 2:30, were known as the best road horses to be had. Nearly all modern Morgans trace to Black Hawk on numerous lines of their pedigrees, and his blood was so strong and valued so highly that it was used in the founding of two other breeds, the standardbred and saddlebred. That the sire line of the magnificent Lambert family traces through Black Hawk, a horse so great, is no coincidence.

Ethan Allen 50. As fine and popular an animal as Black Hawk was, his best son Ethan Allen surpassed him in all respects. Ethan Allen was foaled in 1849 at Ticonderoga, NY, and was raised as a family pet. He was just under 15 hands tall, weighed around 1,000 pounds, was bright bay with a star and snip and three white socks. His dam was a gray mare by Red Robin, said to be by Justin Morgan. Likewise, his second dam was out of a daughter of Justin Morgan, giving Ethan Allen a very high percentage of old Justin's blood. Ethan Allen lived during the heyday of the trotting racers, and he himself was world champion trotter, setting a record time with running mate of 2:15. In addition to being speedy, Ethan Allen possessed a certain charm that commanded the respect and admiration of everyone who met him. In a day when horses were essentials of life, and horse racing, especially trottinghorses, was the supreme sport and recreation, the name of Ethan Allen became a household word across America. Noted horse authority S.W. Parlin wrote, "No one has ever raised a doubt as to his being the handsomest, finest-styled and most perfectly gaited trotter that has ever been produced." That such a horse would have changed hands between many owners during his life is puzzling. Yet, wherever he went he was not only supreme among trotters but unexcelled at siring the same. He sired many 2:30 trotters during his life, with one daughter, Pocahontas, selling for $40,000. Among Ethan Allen's get was Honest Allen, who sired Denning Allen, the sire of General Gates. General Gates was the foundation sire of the government herd at the United States Morgan Horse Farm in Middlebury, VT. His most famous son, however, was Daniel Lambert, the founder of the Lambert family of Morgans. Ethan Allen died a quiet death at his retirement home in Lawrence Kansas at the age of 28.

Daniel Lambert 62. Daniel Lambert was as stylish and handsome a horse as ever lived, and his disposition was said to be perfect. S.W.Parlin wrote, "No horse could be found to compare with him in beauty of form, elegance of style, grace of carriage, ease and elasticity of gate, excellence of quality, and fineness of finish combined." Lambert was foaled in 1858 at the same location as his sire, Ticonderoga, NY. His dam, Fanny Cook, was a nervous, high-strung mare, having inherited that characteristic from her highly-bred ancestors. A bright red chestnut and known for being extremely fast, she traced to the sire of great trotters, Messenger, in 3 generations and to imported Diomed in 4. These horses had the Darley Arabian and the Byerly Turk in their ancestry , the very same blood that produced Justin Morgan. Daniel Lambert inherited none of his mother's temperament. He sold as a weanling for $300 when weanlings were normally selling for $50. Less than 5 years later he sold again for $3,000. He was a light chestnut with flaxen mane and tail, a narrow stripe down his face, and a white left hind foot. Lambert stood nearly 15.2 hands high and weighed 1,030 pounds. Though extremely fast, he was raced only once and never trained for that sport. He was, however, often shown at fairs and exhibitions, always taking the first prize. At his only race, he set a time of 2:42 for the mile. His driver afterwards offered to race any horse in the world for $5 to $10 thousand a side, but had no takers. Lambert was a natural born trotter, with a length of stride beyond proportion to his height. He was used little at stud before age 8, being kept instead as his owner's stylish roadster. After acquiring a new owner, he sired nearly 1,100 foals in Vermont alone and an unknown number in other states. Like their sire, these horses were blessed with speed. Many set times of 2:30 or better on the track. They were best known, however, as the finest road horses that could be found in America. Parlin again stated, "By common consent the Morgans have enjoyed the reputation of being the most beautiful horses, as a family, ever produced on this continent, and Lambert, when in his prime, was one of the most beautiful of that family. Few horses have ever lived that possessed greater power of stamping their offspring with the above characteristics, and imparting the ability to perpetuate them through succeeding generations." Daniel Lambert died in 1889 at 31 years of age. He was the best son in a long line of best sons that began 100 years earlier with the original Morgan. He was a horse of nobility, not just through his blood, but earned through a lineage of beauty, gentleness, and superior performance too. Daniel Lambert founded a Morgan family that continues today as one of only two clean-blooded Morgan families remaining. What great fortune not only that this family still exists, but that of all the Morgan families that ever existed, we are today entrusted with the best. The responsibility that falls upon Lambert owners and breeders to maintain the integrity of this great Morgan family is an immense one.

Part II: Ben Franklin to Cavendish and Criterion
Ben Franklin 1508. Sired by the great producer of 19th century trotters and the horse who gave the Lambert family its name, Ben Franklin was one of the best sons of Daniel Lambert. He was foaled in 1873 by a large black mare named Black Kate. Black Kate was by Addison, a good son of Black Hawk who once sold for the great price of $5,000. She also carried a line to the Justin Morgan son, Brutus. Ben Franklin was bred by H.T.Cutts of Orwell, VT. Harry Hamilton of Fair Haven, VT noticed definite possibilities in the unkempt, dark chestnut colt and acquired a half interest in him in exchange for training the youngster as a road horse. The horse was named Ben Franklin, not after the noted statesman Benjamin Franklin, but after a relative of Mr. Hamilton's who was known for his good luck at betting on the races.

Ben Franklin's disposition was excellent, and he was easily broken to harness. The big, almost 16 hand horse developed into a free-going open trotter. After easily winning a race at nearby Granville, Ben Franklin and crack driver James Golden were sent to race at the eastern circuit near Boston. Golden withdrew at the last minute, leaving Mr. Hamilton no choice but to drive the horse himself. Ben Franklin not only easily won this race, but his next three outings as well, and set his best time of 2:29 for the mile.

Ben Franklin returned to stud at Orwell, where his fee was a phenomenal $100. His foals uniformly exhibited his good looks, trotting speed, and excellent disposition. Ben Franklin won many first ribbons at state and county fairs and was first premium Morgan stallion at the Vermont State Breeder's Association in 1887. His value as a great sire was evident when, at the age of 17, he was sold to General Stonewall Jackson for $8,000. Later inherited by Frank McGavock, Ben Franklin produced a number of great sons and daughters at the Two Rivers Stock Farm near Nashville, TN, dying there at the age of 23.

Jasper Franklin 3989. Bred by George Wells of Fair Haven, VT and foaled in 1887, Jasper Franklin was a colt whose breeding concentrated the blood of Daniel Lambert. By the Daniel Lambert son, Ben Franklin, Jasper Franklin was out of the well-bred Twilight, herself a daughter of Daniel Lambert. Resembling his grandsire to a remarkable degree in type, gait, and color, Jasper Franklin was a light, bright, chestnut so typical of the Lamberts. He was sold as a young horse to J.J.Lynes of Plainfield, IA, and again later to George Washburn of Watertown, SD. Jasper Franklin's best time on the racetrack was 2:33.

Allen Franklin 5722. Always an admirer of the Daniel Lambert line, J.C.Brunk of Springfield, IL took advantage of the arrival of Jasper Franklin in Iowa by sending him one of his best mares for breeding, the Vermont-bred Daisy by Billy Bodette. The resultant offspring, foaled in 1909, was Allen Franklin. A chestnut colt with a star and three white feet, Allen Franklin had an exceptionally nice head, excellent legs and feet, laid back shoulder, and well-defined withers. His movement showed the combination of speed and action that descendants of Daniel Lambert have come to be known for. Allen Franklin headed J.C.Brunk's show string, winning the Morgan Horse Club Trophy for best Morgan horse at both the Iowa and Minnesota State Fairs in 1914.

Penrod 6140. When J.C. Brunk bred Allen Franklin to the mare Black Bess, the colt foaled in 1914 was to become a stallion in the finest Brunk tradition. Penrod inherited Daniel Lambert blood not only through his sire, but also through his dam, a daughter of Jubilee De Jarnette by Jubilee Lambert by Daniel Lambert. One of the few blacks in the Lambert family, Penrod's coat was decorated by a star and white hind socks. He had a good head with small ear, and was known as an excellent mover.

Penrod was purchased as a two year old by the Myers family of Iowa. They moved to South Dakota where Penrod remained for more than a decade before returning to his home state of Illinois. When J.C.Brunk saw him there, he was distressed at the condition of the stallion and immediately traded a mare and foal for him. Like many Brunk stallions, Penrod was known as a producer of excellent mares, siring the likes of Sentola and Betty Barr, the 1939 Iowa State Champion. Had he sired only one horse, however, Penrod would have earned a special place in Morgan history. That horse was Jubilee King.

Jubilee King 7570. J.C. Brunk called him the best horse he ever bred. His last owner, Frances Bryant, said when you saw him, you felt you were in the presence of royalty. Such was the effect Jubilee King had on the people who knew him. His lasting effect on the Morgan breed and the Lambert family is no less significant. Foaled June 29, 1927 on Brunk's Cotton Hill Farm in Springfield, IL, Jubilee King was by the black Penrod and out of the great mare Daisette. This breeding gave him five crosses to Daniel Lambert within five generations. It also made him a double descendant of Brunk's all-time favorite mare, Lady De Jarnette, who was known as the most beautiful Morgan in the world and was barred from competition for being unbeatable.

Jubilee King was used as a working Morgan on Cotton Hill Farm and never entered the showring. He sired 59 of his 84 registered Morgan foals while owned by the Brunks. In 1934, at the age of seven, a strange chapter began in King's life when he was purchased by Tom Burnett, a wealthy Texas rancher. Little is known about these years in Texas, but we do know that King sired only one registered Morgan there, and he's also found in the pedigrees of several Quarter Horses. It is believed he sired many working ranch horses that were never registered. Upon Mr. Burnett's death, Jubilee King returned to the Brunk family in 1941. Since J.C.Brunk had died some years earlier, ownership of the stallion went to his daughter, Grace Brunk Woods.

Frances Bryant purchased Jubilee King from Mrs. Woods at the age of 17. He provided an element to her breeding program which gave her horses the reputation as some of the best in the breed. In particular, King was known for producing the best of feet and legs, strong backs and loins, and gentle dispositions. The years in Texas had resulted in wear and tear beyond his years, however, and in 1948, at the age of 21, Jubilee King was retired from breeding. The rest of his life was spent in the comfort of Mrs. Bryant's gentle care. Jubilee King passed away at the age of 29 and was buried on Mrs. Bryant's Serenity Farm, less than 100 miles from the grave of Daniel Lambert. Jubilee King produced 13 foals for Mrs. Bryant and another 11 by outside mares. Many of his offspring bred on, and the name of Jubilee King can be found in the extended pedigrees of a high percentage of the Morgans in existence today. His impact on the breed made him one of the most important stallions of the 20th century.

Jubilee's Courage 8983. Jubilee King produced many good sons. One of the last and one of the best was the sire line stallion through which today's clean-blooded Lamberts descend -- Jubilee's Courage. Foaled in 1944 by Townsend Lass, Courage was more typey than his sire, had the typical Lambert colors of bright chestnut with flaxen mane and tail, and was blessed with the handsomest of heads set on a well-shaped, upright neck. Courage's dam, the highest percentage mare alive at the time, was by John A. Darling, who undoubtably contributed to his type and beauty. Courage was bred and owned throughout his life by Frances Bryant. She used him extensively on her high percentage mares as Lambert breeders before her had done. Jubilee's Courage produced many fine offspring, several of which went on to become foundation stock for other breeding farms, including Caven-Glo Morgans and The Quietude Stud. His daughter and full sister to Criterion, Cathy Serenity, was the dam of four-time World Champion Stallion, Bennfield's Ace.

Jubilee's Courage was a worthy candidate to carry on the family lineage of his forbearers. From Justin Morgan to Jubilee's Courage, the clean-blooded Lamberts of today descend through this single sireline. At this point, however, the sireline splits into two branches headed by two Jubilee's Courage sons, Cavendish and Criterion.

Cavendish 10200. Cavendish was sired by Jubilee's Courage and out of the good Jubilee King daughter, Paragraph. Such a pedigree, with its high percentage of Daniel Lambert blood, could hardly help but produce greatness. Another bright chestnut colt with flaxen mane and tail, Cavendish was foaled at Frances Bryant's Meeting Waters Farm on April 20, 1949. As a yearling, he was sold, along with the full sister to his sire, Jubilee's Gloria, to Eve and Larry Oakley. These young Lamberts formed the foundation of the Oakley's Caven-Glo Morgans.

Eve Oakley was an expert horsewoman, and she used Cavendish widely in parades, demonstrations, trail rides, and horse shows. He quickly gained admirers wherever he went. The stallion sired 40 foals with the Caven-Glo prefix and others by outside mares. Caven-Glo Morgans represent a minority within the clean-blooded Lambert family today, but their blood continues to make a significant contribution to several Lambert breeding programs including True Unity Morgans, Canyon-Glo Morgans, Dancing Horse Morgans, The Quietude Stud, and Summerfield Farm, among others.

Criterion 13371. With Jubilee King gone and Jubilee's Courage aging, Frances Bryant needed a younger stallion to head her Lambert herd. That stallion was to be Criterion. For his breeding, Mrs. Bryant resorted back to the wisdom of Brunk and the Lambert breeders who preceded him -- the crossing of a good Lambert sire on a high percentage mare from the Woodbury family. Jubilee's Courage was bred to Lippitt Robrita, and on May 6, 1961 a stout, bright chestnut colt with light mane and tail was born. During the 12 years Mrs. Bryant kept him, Criterion produced 25 foals, some for his owner and some by outside mares. With advancing age and failing health, however, she elected to disperse her herd in the early 1970's. One of the last to go, Criterion was entrusted to Shannon and Susan Hanley, aspiring breeders who impressed Mrs. Bryant as people who could be trusted to carry on the breeding goals she had established for her beloved Lamberts. In 1973, at the age of 12, Criterion and a few of his offspring and close relatives the Hanleys managed to round up established The Quietude Stud near Hillsboro, WV.

The Hanleys used Criterion well in honoring the trust of Mrs. Bryant, producing many good Lambert sons and daughters by him. His last get was produced in 1989 when, due to arthritis in his rear legs, Criterion was retired from stud service. He remained ruler of the farm, however, until in 1995, at the age of 34, Criterion passed away. Video of Criterion taken in his 30's shows a powerful, animated stallion of amazing vitality. It is fortunate that such a quality animal as he became the primary patron of the Lambert family in the last half of the 20th century. Having produced a total of 71 foals, Criterion now has children and grandchildren scattered across the U.S. and Canada and as far away as New Zealand. This great stallion appears in the sire line of more that 95 percent of the clean-blooded Lamberts in existence today.

Continued in Parts III and IV.