Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia

Horses

Painting of an English gentleman in a wide-brimmed dark hat, light gray frock coat, blue stockings, and brown shoes hold the reins of brown thoroughbred racing horse while a jockey in matching red and white striped cap and shirt, white pants, and low boots stands to the side.

Tending Jefferson's Horses

Until his death in 1800, chief hostler and coachman Jupiter Evans managed the horses and stables at Monticello. Later, Wormley Hughes assumed responsibility for the stables on Mulberry Row. He managed the care of the horses including feeding, providing water, mucking out the stalls, exercising, grooming, and putting them out to pasture. Hostlers, or stable hands, were also responsible for cleaning and polishing the tack including saddles, harnesses, reins, bits, and stirrups. Maintenance of wheeled vehicles often came under the supervision of the hostlers, and may have included carts, wagons, and Jefferson’s carriages and their equipage.

Painting of an English gentleman in a wide-brimmed dark hat, light gray frock coat, blue stockings, and brown shoes hold the reins of brown thoroughbred racing horse while a jockey in matching red and white striped cap and shirt, white pants, and low boots stands to the side.
Diomed by George Stubbs, 19th century. Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute.
Page from Jefferson's Farm Book showing the lineage of his horse Caractacus.
Page from Jefferson's Farm Book showing the lineage of his horse Caractacus; courtesy Massachusetts Historical Society

Below is a list of the names and foaling or purchase dates (if known) of Thomas Jefferson's riding horses.

Horse NameFoaledSold, Given Away, or Died 
Allycroker11758unknown; last reference June 2, 17782 
Gustavus31763; purchased from Francis Willis ca. 17734given away (date unknown) 
Cucullin51764unknown 
The General1769; purchased from Alexander Spotswood in 1775  
Crab1771  
Everallynpurchased 1774  
Alfred1774  
Caractacus1775unknown; last reference 17906 
Ethelinda1776  
Silvertail1773  
Orra Moor1778  
Peggy Waffington1778  
Zanga1778  
Odin1778  
Polly Peachum1778  
Silveret1780  
Assaragoa1779  
Raleigh1777  
Tarquinpurchased 1790  
Brimmerpurchased 1790  
Remus & Romulus (carriage horses)unknown  
Matchlesspurchased 1791  
Fitzpartnerpurchased 1799  
Wildairpurchased 1801  
Castorunknown  
Diomedeunknown  
Bremospring 1806; purchased by Jefferson 1814  
Wellingtonpurchased 1815  
Tecumsehpurchased 1815  
Peacemakerpurchased 1819  
The Eaglepurchased 1820  
 

- Compiled by Gaye Wilson, 2/99, based on Betts, Farm Book, 87-109

 

Further Sources

Footnotes

  1. "Ally Croker" was a famous eighteenth-century Irish folk song.
  2. MB, 1:465. Transcription available at Founders Online.
  3. Most likely not named by Jefferson.
  4. MB, 1:333. Transcription available at Founders Online.
  5. Cú Chulainn was a hero from Irish mythology, probably familiar to Jefferson from James Macpherson's Works of Ossian (1765).
  6. Jefferson to Charles Lilburne Lewis, February 22, 1790, in PTJ, 16:192. Transcription available at Founders Online.