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It would appear from all historical records, that Buckram (Locust Valley) has as its true “claim to fame” a horse named "Messenger" who spent a good deal of his adult life here. In 2021, Messenger was selected to appear on the Locust Valley Historical Society logo because of his illustrious history.
Messenger (1780-1808)
A painting of Messenger by George Stubbs (ca. 1780s)
The Locust Valley Historical Society’s logo has evolved from depicting the original Long Island Railroad trestle that still traverses Forest Avenue to something even more historic – the image of a special horse that called Buckram (Locust Valley) home. The image that appears in the LVHS logo of 2021 is that of Messenger, one of the earliest of the breeding horses imported from England when Long Island was a part of the colony of New York. Messenger is known around the world as the stud was used to breed the finest bloodlines in the thoroughbred, and what became the “American Standardbred”, as noted at the International Museum of the Horse in Lexington, Kentucky. For this reason, he is also recognized by the Jockey Club (UK), the US Trotting Association, hunt clubs, and horse enthusiasts. For explanation, “thoroughbreds” are ridden, while “standardbreds” pull the “sulky” (categorically known as “the bike” in harness racing), with a driver – think of the difference between Aqueduct and Belmont Park racing.
In 1708, Messenger was sired at the Grosvenor (pronounced “GRŌVNER”) studfarm in England - one of the oldest (both landed gentry and aristocratic) families in existence. The GROSVENOR family can be traced back over a thousand years in English history. In the 1770s it is estimated that they owned half of London and made their Old World fortunes through real estate leases. Their pastime was horse breeding and horseracing.
Sir Thomas BENGER imported Messenger into the New World at Bristol, a suburb of Philadelphia in 1788, and then sold the horse five years later to Henry ASTOR, the brother of John Jacob ASTOR. The ownership of Messenger changed several times, and he was stabled in New Jersey and Westchester County, New York before his subsequent sale to W. Burling COCK (circa 1803), one of many Cock, Cocks, and Cox family members that settled in the area known today as Locust Valley and Matinecock on Long Island. It is recorded that Messenger spent the remainder of his adult life in Locust Valley, or Buckram, as it was called in its early history.
In 1708, Messenger was sired at the Grosvenor (pronounced “GRŌVNER”) studfarm in England - one of the oldest (both landed gentry and aristocratic) families in existence. The GROSVENOR family can be traced back over a thousand years in English history. In the 1770s it is estimated that they owned half of London and made their Old World fortunes through real estate leases. Their pastime was horse breeding and horseracing.
Sir Thomas BENGER imported Messenger into the New World at Bristol, a suburb of Philadelphia in 1788, and then sold the horse five years later to Henry ASTOR, the brother of John Jacob ASTOR. The ownership of Messenger changed several times, and he was stabled in New Jersey and Westchester County, New York before his subsequent sale to W. Burling COCK (circa 1803), one of many Cock, Cocks, and Cox family members that settled in the area known today as Locust Valley and Matinecock on Long Island. It is recorded that Messenger spent the remainder of his adult life in Locust Valley, or Buckram, as it was called in its early history.
The plaque at Messenger Hill Farm
Early 20th Century maps show that the area on the east side of Piping Rock Road, where it intersects with Duck Pond Road, was land belonging to William COCKS, a descendant of Townsend COCKS, who owned Messenger at the time of the horse’s death in 1808. The holding on the southeastern corner of Duck Pond and Piping Rock Roads is known as MESSENGER HILL FARM where both the estate house and the grave marker of Messenger are located. Messenger is buried 300 feet from the intersection of Duck Pond and Piping Rock Roads on the southeast side, and a boulder marks the burial site; the estate house is slightly beyond.
Locust Valley has always been known as the home of the “horsey set” because of Piping Rock Club (for polo and horse racing) and the many miles of horse trails between Glen Cove, and eastward to Huntington. The former estates of the “Gold Coast” usually had large stables or paddocks. There was even a subcommittee of the Matinecock Neighborhood Association aptly named “The Country Lanes Committee” to both cultivate and maintain the extensive trails. The area between Glen Cove and Oyster Bay hamlet is one in which the scions of industry, finance, and law had re-established the Old World in the New; and descriptions of the architecture, horticulture, and lifestyles found here fill many books.
With the passing of the great sire of the American Standardbred on January 28, 1808, the burial of Messenger took place with the pomp of a state funeral. A military contingent fired volley after volley over the grave of the King of Horses at MESSENGER HILL. And 127 years after the death of Messenger, a tablet was erected near the burial spot during the Horse Show of 1935. The inscription reads:
Locust Valley has always been known as the home of the “horsey set” because of Piping Rock Club (for polo and horse racing) and the many miles of horse trails between Glen Cove, and eastward to Huntington. The former estates of the “Gold Coast” usually had large stables or paddocks. There was even a subcommittee of the Matinecock Neighborhood Association aptly named “The Country Lanes Committee” to both cultivate and maintain the extensive trails. The area between Glen Cove and Oyster Bay hamlet is one in which the scions of industry, finance, and law had re-established the Old World in the New; and descriptions of the architecture, horticulture, and lifestyles found here fill many books.
With the passing of the great sire of the American Standardbred on January 28, 1808, the burial of Messenger took place with the pomp of a state funeral. A military contingent fired volley after volley over the grave of the King of Horses at MESSENGER HILL. And 127 years after the death of Messenger, a tablet was erected near the burial spot during the Horse Show of 1935. The inscription reads:
APPROXIMATELY TWENTY PACES
TO THE SOUTH OF THIS SPOT LIES
MESSENGER
Foaled in England in 1780
Brought to America in 1788
Buried with Military Honors on January 28, 1808
Descended from England’s Greatest Thoroughbreds
Son of Mambrino and of a Daughter of Turf
Bred by the First Earl of Grosvenor
* * *
No Stallion ever Imported into the Country
Did More to improve our Horse Stock
None Enriched More the Stock of the Whole World
Today his Blood is Carried by most American Thoroughbreds
* * *
As the Great Founder
Of the Breed of Standard Bred Light Harness Horses
His Blood is Now Dominant
In America, Throughout Europe and In Australasia
Among His Direct Descendants Is Every Two Minute Trotter
”None But Himself Can Be His Parallel”
* * *
In Tribute To
His Enduring Greatness
This Memorial Has Been Erected by American Horse Lovers
A.D. 1935
Messenger was inducted into the United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1964.