Family 72 emerged in Yorkshire around the beginning of the 18th century. Sir Matthew Pierson's Ruby entered the stud of John Brewster Darley of Buttercrambe and there produced at least three offspring, all of whom raced for Mr Darley.

Flower finished fourth of thirteen for the Ladies' Gold Cup at York in 1721, which was won by Mr Chetwynd's bay colt Slouch, and was unplaced for the Royal Plate at York in 1722, won by Mr Duncombe's Hazard [ex-Dart] (ch c 1716 Bald Galloway). Standing fourteen and a half hands, he was described as a strong horse having a very fine shape, which characteristics he transmitted to his offspring. He was advertised to stand at George Wright's at Naward-Castle, Cumberland, in 1736 [Newcastle Courant, April 10, 1736, Number 572].

The most successful runner, Aldby Jenny, won the King's Plate for six year olds at Guildford in 1723 [Newcastle Courant, April 10, 1736, Number 572 & W T Frampton and the "Dragon":66]. She was sold after her victory for 500 guineas. In the stud she produced at least two winners, Justice and Crook. Justice ran in the colours of the Earl of Halifax from 1730 to 1732, winning a 200gs match from Lord Portmore's Daffodil (ch 1725 Bald Galloway) and a 100gs match from Lord Howe's Miss Hoyden. Crook won the Royal Plate at York in 1735 defeating Mr Witty's Meliora (ch f 1729 Fox) and five others.

Swimmer finished 6th of 19 in the Royal Plate for five year old mares at Hambleton in 1723, which race was won by Mr Graeme's Whitelips (b f 1718 Bald Galloway). Her son Plunder was himself a good racehorse. In 1737 Plunder won the £90 Ladies' Plate at Lincoln and finished 2nd for the Royal Plate at York, won by Cato (b c 1731 Croft's Partner). In 1738, he won the Annual Plate at Kipling-Coates, £40 at Newcastle and £30 at York. In 1739 he was lamed in his only race in May at New Malton, Yorkshire. In 1740 he won the Annual Plate at Kipling-Coates. Described as standing fifteen hands and the best Plate horse then in Yorkshire, he was advertised in the York Courant to stand at William Moody's at Hatfield for a fee of one guinea in 1740.

© J R Hardiman, A J Hibbard and Miodrag Milovanovic

"Justice, (a bay horse - foaled in 1724,) Bred by and the Property of the Earl of Halifax. Justice was got by the Hampton-Court Litten Arabian; dam, Aldby Jenny, (bred by John Brewster, Esq.) by Leedes's Dragon, out of Sir Matthew Peirson's Ruby" [Pick 1:28].

In a pedigree given for Brutus: "Ld. Halifax's Justice, Son to the Hampton Court Litton Arabian, upon Aldby Jenny, bred by Mr. Brewster, her Grand Dam called Ruby, was got by Mr. Leed's Dragon" [Heber 1761:143].

"Manica also got Aldby Jenny, Swimmer, the Dam of Plunder, Mr. Pace's Forester, &c." [Cheny 1743:xxii].

"Justice was got by the Hampton-Court Litton Arabian, out of Aldby Jenny, whose Dam was bred by the late Sir Matthew Pearson, and called Ruby, and got by the Leeds Draggon" [Cheny 1746:149].

"My Horse Plunder was out of my Mare Swimmer, full Sister to Aldby Jenny, got by Mannica, who was got by Darley's Arabian; Plunder was got by a Horse called Smiling Tom. / BREWSTER" [York Courant: Tuesday, April. 15. 1740. Numb. 757].