James KIDDER

Notes:

Excerpt from "A Genealogy of The Kidder Family": Ensign James Kidder, the progenitor of practically all persons in the United States who bear his surname, believed to have been born at East Grinstead, Sussex, England, about 1626; died at Billerica, Middlesex County, Mass., 16 Apr. 1676, "aged fify" according to contemporary records. He married at Cambridge, Mass., presumably late in 1649 or early in 1650, Anna Moore of that place, born in England about 1630; died at Billerica in 1691, daughter of Elder Francis and Katherine Moore. She married secondly at Chelmsford, Middlesex Co., Mass., 17 Mar. 1684/1685, William Underwood of that town.
James Kidder's probable birthplace, East Grinstead, is a small town about thirty miles from London, and in the near vicinity of Maresfield, ancient seat of the Kidder family. Nothing is known of his early years nor of the reasons which prompted his leaving the home of his fathers to settle in New England where he is believed to have arrived about 1649, shortly before his marriage to Anna Moore.........
That Ensign Kidder was a man of high standing in the community in which he lived is evident from the fact that he married the daughter of so prominent and prosperous a man as Elder Francis Moore of Cambridge, as well as from his varied activities there and in Billerica, where he filled civil and military positions of responsibility, and where he was active in church affairs.
He died leaving an estate of about three hundred and seventy pounds, not a large one measured by present standards of wealth, but a comfortable one for the period in which he lived...

Excerpt from "A History of the Kidder Family": In 1675, when King Philip's war took place, he was in the public service, and kept guard over the small trie of Indians at Wameset, now forming part of Lowell,and soon after was appointed to the command of a garrison-house, which contained seven families, including his own and that of his son James. He died, April 16th, 1676, in the midst of the war, aged about 50, it has been suggested from disease caued by his exposure in this war, which was the most trying time ever seen in New England......"Thus passed away the patriarch of the family in this country; and though no stone marks the spot or perpetuates his memory, the name seems destined to live through all coming time, as his descendants,now numbering some Thousands, are spread over this broad land, from the Penobscot to the shores of the Pacific, and from Canada to Louisiana," representing nearly every occupation and profession, in many of which the name has gained considerable prominence. His descendants have fought in all the wars of the Union, in all grades from the private to the colonel, and in the last war the name was largely and honorably represented both on land and sea.

James married Anna MOORE about 1651 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Anna (daughter of Francis MOORE and Katherine ?) was born about 1630 in England; died in 1691 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Hannah married Nathaniel KETTELL on 30 Apr 1672. Nathaniel (son of Richard KETTELL and Esther Hester WARD) was born on 11 Oct 1644 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1723 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Dorothy married Jonathan HYDE, Jr. on 05 May 1673 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Jonathan (son of Sergt. Jonathan HYDE and Mary FRENCH) was born on 01 Apr 1655 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died about 1726 in Canterbury, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Elizabeth BROWN on 23 Sep 1677/8 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of William BROWN and Elizabeth RUGGLES) was born in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 10 Aug 1691 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Excerpt from "A Genealogy of The Kidder Family": John Kidder resided for some years in Billerica, and in 1675-6, during King Philip's War, was assigned to the garrison house of Thomas Pattin with six other soldiers, and five families. The oath of fidelity was administered to him "before the chiefe officers,' Feb. 4th, 1677/8. In 1681 he purchased of Jonathan Tyng 500 acres of land lying on the West side of the concord river, in Chelmsford, in which town he resided thenceforth. Chelmsford town records show that "in 1698 payment was made to 'John Kyder for tythin mens staues, 4s-6d." Under date of 16 Mar. 1691-92, "John Kide (sic) & family" are mentioned as being in the garrison at Chelmsford. After 1698 no additional references to him are found.

John married Lydia PARKER on 03 Sep 1684 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Lydia (daughter of Abraham PARKER and Rose WHITLOCK) was born on 17 Feb 1664/5 in Prob. Woburn, Massachusetts; died on 10 May 1742 in Chelmsford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Excerpt from "A genealogy of The Kidder Family": Thomas Kidder was Captain of a militia company in the expedition against Crown Point under General Braddock. In 1690, he was made a Freeman in Watertown.

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 12 Dec 1690
• Will Proved: 07 Apr 1691

Notes:

Excerpt from "A Genealogy of The Kidder Family": Ephraim Kidder with others took the oath of fidelity "before their chiefe officer," 4 Feb. 1677/8. He was taxed in Billerica in 1688. His name appears in a list of men sharing in a distribution of lots in the vicinity of "Rocky Hill," southeast of Billerica, and in a second division made in the Spring of 1708 he received an additional allotment of forty-seven acres. He inherited the old homestead in Billrica, on which he was born, and there he died "in ye 65th year of his age," as the inscription on his tombstone in the old burying ground on the Bedford Road reads. Nereby "lies ye body of Mrs. Rachel (Crosby)," his wife. The estate of Ephraim was administered by two of his sons, Thomas and Benjamin, Joseph "being gone to sea." His inventory totalled L224, a tidy sum for his day.

Ephraim married Rachel CROSBY on 04 Aug 1685 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Rachel (daughter of Simon CROSBY and Rachel BRACKET) was born on 24 Aug 1660 in Braintree, Massachusetts; died on 14 Sep 1721 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ephraim married Elizabeth CARY on 01 Jun 1724 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Elizabeth (daughter of John CARY, Jr. and Abigail ALLEN) was born on 23 May 1683 in Bristol, Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 19 Mar 1748
• Will Proved: 18 Jul 1748

Notes:

Excerpt from "A Genealogy of The Kidder Family": Stephen Kidder was a blacksmith and a man of energy, who through strict attention to his trade acquired what fro the period was a tidy estate. he was taxed in Billerica in 1688. In 1692 he was admitted to the church in Charlestown, which town became his home, and in 1701 he purchased from John Melvin a house "at the junction of Main, Bow, Middlegate, and Harvard streets,near the town houses." His will, dated 19 Mar. 1748, proved 18 July following, bequeaths his propert in equal parts to his children, Stephen, Isaac, John, Mary and Hannah.

Stephen married Mary JOHNSON about 1694 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Mary was born on 21 Oct 1672 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA; died on 17 Sep 1722. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Excerpt from "A Genealogy of The Kidder Family": Enoch Kidder became owner of and resided on the Kidder ancestral homestead at Billerica. He took the oath of fidelity on Sept. 8, 1681. He served as selectman in 1703, 1706, 1707, 1710, 1715 and 1717.

Enoch married Mary HEYWOOD on 01 Jun 1685. Mary (daughter of John HEYWOOD and Sarah SIMMONDS) was born on 03 Nov 1669 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; died on 21 Mar 1742/3 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Enoch married Hannah CROSBY on 04 Jun 1743 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Hannah (daughter of Simon CROSBY and Rachel BRACKET) was born on 30 Mar 1672/3 in Billerica, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; died on 03 Oct 1752 in Billerica, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Excerpt from "A Genealogy of The Kidder Family": Samuel Kidder appears to have lived in his youth with an uncle, Francis Moore, from whom he is said to have acquired by gift the Moore mansion house and farm in Cambridge, erected if tradition is to be trusted,by James Moore in 1660. It stood near the corner of Main and Spruce streets, then Kidder's Lane about opposite Cedar street. He owned a mill for the manufacture of malt in which industry he met with marked success. He served for years as a deacon in the church at Cambridge, and was prominent in town affairs. At one time he was "Viewer of Fences, " and 13 Apr. 1693 was "one of a committee to agree with a shepherd to keep the flock for this present year, to take care concerning the same, etc. and have ye flock fed in such place as ye selectmen shall appoint". He served as selectman from 1716 to 1721, and held other town offices. He left an estate of L1,356.

Samuel married Sarah GRIGGS on 23 Oct 1689 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Sarah (daughter of John GRIGGS and Mary PATTEN) was born in 1666; died on 15 Nov 1738 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married George BROWN between 30 Jan 1689 and 1690 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. George (son of William BROWN and Elizabeth RUGGLES) was born on 05 Apr 1668 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 28 Sep 1738 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]