Hello, I've spent some time trying to solve a mystery, and I've started again. Each time I look at my notes I notice something else. Here is the problem: There was a Joseph KIDDER, b1761 to a Francis KIDDER, "of Westford, MA" but Joseph was born in Concord, MA. There was a Joseph KIDDER, Jr., b1763 to a Joseph KIDDER "of Temple, NH" and Joseph, Jr. was born in New Ipswich, NH. They were cousins, Francis KIDDER was the younger brother of Joseph KIDDER, Sr. Different books say that both Joseph, b1761, and Joseph, b1763, served in t6he Revolutionary War. There is only a little information on Joseph, Jr., of NH. It is said that he and his older brother, Wilder KIDDER, both marched to Cambridge on April 19, 1775. And they were both at Bunker Hill in June 1775. He was with Capt. Drury at Saratoga, NY, in Sept. 1777. He reportedly was in RI in 1778, and he was with Capt. Fletcher as a "NH volunteer." No other information in Rev. War records that I know of. There is much more information on Joseph, b1761, son of Francis KIDDER "of Westford, MA" area. He is listed in the book, "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors ..... " And the paragraph starts out: KIDDER, Joseph, Westford (also given Shrewsbury). Private, Capt. .. Brown's Co., Col. .. Whitney's Reg. and things from the rest of the paragraph: .. stationed at Hull .. ... list of men raised to serve in Continental Army from South Co. in Shrewsbury, Col. Cushing Regiment (6th Worcester) ... residence, Westford; engaged for town of Shrewsbury ... joined Col. Alden's Reg. .... Continental Army pay accounts for service from June 15, 1777, to Oct. 31, 1777; .... residence Shrewsbury; credited to town of Shrewsbury; ..reported deceased .. Reported died Oct. 30 (also given as Oct. 31), 1777. I also have a note that the "Saratoga.. Park" records show a Joseph KIDDER with Col. Moore's Reg., served from Sept. 29 to Oct. 26, 1777. (It seems that both cousins were at Saratoga during Oct. 1777, and one died and one lived, and that would have confused the records.) And, a book, "Known Military Dead .... " lists a Pvt. Joseph KIDDER, 7th MA, dying Oct. 31, 1777. And, the 7th MA did go to Saratoga. And there is a Joseph KIDDER buried in Saratoga. Another book, " ... NH Rolls of Soldiers ..." says there were 2 Joseph KIDDER's, one in Capt. Moore's Reg., and one in Col. Haye's Reg. coming up from RI. (There was a Joseph in RI in 1778.) The problem comes about when the "KIDDER book" states that the Joseph, b1761, son of Francis, survived the War. And, he moved to Temple, NH, and lived there for a while, marrying there in 1795, and having children. He later moved to Maine and nothing else is known. But, several books and several records state that Joseph, Jr., b1763, son of Joseph, Sr., only fought fought a year or 2 (as a very young teen), and returned to his home in Temple, NH. And, the 1795 marriage record in Temple states that it was Joseph KIDDER, Jr., marrying Huldah STILES. And, the Temple Historical Society told me this month that Joseph, Sr., and Joseph, Jr., ran a tavern in the town. And children were born to the couple up to 1814. Joseph, Sr., died in 1817, and I'm told that there was still a Joseph KIDDER in Temple in 1820. I believe that it was Joseph, son of Francis, who died at Saratoga, and I believe it was Joseph, Jr., who lived and married in NH in 1795. But, I need to find "proof" that it was Joseph, b1761, who died. And, if Joseph, b1761, was living in Shrewsbury during the War, and he was "reported as dead" in 1777, would the Shrewsbury records mention this? (The Town of Westford lists Joseph, b1761, son of Francis, as a soldier from their town.) Betty (near Lowell, MA) P.S. There were other Joseph Kidder's in New England in the 1700's, but either they can be accounted for, or nothing is known about them.