Subject: Kidder Source: History of the Town of Westford, Mass. 1659 - 1883 by Rev. Edwin R. Hodgman, A.M., Lowell, Mass., Morning Mail Co., Printers, 1883. p.459 Kidder. 1.The first of this name who lived in this town was Thomas Kidder, son of John & Lydia Parker, born 1690 in Chelmsford. John Kidder was son of James Kidder and came from Billerica about 1685. Thomas Kidder m. Joanna Keyes 1716. Children: Thomas Kidder, Aaron Kidder, Reuben Kidder, Joseph Kidder and Josiah Kidder. (see also History of New Ipswich, p. 405.) 2. Thomas Kidder who m. Elizabeth Wheeler, Acton. Children: 1. Elizabeth Kidder b. 1743; m. Zaccheus Green, Concord, 1765. 2. Isaiah Kidder b. 1749; d. 1759. 3. Sarah Kidder b. 1761. This record is evidently imperfect. There were other children whose births were not recorded bearing the names of Francis, James, Jacob, Mary and perhaps Isaac. Thomas Kidder known as "Cornet Kidder", died in 1793 aged 75. 3. James Kidder, supposed to be the son of Thomas and Elizabeth, m. Patty Cummings, 1799. Children: 1. James Kidder b. 1800. 2. Charles Proctor Kidder b. 1801. 3. George Kidder b. 1803. 4. John Lewis Kidder b. 1805. 5. Martha Caroline Kidder b. 1808. 6. William Kidder b. 1811. 7. Nancy Kidder b. 1814. 8. Mary Ann Kidder b. 1817. 4. James Kidder who m. Lucy Pushee, Littleton, 1827. Children: 1. James Otis Kidder b. 1831. 2. Sarah Jane Kidder b. 1834. 3. Elizabeth Ann Kidder b. 1836. 5. Charles Proctor Kidder who m. Mary Ann Wright 1827. Children: 1. Harriet Kidder b. 1836. 2. Nancy Kidder b. 1837. 3. Charles Kidder b. 1839. 4. Mary Ann Kidder b. 1841. 6. George Kidder who m. Lydia Sawtell, 1831. Children: 1. Lydia Maria Kidder b. 1836. 2. Laura Ann Kidder b. 1846. 3. Almira Kidder b. 1849. 4. Andrew J. Kidder b. 1852. 7. James Otis Kidder who m. Charlotte F. Bruce. Child: 1. Josephine A. Kidder b. 1849. p.10 Thomas Kidder settled near Nonesuch Hill. He was the son of John and Lydia Kidder and was born in 1690. He m. Joanna, dau. of Joseph Keyes, in 1716. p.42 Nov. 7, 1718. Laid out a highway which began on Tadmuck Road near Aaron Parker's house - from thence over the brook by marked trees blazed or marked three ways. The way runs by Peter Proctor's and Thomas Kidder's to Ephraim Hildreth's land. p.57 Campaign of 1745 - Reduction of Louisburg. Among the men who hailed from Westford In Capt. William's Company, Francis Kidder "joyner." p.62 Soldiers in the French & Indian Wars. 1755. Sept. 21 - In Capt. Daniel Fletcher's Company under the command of Col. John Cummings, Benjamin Kidder was among those listed. p.77 Building the belfry tower. 1764. Ebenezer Stone, trader of Westford gave, granted, bargained and sold, conveyed and confirmed selling freely & fully to the town of Westford, signed and sealed and delivered in presence of Jonas Prescott, Samuel Fletcher, Benjamin Carver, Oliver Bates and Thomas Kidder. p.77 Civil Action Sept. 1, 1767. Voted that Mr. Thomas Kidder and Nathaniel Boynton shall be a committee to defend the action commenced against said Westford by Dr. Jeremiah Robinson. This was a suit to recomver fees for doctoring some of the town's poor. p.98 June 4, 1770. Voted to raise a new meeting-house. Among those chosen was Thomas Kidder. p.101 Oct 1, 1773 - Pay to Jonas Prescott, Esq., Nathaniel Boynton, Thomas Comings and Cornet Thomas Kidder the sum of £10 for their service & expense in letting the finishing of the new meeting house. p.118 Nov. 24, 1777. Chose a comittee to support the familys of men as are ingaged (sic) in the Continental Service - among those chosen was Thomas Kidder. p.122 Committee of Correspendence - 1781. - Committee to hire soldiers, among whom was Thomas Kidder. p.158 Migration from Westford to other towns. To New Ipswich. Among the grantees of this new township, named in the Masonian Charter, executed at Dunstable, April 17, 1750 was Reuben Kidder & Joseph Kidder of Westford. Reuben Kidder heads the list. He was to make settlement on three shares or rights. He was "for the first twenty years the father of the town. He filled important civil offices, was land surveyor, Justice of the Peace, Captain and Colonel. He gave his attention to the cultivation of fruit and "previous to the Revolution, had one of the largest and most valuable orchids in New England, containing the rarest varieties of apples and pears." He was on intimate p.159 terms with Gov. Wentworth who in 1770 conferred on him the title of Colonel of a regiment of militia. From the Masonian proprietors he received a grant of a township of land, subsequently called Washington in New Hampshire. He assisted in the organization of the church in 1760 and was one of its orig. members. He had four sons and eight daughters, all of whom lived to adult age and some of them to be very old. He died in 1793 aged 70 yrs. His wife, Susanna Burge of Westford died in 1824 aged 88 yrs. Joseph Kidder established his home neaar the center of New Ipswich where he lived until 1770 when he removed to the adjoining town of Temple. He married Rebecca Chamberlin of Westford. p.170 Removed to other towns in the Commonwealth. To Littleton, Mass. Capt. Francis Kidder. p.171 Removed to other towns in the Commonwealth. To Tyngsborough - Jacob Kidder. p.273 Ecclesiastical. Thomas Kidder (1779) was among those designated a committee "to wait on the council for the ordination of Rev. Matthew Scribner and for the defense of the church in all matters that may be laid before said committee." p.274 Nov. 1, 1779 On matters respecting the state and condition of the church: Thomas Kidder was a member of the committee to prepare a new book of records and he was appointed "to draw up a confession of faith and a covenant." p.308 Education Grammer School Teachers 1750 - Jonathan Kidder the son of Thomas Kidder of Billerica. A graduate of Cambridge in 1751. Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth