This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: bbffrrpp Surnames: Stiles, Kidder, Bixby Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.stiles/1014/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello, I unexpectedly went to the Haverhill, MA, Library a few days ago and "finally" got a chance to look at the "history of Temple, NH." Actually there were 2, one very old, smaller one, and one large one published in 1970's. I was somewhat disappointed because neither book had a genealogy section; they are all text. I was looking for additional information on my KIDDER ancestors who helped to start the town. While looking for mentions of KIDDER in the text, I was also keeping an eye open for mentions of STILES. I did find a couple ! On one page describing how Temple was begun, "By petition, Benjamin Killam, Joseph Killam, John Kidder, Jr., Theodore Barker, Ebenezer Stiles, Joseph Richardson, and Samuel Killam (all from Lyndeboro) requested that their holdings, some 900 acres, be disannexed from Lyndeboro and joined to Temple ......" On another page, the author discussed the many blacksmiths in town, and this was probably because there was a Stagecoach stop in Temple for many years. The next page: "Ensign Jesse Walker, Asa Stiles, Benjamin Felt, John Osgood, John Mack, and Abel Gardner were all smiths in Temple by or before 1860." Another page: Asa Stiles (b. 1741) and his son, David (b. 1779) came together to the Putnam place. They reopened the gristmill and cooperated in its operation until 1800, when David moved to Lyndeborough. A year later the old mill burned, but was rebuilt by David upon his return to his father's place in 1803; this time it was used as a saw mill. In 1810, the mill had been converted into a forge and blacksmith shop, run by David Stiles. Blood tells us that in that year, John F. Ordway, 18 years old, 'was carried over the water wheel at David Stiles' forge and killed.' David Stiles was town clerk in 1823-24; he also served as town moderator and selectman. After David Stiles' death, c. 1858, John Giddings purchased the property ........" Another chapter discussed early schools. ".... Salaries for male teachers improved, however, for by 1803 it was recorded that David Stiles received $18 for teaching only six weeks. On the other hand Ensign Kidder was paid a bit over 2 (lbs.) ' for his wife's service in keeping school in 1774.' Formal qualifications for teachers were practically non-existent at the time; some were excellent, others indescribably bad. The old Temple history, quoting from Esqire Stiles, says, 'It was then the custom to employ those for teachers who were in most need of support; if they could read a chapter in the Testament, teach the Shorter Catechism, and whip the boys, they were sufficiently qualified.' ....... " ... As I said in my other postings, I am trying to find out whether it was a Huldah STILES, dau. of Asa and Huldah (BIXBY) STILES, and born in Middleton, MA, who married in Temple, NH, in 1795. I have not been able to find on-line any mention of all the children of Asa and Huldah; there is only the mention of their son, David, in the above book. (David, b1779, and sister (?), Huldah, b1772 ??). However, as I've said, the vital records of Temple, NH, state that it was a Mrs. Huldah ( ? ) STILES who married in Temple in 1795. The husband was either Joseph KIDDER, son of Francis, b1761 MA, or his cousin, Joseph KIDDER, Jr., b1763 NH. So, the question is: Did he marry a "younger woman" or an "older woman" ??? The cousins would have been either 34 or 32, and both would have fought in the Rev. War as young teens ! And, there is a hint that one of them died in the War in NY. But, there is mention of a Joseph, Jr., still living in Temple up to 1820. Thank you for your time. Betty (near Lowell, MA) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.