| Notes |
- [1] James Kidder, the immigrant ancestor, was born at East Grinstead, county Sussex, England, in 1626, and was at Cambridge, MA in 1650. In 1653 he occupied a farm of two hundred and eighty-nine acres, situated in what is now West Cambridge. That same year the town of Shawshine, now Billerica, was granted to Cambridge and many of the older residents of the latter town moved there. Among them was James Kidder, who was there as early as 1656. Both he and his wife were members of the Cambridge church in full communion, and when a church was organized in Billerica they were among the first to become members of it. In 1662 he was a juror in Cambridge, and the same year was made sergeant of the military company in Billerica.
[1] In 1675, at the time of King Philip's war, James Kidder kept guard over a small tribe of Indians at Wameset, now forming part of Lowell, and was soon after appointed to the command of a garrison house, which contained seven families, including his own. James was an ensign in Captain Danforth's company and he died on April 16, 1676, probably as a result of hardships and exposure incident to the Indian war.
[1] James Kidder married at Cambridge, it is supposed in 1649, Ann, daughter of Elder Francis Moore, one of the most wealthy and respectable men of the town. She survived him and married (second) William Underwood of Chelmsford on March 17, 1684-85.
(Title: New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Third Series, Vol. 2
Author: William R. Cutter
Publication: Lewis Historical Publishing, NY. 1915)
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See Vol 96, p. 55 Directory of the anc. heads of New England fams. Comp. By Frank R. Holmes. NewYork, 1923. (274p.):139 Gen. Column of the " Boston Transcript". 1906-1941.( The greatest single source of material for gen. Data for the N.E. area and for the period 1600-1800. Completely indexed in the Index.): 24 Feb 1919, 7381; 13 Dec 1920, 8505
Biography excerpted from A History of the Kidder Family by F.E. Kidder (Alton MA 1886):
James Kidder, who was born at East Grinstead in Sussex, England, in 1626, may be considered as the patriarch of the family, and the ancestor of all who bear the name in this country. In what year or by what ship he made his advent to New England, cannot now be ascertained. It is certain that he was at Cambridge as early as 1650, and perhaps it is fair to infer that he was here sometime previous. As the persecution for opinion's sake in England had ceased some years previous, we cannot claim that as a cause for his leaving his fatherland, but must presume that, on coming of age, he found his country involved in a civil war of uncertain length, and to avoid those troublesome times, he concluded to seek a more peaceful residence with better prospects than a young farmer could then find in his native country. We first find him located at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he married, probably in 1649, Anna Moore, daughter of Elder Francis Moore. (As the record of most of the early marriages in Cambridge is lost, the precise time cannot be ascertained.) As the family of Elder Moore was then one of the most wealthy and respectable in that place, we infer that the appearance and reputation of our ancestor must have been of equal character to have entitled him to such an alliance.
In 1653 he was occupying a farm of 289 acres, lying on the north side of the Fresh Pond and Menotomy River, which had leased of Deacon Sparrowhawk three years previous. (This location is now in West Cambridge.) In the treasurer's records of the colony for that year, now deposited in the rooms of the New England Historic Genealogy Society, his name appears, as having received ten shillings as the bounty for killing a wolf.
In 1653 the General Court granted Shawshine, now Billerica, to Cambridge, and for several years it continued to form a part of that town; many of its older residents receiving grants of lands, soon removed there. (Elder Moore had one hundred acres allotted him. Probably James Kidder had this for a farm.)
It is most likely that James Kidder was among the first to take up his abode in that wilderness, and it is quite probable he may have gone there as early as 1653 or 4, and to have made, as soon as possible, the preparations for removing his family. It is certain he was residing there with his family as early as 1656, as this place may be considered as the home of the family for over 100 years. Both he and his wife were members of the church in Cambridge in full communion, and six of their children were baptized there. When a church was organized at Billerica, they were among the first to become members of it.
In 1662, he was a juror of the Court holden in Cambridge and in the Court records of that year we find the following entry: "James Kidder is allowed to be sergant of the Military Company at Billerica." This may be thought a small affair for the court to take cognizance of, but the organization of the military of that day was a matter of the first importance, and none but men of the most reliable character were entrusted with any office in it. It will be seen that he afterwards rose to the rank of Ensign; his name is often mentioned in town records of Billerica, where he was appointed on various committees. He was also selectman for six years.
In 1675, when King Philip's war took place, he was in the public service, and kept guard over the small tribe of Indians at Wameset, not forming part of Lowell, and soon after was appointed to the command of the 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 caused by his exposure in this war, which was the most trying time ever seen in new England. (There was an Indian foray April 16, 1676, on a hill near Kidder's garrison-house. James was either killed or mortally wounded, and died a few days afterward. (Old MS Document in the State House.) His name is not given, but four or five were killed or wounded, and James disappeared--was probably one of the killed.--FE Kidder)
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.
The majority of those bearing the name are farmers, but may have shone as lawyers, bankers, philanthropists, poets, surgeons, ministers, merchants, etc.; and very seldom has the name been disgraced by any unlawful acts.
Some of his hand-writing is still extant; it is in the sharp, angular style of the times, and shows that his education was superior to many of the early emigrants. (Autograph omitted.)
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1626 - 1676 (50 years)
[2]