MAINE-L Archives

From: "BBFFRRPP" <>
Subject: [MAINE] ..KIDDER... Book is being Updated. Do you have Information to Contribute?
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 15:41:16 -0500

Hello,

I'd like to remind all people with the surname, KIDDER, on their family tree
that there is a man in Florida who has been working on the updating of the
"Kidder family history book" for probably ten years.

The book was published by the NEHGS in 1941, and the official title starts
out .. "Descendants of Ensign James KIDDER (1626-1676) of Cambridge and
Billerica, Massachusetts ...." It is a good book put together by some
devoted Kidder researchers in the very early 1900's. But, 60+ years have
passed .. and the Internet .. has entered..our lives.

The book is not found in too many libraries, nor is it found being sold in
too many bookstores. So, when George KIDDER publishes his updated "Kidder
book" within the next year or so, it will benefit many people. His
contact information is found on his web site:

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/1255/1255.htm

If you have KIDDER information, please contact him to see if he needs it.
But, please don't send any databases in an "attachment" initially. It is
much better if you write and summarize what you have. He can tell you
whether he already has the information.

--My line descends from John Kidder, son of James Kidder, who settled in
Chelmsford, MA, as did several of his sons. Thomas Kidder was in the part
of Chelmsford which annexed off to become Westford, MA. Three of his sons
left MA in 1730's to help found New Ipswich, NH. One of them was Joseph
Kidder, who moved his growing family to the next town, Temple, NH.

His son, Calvin Kidder, left NH around 1783, probably at Age 18, and
probably traveled with other southern NH families to Canada and they settled
in New Brunswick. (Calvin is not mentioned as being a Loyalist in any
document or record.) I don't know how he spent 1783 to 1798, but that is
when he married while living in St. Stephen, NB. He had a son in Jan. 1799
in St. Stephen, but just over two weeks later was killed in a boating
accident.

The son, J. Calvin KIDDER (1799-1891) probably grew up in St. Stephen, but
he spent a lot of time in Calais, ME. He married Mary Jane WILKINS from
Amity, ME, in 1834, and they had 7 children born to them. The four
children who lived past Age 25 all lived in Princeton, ME, initially.
Most remained in the general area, but John Kidder moved to New Brunswick
after his second marriage.

My great-grandfather was born in Princeton, ME, in 1870. His name was
George "Sanford" KIDDER. He lived in Winchester, MA, from about 1898
until about 1920, with his wife and children. But, he returned to
Princeton, ME, and lived the rest of his life there (sort of). I lived
in Grandma Kidder's farmhouse in Winchester, MA, as a young child. But,
Grandpa Kidder died the year before I was born.

As I understand it, "Sanford" and "Lou's" three children, Clarissa,
"Sanford, Jr.," and Clinton, all visited Princeton, ME, many times while
growing up and into their 20's. I do not know if they visited too much
after they married. ("Lou" was born Louise RICE, daughter of Charles
RICE of Eastport, ME. She probably met "Sanford" while visiting the RICE
relatives.)

I am interested in hearing from others who are researching the KIDDER family
tree based in Princeton, ME, and the surrounding towns.

Thank you for your time.

Betty (near Lowell, MA)


"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children;
one is roots, the other is wings."

Hodding Carter, Jr.

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• [MAINE] ..KIDDER... Book is being Updated. Do you have Information to Contribute? by "BBFFRRPP" <>