M. 3 Aug 1685 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Hannah French
D. 24 Apr 1714 in Billerica, Massachusetts
There was a time when people in America had little access to those who were formally trained in the healing arts. This was true in 17th-century New England because the only medical schools were across the ocean in Europe. It was men like John Kittredge who stepped into the role of treating people in his community in whatever way he could, thereby earning the title “doctor.”
John was born on January 24, 1666 in Billerica, Massachusetts, where he would live his entire life. His parents were John Kittredge and Mary Littlefield, and he was the oldest of their five children, who were all boys. The elder John Kittredge was known to have an interest in medicine, and this likely influenced young John, although his father died when he was only 10 years of age. John Sr. didn't leave a will, so his estate was divided up by a probate court. As the oldest son, John was awarded a double portion while his brothers only received single shares. None of the children were of age yet, and it was ruled that they wouldn't receive their inheritance until they each reached maturity.
John’s mother remarried a year later to John French, a widower with several children. With a large blended family under one roof, John took an interest in his step-father’s daughter, Hannah. The were married on August 3, 1685, and their first child was born the following month, which indicated she was pregnant when they got married. Between 1685 and 1706, they had 12 children, two of whom died as infants. John received his inheritance of land in 1687, and added to it as Billerica expanded; he was said to own 46 acres in 1708.
John’s mother remarried a year later to John French, a widower with several children. With a large blended family under one roof, John took an interest in his step-father’s daughter, Hannah. The were married on August 3, 1685, and their first child was born the following month, which indicated she was pregnant when they got married. Between 1685 and 1706, they had 12 children, two of whom died as infants. John received his inheritance of land in 1687, and added to it as Billerica expanded; he was said to own 46 acres in 1708.
Records of John's family showing the dates of his marriage and birth of oldest child.
Like his father and namesake, John practiced medicine. Such a man needed no license during that period of time in colonial America. Typically, they learned about treatments from the experiences of other medical people in books and publications. John likely relied on unproven remedies with the use of various plants and herbs he had available to him. It would be 100 years before there was any understanding of what caused most diseases.
John had another thing in common with his father: he also died in his 40s, passing away on April 24, 1714. He was buried in Shawshin Cemetery in what is now Tewksbury. His wife Hannah lived on for over 30 years, dying in 1745.
John's legacy was perhaps in the fact that many of his descendants took up the medical profession. One of his great-grandsons, Dr. Benjamin Kittredge, had eight sons who all became doctors — an amazing dedication to providing medicine for the people of New England.
The remarkable family of John's great-grandson, Benjamin Kittredge.
Children:
1. John Kittredge — B. 14 Sep 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 6 Oct 1756, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. Mary Abbot (1686-1743), 3 Jan 1708, Andover, Massachusetts
2. James Kittredge — B. 22 Aug 1687, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 23 Jan 1754, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. Sarah Fowle (1696-?)
3. Hannah Kittredge — B. 4 May 1689, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 21 Mar 1690, Billerica, Massachusetts
4. Jacob Kittredge — B. 15 Feb 1691, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 16 Aug 1692, Billerica, Massachusetts
5. Hannah Kittredge — B. May 1693, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 13 Oct 1759, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. Edmond Frost (1691-1766), 1 Dec 1712, Tewksbury, Massachusetts
6. Joseph Kittredge — B. 31 Mar 1695, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 12 Apr 1774, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. Elizabeth Wright (1705-?), 19 Feb 1724, Woburn, Massachusetts
7. Jonathan Kittredge — B. 10 Jan 1697, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 1725, Penobscot, Maine
8. William Kittredge — B. 11 Feb 1699, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 26 Apr 1789, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. (1) Mercy Wright (~1712-1753), 21 Oct 1731, Woburn, Massachusetts; (2) Mary Harnden, 22 Nov 1770
9. Abigail Kittredge — B. 15 Nov 1700, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 4 Dec 1737, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Kendall Patten (1689-1770)
10. Jane Kittredge — B. 23 Mar 1704, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 25 Jun 1779, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. Thomas Kittredge (1707-1794), 25 May 1726, Billerica, Massachusetts
11. Marah Kittredge — B. 1 Feb 1705, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 3 Feb 1705, Billerica, Massachusetts
12. Francis Kittredge — B. 27 Oct 1706, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. about 10 Jan 1753; M. (1) Lydia Phillips (1707-1736); (2) Susannah Snow (1717-?), 2 Jan 1740
Sources:
History of Billerica, Massachusetts, Henry Allen Hazen, 1883
The Kittredge Family in America, Mabel T. Kittredge, 1936
“Eighteenth Century Medicine in America,” Richard H. Shryock, 1950
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