M. (1) 25 May 1726 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Jane Kittredge
M. (2) 22 Dec 1779 in Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Wife: Betty Farmer
D. 21 May 1794 in Tewksbury, Massachusetts
The life of Thomas Kittredge offers a view of how a typical 18th-century man lived in New England. Along with operating a farm, raising a family and doing civic duty, Thomas served in his town's militia. He even had a hand in planning for a new community: Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
Thomas was born on February 23, 1708 in Billerica; his parents were James and Sarah Kittredge. Thomas was the youngest of their 4 children and his mother died when he was a baby. His father remarried, but there were no more children. Although many in his extended family were doctors, Thomas apparently had no education and he was illiterate.
On May 25, 1726, Thomas married his first cousin, Jane Kittredge, and they soon had two sons. One Sunday in October 1729, Thomas and Jane went to church and left a young girl to watch the boys. When the girl went outside to chase hogs out of a cornfield, the house caught fire with the two children inside, killing them both. After the tragedy, Thomas and Jane had six more children who were born between 1730 and 1744.
During the 1730s, Thomas and his neighbors asked to be split off from the rest of Billerica because the meetinghouse was so far away. Every Sunday, the people had to walk up to six miles each way in order to attend services. Billerica granted their request. The new town of Tewksbury was formed with 47 households, 11 of them for families named Kittredge. On November 23, 1737, Thomas made his mark on the covenant for Tewksbury’s new church.
Like many men of Tewksbury, Thomas’ name often appeared in the town meeting records. Among the many offices he held, he was appointed one of the town's "hog reeves" in 1735 and 1737. A hog reeve was someone who rounded up stray swine if they were found to be wandering around the area, then keep them in a pen until the owner showed up to claim them.
On May 25, 1726, Thomas married his first cousin, Jane Kittredge, and they soon had two sons. One Sunday in October 1729, Thomas and Jane went to church and left a young girl to watch the boys. When the girl went outside to chase hogs out of a cornfield, the house caught fire with the two children inside, killing them both. After the tragedy, Thomas and Jane had six more children who were born between 1730 and 1744.
During the 1730s, Thomas and his neighbors asked to be split off from the rest of Billerica because the meetinghouse was so far away. Every Sunday, the people had to walk up to six miles each way in order to attend services. Billerica granted their request. The new town of Tewksbury was formed with 47 households, 11 of them for families named Kittredge. On November 23, 1737, Thomas made his mark on the covenant for Tewksbury’s new church.
Like many men of Tewksbury, Thomas’ name often appeared in the town meeting records. Among the many offices he held, he was appointed one of the town's "hog reeves" in 1735 and 1737. A hog reeve was someone who rounded up stray swine if they were found to be wandering around the area, then keep them in a pen until the owner showed up to claim them.
Tewksbury town appointments for the year 1737.
Thomas was said to hold the military rank of sergeant, probably in the local militia. In 1744, he was fined for selling “strong drink” without a license. He paid the fine, but may have asked the town leaders for his money back two years later. On May 22, 1746, town records said, “Voted not to give said Thomas Kittredge the six pounds which Thomas Kittredge forfeited for selling strong drink without a license.” The details of his offense aren’t described; presumably he was trying to make some money to supplement his farming income.
Sometime during his life, Thomas acquired land in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Some of his cousins had settled in Goffstown during the 1770s and 1780s, but it isn’t known how he came to buy land there.
Thomas’ wife Jane died in early 1779, and on December 22nd of that year, he married a town widow named Betty Peacock. His health had deteriorated by October 9, 1793 when he prepared his will. Thomas died in Tewksbury on May 21, 1794. His estate was valued at £448 which included 180 acres of land.
Children:
1. Thomas Kittredge — B. 10 Apr 1727, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 5 Oct 1729, Billerica, Massachusetts
2. Jonathan Kittredge — B. 28 Jul 1728, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 5 Oct 1729, Billerica, Massachusetts
3. Abigail Kittredge — B. 6 May 1730, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. William Bell, about 1751
4. Thomas Kittredge — B. 9 Nov 1731, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 16 Jan 1806, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. Anna Thorndike (1736-1824), 24 Sep 1755
5. Joshua Kittredge — B. 26 Feb 1734, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 1756
6. Sarah Kittredge — B. 4 Jun 1736, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. Nathaniel Hunt, 1 Nov 1753, Tewksbury, Massachusetts
7. Joanna Kittredge — B. 1 May 1742, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. Joseph Kittredge, 27 Sep 1770
8. Mary Kittredge — B. 20 Jul 1744, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; D. 25 Dec 1747, Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Sources:
The Kittredge Family in America, Mabel T. Kittredge, 1936
Vital Records of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, 1912
History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume 3, Duane Hamilton Hurd, 1890
Tewksbury: A Short History, Edward W. Pride, 1888
Sometime during his life, Thomas acquired land in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Some of his cousins had settled in Goffstown during the 1770s and 1780s, but it isn’t known how he came to buy land there.
Thomas’ wife Jane died in early 1779, and on December 22nd of that year, he married a town widow named Betty Peacock. His health had deteriorated by October 9, 1793 when he prepared his will. Thomas died in Tewksbury on May 21, 1794. His estate was valued at £448 which included 180 acres of land.
Children:
1. Thomas Kittredge — B. 10 Apr 1727, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 5 Oct 1729, Billerica, Massachusetts
2. Jonathan Kittredge — B. 28 Jul 1728, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 5 Oct 1729, Billerica, Massachusetts
3. Abigail Kittredge — B. 6 May 1730, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. William Bell, about 1751
4. Thomas Kittredge — B. 9 Nov 1731, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 16 Jan 1806, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. Anna Thorndike (1736-1824), 24 Sep 1755
5. Joshua Kittredge — B. 26 Feb 1734, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 1756
6. Sarah Kittredge — B. 4 Jun 1736, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. Nathaniel Hunt, 1 Nov 1753, Tewksbury, Massachusetts
7. Joanna Kittredge — B. 1 May 1742, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. Joseph Kittredge, 27 Sep 1770
8. Mary Kittredge — B. 20 Jul 1744, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; D. 25 Dec 1747, Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Sources:
The Kittredge Family in America, Mabel T. Kittredge, 1936
Vital Records of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, 1912
History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume 3, Duane Hamilton Hurd, 1890
Tewksbury: A Short History, Edward W. Pride, 1888
