Author: Gary Owen Green
Oliver Kidder (1743-1812) served as ensign, 1775, and, 1779, rose to the rank of lieutenant, Vermont troops, Capt. Eliphalet Spafford's company. He was born in Coventry, Conn.; died in Weathersfield, Vt. (Mrs. Jessica Bacon Stearns Grant. DAR ID Number: 104617)

Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots

1ST LT. OLIVER KIDDER, b. December 19, 1743, Coventry; d. November 29, 1812, Weathersfield, Windsor County, Vermont; m. EUNICE BURR, Bet. 1768 - 1769, Columbia County, New York; b. October 13, 1744, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut; d. February 23, 1808, Weathersfield; buried Weathersfield. Oliver Kidder moved with his parents from Coventry to Nine Partners, Dutchess County, New York before 1753. From there he went on to Columbia County, New York where he resided for a time before making his home at Albany, Albany County, New York, where he lived until 1773. As a young man Oliver Kidder was active in military affairs and on May 18, 1762 enlisted in Cornelius Van Deboregh's company of Albany, the enlistment papers describing him as "18 years and 6 months of age, 5 feet, 8 inches in height, of fair complexion, with blue eyes and brown hair." In 1773 he settled at Wethersfield, then in Cumberland County, New York, which later became a part of Vermont. This town had been settled by Connecticut people, principally from Wethersfield, the Vermont settlement adding the letter "a" to the name by way of variation. Here, in the section that later separated and became Ascutneyville, Windsor County, he purchased two pieces of land, the deeds, dated April 9, 1773, describing him as of Albany. Early in 1775 he became first ensign of the first militia company and was so recorded August 15, 1776. In "a return of men and horses employed by Capt. Abel Marsh, in carrying flour from Connecticut River to Batten Hill, for the use of the Northern Army," date October 13, 1775, appears the name of Oliver Kidder who is credited with 10 days service with two horses and 120 miles of travel for which there was due to him the sum of £8. He soon became prominent in town affairs and in 1775 his name appeared on the list of citizens of Weathersfield "who declared for liberty and independence." In 1775 and 1776 he served on the local committee having charge of the affairs of the settlers, involving in large measure controversies concerning land titles. On occasion these committees met in general convention, where they issued decrees that were regarded as law, violations thereof being severely dealt with. In 1776 he was chosen supervisor and later selectman. On October 24, 1778, he was appointed first lieutenant of the Wethersfield Company. He acquired considerable property in and near Wethersfield, and after the War devoted himself principally to agricultural pursuits, although ever keenly interested in town and state affairs. He appears to have been an ardent churchman as evidence by his activity in the small group of Episcopalians who held occasional services ministered to by various clergymen of that denomination. In 1799 there apparently arose a crisis in their affairs when their Congregational brethren proposed that they give up their attempts to exist as a separate organization and join in a call to a new minister. On November 29, 1799, a "warning" was posted to the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Weathersfield, to meet at the house of Oliver Kidder on December 4, "at one o'clock in the afternoon," there to consider the proposed union. The meeting was held and a committee of three was appointed and ordered to agree to the suggestion "provided the new minister should be ordained by the Episcopal bishop.

Source: One World Tree/Ancestry.com Family Tree; U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970