KIDDER, Frederic, author, born in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, 16 April, 1804; died in Melrose, Massachusetts, 19 December, 1885. His ancestors came from England and settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1650, and his grandfather, Reuben Kidder, was one of the put-chasers of New Ipswich from the proprietors. His father, Isaac Kidder, is said to have been among the first to introduce merino sheep into New Hampshire, and was one of the first manufacturers of cotton in this country. His early death left his family so reduced that this son was forced to leave his studies and to aid in its support. He became a clerk in Boston, and after a few years went to the south, where he engaged in business with his brother Edward. In about eight years he returned to Boston and entered into the West India trade, and in 1840 engaged in the southern commission business, which he continued for six years. In 1854 he removed to New York and engaged in business with James R. Gilmore, returning to Boston in 1857 and renewing his partnership with Benjamin F. Copeland, which he had dissolved in 1861. In 1869 he removed to Melrose, where he aided in erecting a Unitarian church, and was active in establishing a public library. He was one of the first members of the " Roundabout club," and a member of the New England historic-genealogical society, contributing to its "Register." He was an antiquarian of authority, and gave much attention to the history of the New England indians, particularly to their language and religion. He published, with Augustus A. Gould, "The History of New Ipswich. N. H., from its First Grant in 1736 to 1852 " (Boston, 1852), and was the author of "The Expeditions of Captain John Lovewell " (1865); " Military Operations in Eastern Maine and Nova Scotia during the Revolution " (Albany, 1867); "History of the First New Hampshire Regiment in the War of the Revolution" (1868); and "History of the Boston Massacre, 5 March, 1770 " (1870).