John Dutton

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dutton-106
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LRSB-RXG/john-dutton-1598-1693
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131473492/john_dutton

John Dutton was born in England about 1598. He came to New England around 1630, in the Winthrop Fleet. John is presumably the "Mr. Dutton" who appears in the male passenger list on the flyleaf of Winthrop's journal. He was before the General Court of Massachusetts on Oct. 29, 1640. John married Mary Neeld in England. They had several children in England who came to New England with them. The surnames Dutton and Dunton were at the time used interchangeably. It is presumed that some of the Dutton and Dunton pioneers at Reading may have been his sons. These include Thomas, Josiah, Robert and Samuel, whose descendants spell the name Dunton.

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It has been assumed that this John Dutton came to New England in the Winthrop fleet, perhaps on the Lion or Anne. He was presumably the "Mr. Dutton" mentioned in Winthrop's Journal. The title indicates someone of substance although not a member of the nobility or gentry. In subsequent years he appears in Massachusetts court records. He was before the Massachusetts General Court 29 October 1640. He was in Woburn in 1662 and subsequently removed to Billerica.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winthrop_Fleet

"John arrived in America in 1630 as part of the Winthrop Fleet. He was accompanied by his wife Mary, and son Thomas." Josiah,Robert, Samuel and his father are thought to have come too.
The Winthrop Fleet was a group of 11 ships led by John Winthrop that carried about 1000 Puritans plus livestock and provisions from England to New England over the summer of 1630, during the period of the so-called Great Migration.
The Puritan population in England had been growing for several years leading up to this time. The Puritans disagreed with the practices of the Church of England, whose rituals they viewed as superstitions. An associated political movement attempted over many years to modify religious practice in England to conform to their views. King James I wished to suppress this growing rebellious movement. Nevertheless, the Puritans eventually gained a majority in Parliament. James' son Charles came into direct conflict with Parliament, and viewed them as a threat to his authority. He temporarily dissolved parliament in 1626, and again the next year, before dissolving parliament permanently in March 1629.[1] The King's imposition of Personal Rule gave many Puritans a sense of hopelessness regarding their future in that country, and many prepared to leave it permanently for life in New England.

Motivated by these political events, a wealthy group of leaders obtained a Royal Charter in March 1629 for a colony at Massachusetts Bay.[2]

A fleet of five ships had departed a month previously for New England that included approximately 300 colonists, led by Francis Higginson.[3] However, the colony leaders and the bulk of the colonists remained in England for the time being, to plan more thoroughly for the success of the new colony. Later that year, the group who remained in England elected John Winthrop to be Governor of the Fleet and the Colony. Over the ensuing winter, the leaders recruited a large group of Puritan families, representing all manner of skilled labor, to ensure a robust colony.

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Following text from “Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, 1847-1918”, Volume 1, pages 249-252, by William Richard Cutter.

His ancestry is not proved, but many genealogists believe he was the son of Sir Ralph Dutton. His wife's name is often given as Mary, but that name comes from a confusion with John Dutton of Pennsylvania, whose widow Mary married a Mr. Neeld or Nield. He has long been identified as son of Sir Ralph Dutton and Mary Duncombe, but there is no known authority for this identification. It has also been suggested that he was the Sir John Dutton, Baronet, son of Sir Ralph Dutton of Shirborne. However, Sir John died 1 February 1742/3 without surviving issue.

Although the possibility of a connection is slight, it can be noted that a John Dunton, of London, mariner, under examination 24 September 1636 stated that a small ship, the Little David, of London, bound for Virginia with 50 men and boys and seven women was taken by a Sallee man-of-war and all on board were sold for slaves, including the examinant's son aged 9.

Some early Duttons were involved with the settlement of Bermuda. About 1610 King James awarded Bermuda to the Virginia Company. In 1613 the Company sold its rights to a group of merchants. In 1684, the British Crown took over administration of the islands. The Sea Venture, a ship carrying colonists to Virginia was destroyed at sea near the islands during a storm on 28 July 1609 and Bermuda was called Somers Islands after Admiral Sir George Somers, the ship's captain. All but two of the colonists went onward to Jamestown and found the settlers near starvation. The remaining two colonists became the first permanent white settlers of Bermuda.

Thus, it would appear that Sir Thomas (1610), John (1609-1611, 1619, 1621), another John (1814), and probably Richard (1620, on board the Supply), and also Henry Dutton, (1685) were involved. Maybe Richard died since he is not mentioned in any of the papers. But then, might be not. Maybe this is the same R. Dutton who appears in a transcript of the records for Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire: "Collected 10th Nov [1616] upon his Majestye's letter patten [patents] for the reliefe of Richard Dutton of Chester the sum 8s. 3d."

John Dutton, the American ancestor, came to America in 1630. He was before the general court of Massachusetts, October 29, 1640. The names of Dunton and Dutton have the same origin, and in the same families the two spellings were used even as late as the Revolution. It is presumed therefore that the Dutton and Dunton pioneers at Reading, Massachusetts, may have been sons of John Dutton, viz.: 1. Thomas, born 1621 ; mentioned below. 2. Josiah, lived in Reading, near the Great Pond. 3. Robert, of Reading, came from Lynn; was selectman of Reading, 164749. 4. Samuel, of Reading, born about 1620; descendants spelled name Dunton; had sons Thomas, John, Samuel, Nathaniel; died November 7, 1683.

The family of Dutton takes its name from the ancient town of Dutton in England. In the records, one part of this town was held by a man named Odard or Udard, also spelled Hudard and Hodard, who came from Normandy in 1066 with William the Conqueror. In the distribution of the conquered lands, Hodard received a good part of the town of Dutton in Cheshire, and settled there. Hodard was Lord of Dutton and his descendants added the name of the town to their Christian names after he received the land. The names of Dutton and Dunton have the same origin, and in the same American family the two spellings were used as late as the revolution. It is assumed therefore that the Dutton and Dunton pioneers of Reading, MA, namely, Thomas, Josiah, Robert, and Samuel, may have been the sons of John Dutton. Cutter, Genealogical and Memorial of New England Families, pp. 194-195.