A Gruesome Death for Dear John Nutting (by Wallace Nutting)

"John Nutting came from England in 1639 as John Winthrop's land steward, and settled in Groton, MA, where, at the door of his house, gun in hand, he was killed when the town was burned in King Philip's War, just a hundred years before American Independence."
According to historian John Townsend, III, "John Nutting owned about seventeen acres in Groton next to the meeting house and he also owned more land in Pepperell and Baddycook. He, [John Nutting] was killed by Indians during a raid against Groton and his head was severed and put on a pole by the Indians to discourage others from settling in the area."

Source: Both exerpts taken from the Wallace Nutting Library online.

John Nutting was born about 1620-25 in Kent, England, the son of John Nutting and Elizabeth Rawlings, and died at Groton, Mass., March 13, 1676. He married Sarah Eggleston, daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Jane Eggleston, at Woburn, Mass., August 28, 1650. The dates of Sarah's birth and death are not known.

Children:

1. John, born August 25, 1651.
2. James, born June 30 1653.
3. Mary, born January 10 (or 16), 1655. Probably married about 1678 Samuel Howe of Concord, Mass. and Plainfield, Conn., born at Concord October 14, 1654; died at Plainfield, Conn., December 29, 1724. Mrs. Mary (Nutting) Howe died at Plainfield, Conn. September 1, 1727. Her children were Samuel, Sarah, Hannah, Deborah, John, Josiah, Abigail and Elizabeth.
4. Josiah, born June 10, 1658; died December 10, 1658.
5. Sarah, born January 7, 1659; died young.
6. Sarah, born March 29, 1663, at Groton; married first Matthias Farnsworth who died 1693 at Groton; second December 16, 1698, John Stone, son of Simon and Mary (Whipple) Stone of Watertown, Mass. She had at least six children.
7. Ebenezer, born October 23, 1666.
8. Jonathan, born October 17, 1668
9. Deborah, (not recorded), married Jacob Taylor of Concord, Mass. before February 1728-9.

There is said to be among the Winthrop papers, a copyhold deed to 'John Nutton (Nutting) a lifelong tenant of one moiety of the lands of Groton Manor,' given at the time when John Winthrop - later the governor of Massachusetts - succeeded his father, Adam Winthrop, Esq., as lord of the manor of Groton, in Suffolk, England. The date of the deed is 1618. The grantee is called John Nutton, Senior. This implies a John Nutting Jr., living in 1618, and of age. It is said that his house was a fortified garrison, to which the people might go in times of danger from the Indians.

Groton was on the frontier at that time, and such danger was real. The house was perhaps built like a blockhouse, with projecting upper story, loopholes in the walls for musketry, and a stockade about it. John Nutting would be obliged to defend the house in case of attack. It was this obligation that led to his death. The Indian war known as King Phillip's War, began in the early spring of 1676, after long preliminary warnings. Trouble began at Groton, March 2, 1676. On March 13 a force of four hundred Indians attacked Groton by stealth, as was their habit. Nutting's house and others were captured and John Nutting was shot to death in its defense. It is said that his head was severed and put upon a pole. The women and children escaped safetly to Parker's house, not far away. Nutting's wife and children escaped with the others later to the safer settlements.

The eldest son was married at this time and cared for his own. He and his brother James returned to Groton. Mrs. Nutting probably went to Woburn where her mother was living. Her mother, Mrs. Jane Cole, widow of Stephen Eggleston, married (2) James Briton, and married (3) Isaac Cole, died at Woburn, March 10, 1687. Her sister Ruth, wife of Samuel Blodgett, may have lived at the same place.

Source: Supplement II to Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors, pages 17-18.

• John Nutting was freeman on 30 May 1660.
• Selectman in 1663
• Selectman in 1667
• Constable in 1668
• Selectman in 1669.
• Surveyor of Highways in 1673.
• Fence viewer in 1673

He died on 13 March 1675/76 at Groton, Middlesex, MA, USA.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research notes for John Nutting 1660"s , Massachusetts Original Proprietor of Groton

17 acre right, land on northerly side of James Brook

House stood near the site of Liberty Hall

Married Sarah Eggleston 28 Aug 1650 at Woburn, Massachusetts

One son, John perhaps, born at Woburn.

John, James and Mary baptized at Chelmsford.

Mary born at Chelmsford 16 Jan 1656; the tree were baptized 3 Aug 1656
Sarah b. 7 Jan 1660 but died soon after

One of the petitioners to form the town of Chelmsford. Probably removed from there to Groton where three more children were born:

Sarah 29 May 1663

Ebenezer 23 Oct 1666

Jonathan 17 Oct 1668

NUTTING GENEALOGY

Compiled by Homer W. Brainard; Collaborated and Privately Printed by Walter M. Nutting, Faribault, Minnesota

.......................................................................................................................................................

John Nutting left no will. At a court held at Cambridge, April 1, 1684, administration was granted to John and James Nutting on the estate of John Nutting, late of Groton, deceased. On December 4, 1716, James Nutting of Groton, yeoman, Ebenezer Nutting of Medford, “practioner of physic”, Jonathan Nutting of Cambridge, locksmith, John Stone of Groton and Sarah Stone, alias Nutting, his wife, and Jacob Taylor of Concord, husbandman, and Deborah Taylor, alias Nutting his wife, children of John Nutting of Groton aforesaid, deceased and intestate, for L60 paid by our brother, John Nutting, of Groton, husbandman, conveyed to him all their interests in the estate of John Nutting lying in Groton. (Middlesex County Deeds, Volume 18, Page 290.)

This deed is evidence for his legal heirs that were living December 4, 1716.

<nowiki>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</nowiki>

Wallace Nutting Library Entry for John Nutting Wallace Nutting's Paternal Line: Wallace Nutting writes of his ancestors, "John Nutting I came from England in 1639 as John winthrop's land steward, and settled in Groton, [MA], where, at the door of his house, gun in hand, he was killed when the town was burned in King Philip's War, just a hundred years before American Independence." Historian John Townsend, III, elaborates a bit more on the death of John Nutting, Sr. According to Mr. Townsend, "John Nutting owned about seventeen acres in Groton next to the meeting house and he also owned more land in Pepperell and (Baddycook). He, [John Nutting] was killed by Indians during a raid against Groton and his head was severed and put on a pole by the Indians to discourage others from settleing in the area." This was the beginning of the Nutting family in America.

Albion Nutting, (1828) was Wallace Nutting's father Seth Nutting, (1806) was Wallace Nutting's paternal grandfather. Abel Nutting, (1758) was Wallace Nutting's paternal great-grandfather. Daniel Nutting, Jr., (1716) was Wallace Nutting's paternal grt-grt-grandfather. Daniel Nutting, Sr., (1691) was Wallace Nutting's paternal grt-grt-grt-grandfather. John Nutting, Jr., (1651) was Wallace Nutting's paternal grt-grt-grt-grt-grandfather. John Nutting, Sr., (1625) was Wallace Nutting's paternal grt-grt-grt-grt-grt-grandfather.

John Nutting, Sr. Born: 1625, Sufolk, Cty, England Died: March 13, 1676

Father: John Nutton Mother:

Married: Sarah Eggleston, August 28, 1650 in Woburn, MA

Children: John Nutting, Jr. August 25, 1651 in Woburn, MA James Nutting, June 30, 1653 in Groton, MA Mary Nutting, Janury 10, 1655 in Groton, MA Josiah Nutting, June 10, 1658 in Groton, MA Sarah Nutting, January 7, 1659 in Groton, MA Sarah Nutting, March 29, 1663 in Groton, MA Ebenezer Nutting, October 23, 1666 in Groton, MA Jonathan Nutting, October 17, 1668 in Groton, MA Deborah Nutting, in Groton, MA

Sources

1. Nutting genealogy. A record of some of the descendants of John Nutting, of Groton, Mass (1908) by John Keep Nutting, published in Syracuse, N.Y., C. W. Bardeen, Not in copyright

   ---

   
   

John Rawlings Nutting Memorial Photos Flowers Edit Share Learn about removing the ads from this memorial... Birth: 1620, England Death: Mar. 13, 1676 Groton Middlesex County Massachusetts, USA

He was the son of John Nutting and Elizabeth Rawlings. He married Sarah Eggleston on August 28, 1650 in Woburn MA

John Rawlings Nutting first married Mary Parker in Woburn in 1645. He held a lot of property and a home large and sedure enough to be a garrison in the defense of Groton during King Philip's War. Under attackMarch 13, 1676, he apparently opened the door to defend the "garrison" and was immediately killed, his body taken, decapitated and head placed on a pole. Several others were killed that night and it is the date we have for his wife's death as well. However, there is also a story that she instead merely relocated that night to her sister Ruth in Woburn and never returned.(Thank you Pia for this biography)

Family links:

Parents:

 John Nutting

 Elizabeth Nutting

Spouse:

 Sarah Eggleston Nutting (1633 - 1687)

Children:

 Deborah Nutting Taylor*

 John Nutting (1651 - 1731)*

 James Nutting (1653 - 1732)*

 Mary Nutting Howe (1655 - 1727)*

 Josiah Nutting (1658 - 1658)*

 Sarah Nutting (1659 - ____)*

 Ebenezer Nutting (1666 - 1723)*

 Jonathan Nutting (1668 - 1735)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Unknown

On March 9th the Indians again appeared at Groton, doing some mischief, and again on the 13th in full force, and destroyed all the houses in town except the garrison houses, and one even of these, from which, however, the people had escaped. I think that Major Willard marched up from Watertown with Capt. Cook's force on the 12th or 13th, and arrived at Groton on the 14th, as the Indians retired on that day, apparently aware of the approaching force. The people got safely within their garrisons before the attack, and but one man, John Nutting, was killed. The town was abandoned within a few days, and the inhabitants removed to the towns nearer the coast. Major Willard, with his family, removed to Charlestown. It is likely that he had removed his family some time before the destruction of his house, on the 13th, as that stood in an exposed position, and his son Samuel Willard, the minister of Groton, had another of the garrisoned houses.

===================================================================================================================

He was the son of John Nutting and Elizabeth Rawlings. He married Sarah Eggleston on August 28, 1650 in Woburn MA

John Rawlings Nutting first married Mary Parker in Woburn in 1645. He held a lot of property and a home large and sedure enough to be a garrison in the defense of Groton during King Philip's War. Under attackMarch 13, 1676, he apparently opened the door to defend the "garrison" and was immediately killed, his body taken, decapitated and head placed on a pole. Several others were killed that night and it is the date we have for his wife's death as well. However, there is also a story that she instead merely relocated that night to her sister Ruth in Woburn and never returned.(Thank you Pia for this biography)

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=62293285

It is unclear if he is from Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Cambridge, or Groton Manor.

He emigrated by 1650.

He married 28 AUG 1650 Sarah Eggleston[2] in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts.[3]

"John Nutting, m. Woburn, Mass., 1650, Sarah Eggleton (Eggledon, Iggledon);"[4]
From 1655 to 1658 he resided in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

He was admitted to the church on 29 Apr 1656 in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

By 1663, they were in Groton, Massachusetts, where he:

worked as a Sexton or Janitor of the Meetinghouse on 21 Sep 1663 was elected as Selectman in Nov 1663[5] helped lay out a highway to Chelmsford in 1663[6] was elected as Selectman on 11 Oct 1667 ,[7] was elected as Constable in 1668[8] was elected as Selectman on 15 Oct 1669 [9] a member of a committee to see that the minister's maintenance was paid in 1669 [10] was elected as Surveyor on 10 Dec 1673 was elected as Viewer of the fences on 11 Dec 1674[11] was surveyor of highways 1675[12] owned land 17 "acre right" served in the military as Corporal[13] worked as a Sexton or Janitor of the meetinghouse He was probably killed 13 March 1676 in an Indian raid during King Philip's War:

"John Nutting, of Woburn, 1650; original propr. Groton; killed by Indians..."[14] On March 9th the Indians again appeared at Groton, doing some mischief, and again on the 13th in full force, and destroyed all the houses in town except the garrison houses, and one even of these from which, however, the people had escaped... The people got safely within their garrisons before the attack, and but one man, probably, John Nutting, was killed."[15] It is said that his head was severed and put upon a pole.[16]

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Nutting-11

John Nutting

Born 20 Aug 1620 in Kent, England [uncertain]

Son of John Nutting and Elizabeth (Rawlings) Nutting

[sibling%28s%29 unknown]

Husband of Sarah (Eggleston) Nutting — married 28 Aug 1650 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Father of John Gardiner Nutting, James Nutting, Mary (Nutting) Howe, Josiah Nutting, Sarah Nutting, Samuel Nutting, Sarah (Nutting) Stone, Ebenezer Nutting, Jonathan Nutting, Abigail Nutting and Deborah (Nutting) Taylor

Died about 13 Mar 1676 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Profile last modified 18 Jan 2020 | Created 20 Jan 2011 | Last significant change: 18 Jan 2020

16:42: Jack Parker edited the Biography for John Nutting (1620-abt.1676). [Thank Jack for this]

John Nutting migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1620-1640).

Biography

Roll of Honor

John Nutting was KIA during King Philip's War.

John Nutting[1] was born about 1620 in England. [2]. Some sources have had Rawlings as middle name.

It is unclear if he is from Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Cambridge, or Groton Manor.

He emigrated 1636. [3]

He married 28 AUG 1650 Sarah Eggleston[4] in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts.[5][2]

"John Nutting, m. Woburn, Mass., 1650, Sarah Eggleton (Eggledon, Iggledon);"[4] From 1655 to 1658 he resided in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

He was admitted to the church on 29 Apr 1656 in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

By 1663, they were in Groton, Massachusetts, where he:

worked as a Sexton or Janitor of the Meetinghouse on 21 Sep 1663

was elected as Selectman in Nov 1663[6]

helped lay out a highway to Chelmsford in 1663<[6]

was elected as Selectman on 11 Oct 1667 ,[6]

was elected as Constable in 1668[6]

was elected as Selectman on 15 Oct 1669 [6]

a member of a committee to see that the minister's maintenance was paid in 1669 [6]

was elected as Surveyor on 10 Dec 1673

was elected as Viewer of the fences on 11 Dec 1674[6]

was surveyor of highways 1675[6]

owned land 17 "acre right"

served in the military as Corporal[7]

worked as a Sexton or Janitor of the meetinghouse

He was probably killed 13 March 1676 in an Indian raid during King Philip's War[2]

"John Nutting, of Woburn, 1650; original propr. Groton; killed by Indians..."[8]

On March 9th the Indians again appeared at Groton, doing some mischief, and again on the 13th in full force, and destroyed all the houses in town except the garrison houses, and one even of these from which, however, the people had escaped... The people got safely within their garrisons before the attack, and but one man, probably, John Nutting, was killed."[9]

It is said that his head was severed and put upon a pole.[10]

Children

John Nutting James Nutting Mary Nutting Josiah Nutting Sarah Nutting Samuel Nutting Sarah Nutting Ebeneezer Nutting Ebenezer Nutting Jonathan Nutting Abigail Nutting Deborah Nutting Sources

↑ Unless otherwise noted, information is from John Keep Nutting, Nutting genealogy. A record of some of the descendants of John Nutting, of Groton, Mass, (downloaded 4 Jan 2015), 40-42, 46-49, 52, 58. Rec. Date: 4 Jan 2015. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 07 January 2019), memorial page for John Nutting (1620–13 Mar 1676), Find A Grave: Memorial #62293285 ; Maintained by Bob Brien (contributor 47246444) Unknown. ↑ COLKET, MEREDITH B., JR. Founders of Early American Families: Emigrants from Europe, 1607-1657. Cleveland: General Court of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America, 1975. 366p. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The American Compendium of Genealogy, Vol. 4, p. 93 ↑ ??: in Massachusetts Colony, on this 28th of August (O. S.)1650; for the Town Clerk of Woburn (or Ooburn) writes down plainly that this is the Founder's wedding day. That he is this day married to Sarah, daughter of Stephen Eggleton (which is thought to be a careless spelling for Eggleston or Egglestone) ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 The American Compendium of Genealogy, Vol. 4, p. 795 ↑ NEHGR 6:305, citing Middlesex Court Records, 3:8:1663: "John Nutting is allowed to be a corporal of ye Military Company at Groton." ↑ The American Compendium of Genealogy, Vol. 4, p. 371 ↑ George M. Bodge, Soldiers in King Philip's War, Boston: Author (1891), p 77-78 ↑ http://earlynewenglandfamilies.blogspot.com/2012/02/nutting-family-...

Merges

This profile developed through the merging of Nutting-48 and Nutting-38 into Nutting-11.

Acknowledgements

Nutting-178 was created by Corey Bailey through the import of BaileyQuinn.ged on Mar 7, 2014. WikiTree profile Nutting-113 created through the import of davisfamilytree-1.ged on Sep 1, 2012 by Rich Davis. WikiTree profile Nutting-48 created through the import of Ancestors of PBHowe.ged on Jun 6, 2011 by Buck Howe. WikiTree profile Nutting-38 created through the import of Tom.ged on Jun 1, 2011 by Tom Elliott.

In his book, "Nutting Genealogy: A record of some of the descendants of John Nutting, of Groton, Mass.," Rev. John Keep Nutting made several references to possible locations in England that our Founder came from. "There was a rumor that our Founder was from Nottinghamshire. That was soon disposed of." He continued to write, "Then Yorkshire. And some one suggested Kent. No one mentioned Oxfordshire. But I have lately come upon what seems good evidence that as long ago at the middle of the 16th century (say as early as 1570 or thereabout), there was in Oxfordshire a Sir Godfrey Nutting, Baronet; and that in 1594, his son, Sir Robert Nutting of the Inner Temple, London, was granted a coat of arms. And I seem to have farther proof that at this early date there were Nuttings in Ireland, near Dublin, and also in Suffolk, England, the families being closely related. The only promising clue I have come upon, I found in Life and Letters of Governor John Winthrop, by his descendant, Hon. R.C. Winthrop of Boston. The home of the Winthrops in England was at Groton Manor, Suffolk, of which John Winthrop was lord before he came to America."

I was stationed in England with my family between 1999-2002. During those three years, I had the opportunity to research in a few county historical centers. Early on, I discovered a large group of Nuttings in Chislet, Kent County, not far from the village Biddenden where Sarah Eggleston was from. I then turned my attention to several Nutting families who lived just west of Suffolk county in Hertfordshire between 1500-1600s. In fact, there was a John Nutting from this area and time frame that I focused on for awhile. Keeping in mind that many of the folks from Kent and Hertfordshire left for Massachusetts with the Winthrop Fleet, these are still two possible leads to our Nutting connection. I do believe, however, there is more convincing evidence to the Groton-Winthrop-Nutton connection, just as Rev. Nutting suggested.

I visited the Bury St. Edmond's History Center in Suffolk County on numerous occasions, often spending several days at a time in order to research the old records they had in their collection. One of my first goals was to find a marriage record for John Nutton and Elizabeth Rawling/Rawlings. According to a footnote in "Winthrop Papers, Volume I," John Nutton was the son of William, baptised at Edwardstone, February 2, 1575-76, and married Elizabeth, daughter of John Rawling. Many researchers have indicated that their marriage took place in Erwarton in 1618, but there is no date associated with this footnote other than the journal entries on the same page for the year 1603. So I spent the day looking for a record as early as 1590-1630. I searched in the records for Erwarton, Suffolk County which is located about 28 miles east of Edwardstone and closer to the coast, but I found no such record, nor did I find any mention of Nutton/Nuton/Nutting or Rawling(s)/Rauling(s) families living there. I changed direction and focused on the small villages closer to Groton in the Babergh District. There I found numerous records for Nutton/Nuton & Rawling(s)/Rauling(s) in Groton, Edwardstone, Kersey, Milden, Hadleigh, Lindsey and Boxford. While going through the records, I found a 30 January 1591 marriage record for John Nutton and Elizabeth Monninges that took place in Kersey. With further research, I managed to find eight children born to this couple: John, Mary, Edward (who died young), Edward, Susan, Thomas, Elizabeth and Robert. I wasn't able to find a marriage record for John Nutton and Elizabeth Rawling; however, I did locate a marriage record for Edward Nutton & Mary Rauling on 27 April 1627 in Stoke by Nayland in Suffolk County, England. It is likely this Edward belongs to the same family line as John Nutton (1575-1626) and could possibly even be John's son.

Many researchers have assumed that John Nutting's father was John. It is a fact that John Nutton and Elizabeth Monninges had a son named John who was born in 1592. He married Elizabeth Cooke in 1616 and they had a son named John Knutton who was christened in Hadleigh on 23 November 1617. Since I was not able to find a death date for this John, I assumed that he lived into adulthood. As a researcher who sometimes isn't satisfied with my own findings, I continued to look for another possible parentage for our Founder. Edward, who was the second oldest son of John Nutton and Elizabeth Monninges, had a son named John whose christening date was 31 December 1626. This theory, of course, could only be proven if the actual birth date predates his grandfather's death of 24 September 1626. I learned that most christenings during that time period were done within days of the birth, so it would seem unlikely that Edward's son John was our Founder.

During one of my first visits to Groton, I stopped with my family to see St. Bartholomew's Church . This church is situated in the center of the village next to the Groton Manor. While we were there, an older gentleman walked in and introduced himself as Martin Wood. I told him that I was researching my Nutting family and how they were connected to John Winthrop. As the town historian, he said he worked with the descending Winthrop families, many of whom live in America, in order to help them with their family history. I have kept in touch with him ever since. He helped me transcribe John Nutton's will, both the old English document and the Latin document. He also found records about this family and pointed me in the right direction when I hit a brick wall. With all the family trees that I have looked at relating to the Erwarton-Rawlings connection, I asked him what his thoughts were. He stated that histories that are passed down from generation to generation often lose factual aspects of the story. Incorrect transcriptions could also be the reason for errors. Erwarton, according to Mr. Wood, was likely Edwardstone and he suggested that the name Rawlings possibly could be a similar error.

With Mr. Woods input, I decided to contact Francis J. Bremer, Professor and Chair of the History Department at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. He published thirteen books and numerous essays, most dealing with puritanism in Old and New England, including the book, "John Winthrop, America's Forgotten Founder." I knew that his expertise regarding John Winthrop and the Winthrop Papers would be beneficial. I asked him his thoughts about Rawlings vs. Monninges. He said, "There are transcription errors in the early Winthrop Papers volumes. The footnote would have been done by a local researcher in the early twentieth century. The information in the note would have been drawn from parish registers and other sources -- not from documents in the Winthrop collection." He went on to say that given what I have found, he "would guess that the annotation is incorrect."

From our first discussion, Mr. Wood advised me not to focus my research based on only one spelling of the Nutting surname. He stated that the education of the church recorder in the late 1500s through the 1600s and the pronunciation of the name often dictated the way in which the surname was spelled in the record. Mr. Wood said that the name Nutton would have been spelled in a variety of ways to include Nuton, Nuten, Nutten, Neuton and Newton. With that advice, I focused on all forms of our ancestor's last name and in doing so, I came across a Newton family from Groton that possibly could be John's family. In the Winthrop Papers Vol. IV, page 508, Charles Newton sent a letter in 1644 to Governor Winthrop asking about his son John. In his words, "Sir I have a son I hope alive in your land. He is the nephew of my worthy Brother Mr. Edward Allen latly disceasd and I doe most humbly thank your worship for your Love to him and lovinge wife advice giuen him in his busines about his vncles will. He continued to say, "If it had bine soe in this our Kingdom we had stood to this day Noble Sir I shall thinke my selfe much bound to you and to your family to take notice of my poore Boy, and I shall thinke my selfe happy if in any respect, he may be servicable to your selfe or place wher he lives and I thanke God who gaue me him, and only him, that he gaue me and him a minde and him a call to that place wher he is, and wher he hath receivd so much good and God hath soe blessd him. I may com to him. I doe not desire he shold returne to me.'

Charles Newton was a woolen draper in Groton. He married Susan Gostlin, the daughter of Phillip and Alice Gostlin, in 1602. Their son, John Newton, was born 11 January 1623 in Groton, England. When Phillip Gostlin died in 1626, he left his home in Groton to Charles Newton and his daughter Susan based on his will. Susan died just two years later and sometime between her death and 1644, Charles sent his son John to America. Based on his 1644 letter to John Winthrop, he showed interest in making the voyage to America to be with his son, but it is uncertain if he was successful in doing so. Further research should be conducted on this family because of their ties to the Gostlin and Winthrop families and the fact that John Newton left England around the same time as our Founder. There is also one record of interest that should be investigated in Boston. John Nutting was listed in a record under the Middlesex County, Massachusetts Deponents (1649-1700). According to the record dated 1667, John Nutting was 42 years of age which would make his birth year 1623, six years older than John Nutton's (1592-1627) son, three years younger than Edward Nutton's son and the same age as Charles Newton’s son.

While visiting the Suffolk County History Center in Bury St. Emonds, I discovered fairly early in my research that the Nutting spelling did not surface in Suffolk County until the latter part of the 1600s. This has continued to make me wonder whether our Founder actually came from this county. Another issue I found is with the naming patterns of our Founder's children. I noticed that both John Nutton born in 1575 and 1592, followed the typical patterns for old England; however, John Nutting did not. Although his first son was named after his father, the second son should have been named after Sarah's father, Stephen. Both John and Sarah had mother's named Elizabeth, but they didn't name their daughters after them. There could be two possibilities for this: Either the parentage of our Founder and his wife are incorrect or they chose to name their children after names in the Bible to symbolize a new beginning in Puritan Massachusetts.

A few years ago, I wanted to cover all my bases to find out if our Nutton/Nutting family was educated. I contacted Trinity College in Dublin and asked them if they had student records for John Nutton/Nuton between 1600-1650 since he was known to be there based on John Winthrop's letters. Unfortunately, they had no record of him. I also checked with the school in Boxford, Suffolk England for a general search of the Nutton name in their student files. They had no record either. While this is not uncommon, it still made me wonder how our Nutton/Nutting family beginning with our Founder, rose to the status that he did in Groton, Massachusetts. Based on this finding, I came to the conclusion that our Founder may not have been educated in school prior to leaving for America. It is more likely that he received his education as an indentured servant or apprentice, learning specific skills that helped him to become a surveyor, a town officer and a well-respected citizen in his community.

Whether our Founder was the son of John Nutton and Elizabeth Cooke, the son of Edward Nutton and Rebecca Ada or the son of Charles Newton and Susan Gostlin, it is still a fact that our Founder ended up in America and started a family that has descended into numerous families across the United States. For the purpose of this memorial, I have attached John Nutton, born in 1592, as his father. The date to which he came to America is not precisely known, but he did come during the Great Migration with John Winthrop's fleet. There have been a few theories as to when he came. Wallace Nutting, a descendant of the Founder, suggested that John came in 1639 as John Winthrop's land steward. This would mean that John Nutton was educated before leaving England or he served as an apprentice on the long journey. A few years ago, a researcher and descendant contacted me with information showing that John came to America on the ship "Abigail" as a servant and in the company of Dean Winthrop who was then a young boy. Another researcher found possible evidence that John Nutton came as an indentured servant under John Ruggles. All of these theories should be investigated further and hopefully with time, technology will uncover more documents that will answer all of our questions relating to our Founder.

And the rest is history...

By 28 August 1650, John married Sarah Eggleston, the daughter of Stephen Eggleston and Elizabeth Jane Bennett. The couple had nine known children: John, James, Mary, Josiah, Sarah who died young, Sarah, Ebenezer, Jonathan and Deborah.

John was a surveyor, a property owner, a town officer, and he tended to the town meeting house. His home became one of the fortified garrisons where his neighbors sought shelter during dangerous conditions.

On 13 March 1676, while protecting the families from an ambush of a local Indian tribe, John Nutting was killed. According to town records, "The Indians cut off the head of him who had been killed by their first fire, and did set it upon a pole, looking unto his own lande."

No one knows for certain where our ancestor was laid to rest, but based on the fact that John Nutting was a religious man, it is likely that his body was eventually buried in the Old Burying Ground in Groton, Massachusetts after the tensions between the residents of Groton and surrounding communities and the local Native American tribes subsided.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 15 2020, 22:16:47 UTC

http://earlynewenglandfamilies.blogspot.com/2012/02/nutting-family-...

The Nutting Family of New England
John Nutting (Generation 1 - America)
John Nutting (Generation 1) son of John Nutting and Sarah Rawlings
There is said to be among the Winthrop Papers a copyhold deed to “John Nutton (Nutting) a lifelong tenant of the one moiety of the lands of Groton Manor” given at the time when John Winthrop, later the Governor of Massachusetts, succeeded his father, Adams Winthrop, Esq., as lord of the monor of Groton, in Suffolk, England The date of the deed is 1618. The grantee is called John Nutton, Senior. This implies a John Nutton/Nutting, Jr. was living in 1618, and of age. If not, the distinction of Senior would not have been used. If living in 1618, the John Nutting of New England would have been a very young child. Hence his connection with the Nuttings of old Groton cannot be proven. It is said that the name of Nutting does not appear in the Parish Register of Groton. (NG/Nutting Genealogy of Groton, Massachusetts by Homer Brainard/1927)

In a letter dated, June 20, 1623, John Winthrop, the later Governor, writing to his son John who was a student at Trinity College, Dublin, says: “Commend me to my little cousins and to my god-daughter Susannah Nutton”. It does not appear whether Susannah was a wife or a daughter of a Nutting. (NG)

The earliest date that can be certainly assigned to John Nutting of New England is therefore the date of his marriage in 1650. He appears to have lived a few years at Woburn, Massachusetts, but before June 29, 1656, he had removed to Westford, Massachusetts where some of his descendants have lived. On July 13, 1565, John Nutting and his wife were received into full communion with the Chelmsford Church, Reverend John Fiske, Pastor. The weeks later three of his children were baptized and in 1659 another child. (NG)

On November 9, 1661, James Parker, John Nutting and James Fiske asked the Chelmsford Church for leave to remove and for their prayer for a blessing on their undertaking. Thereupon the brethren objected, demanding their reason for removal. Brother Parker answered that each of them had personal reasons, but in the main all agreed that it was because of several things pressing upon their spirit in reference to Church administration, and added that if he could not enjoy all ordinances and their administration according to rule, he for his part would not remove. Brother Nutting also offered his remote location as a reason for removal; having several small children, he and his wife were deprived of the ordinances of religion and he wished to swell near the meetinghouse. The Church could not agree upon any action. There had eventually been disagreements or controversy of which we are not informed. It was finally voted that “if the brethren concerned shall in the meantime settle themselves in the proposed way, we shall lease the matter with god” (NG)

It is most probable that these three men had already made precautions for the homes at Groton, Massachusetts. They would not, having wives and small children removed as winter was coming on, unless they had provided shelter for them. Then too, they must be on the ground in season for the next year’s crop and harvest. The exact date of their removal is not known, but by September 21, 1663, John Nutting was established in a home near the meetinghouse in Groton, Massachusetts, for on that date the town voted that “the said John shall keep clean or cause it to be kept clean, and for his labor he is to have fourteen shillings.” In June 1663, John Nutting had expressed his disapproval of the town’s vote to call Mr. Willard to be their minister. During the Summer he and James Fiske were laboring to lay out a highway to Chelmsford, for which they were to have twenty shillings. In November of 1663, he was with four others chosen Selectman and Constable, which made him rate-maker and Tax Collector. (NG)

December 15, 1669, he was on the committee to see that Mr. Willard, the town minister, had his maintenance well and truly paid to him. On March 7, 1672/1673, the town sequestered for use as a common about and around the meetinghouse some land that was bounded by John Nutting. This shows that he was still living on the lot “nigh unto the meetinghouse” as he had desired when we was about to remove from Chelmsford in 1661. On December 11, 1675, he was elected with others as Surveyor/Inspector of Highways and on December 10, 1673, as Fence Viewer. These facts give us some insight into John Nutting’s life and character as a man and pioneer, at least worthy and respectable. (NG)

The Town of Groton at that time comprised some 41,000 acres of land. James Parker, the wealthiest, had a fifty acre-right and John Nutting a seventeen acre-right. This does not mean that James Parker owned but fifty acres and John Nutting but seventeen. As there were about four hundred acre-rights in all, each acre-right was entitled to about fifty four acres, pro rata, in the subsequent “divisions” or stock dividends in land. This would entitle John Nutting to about four hundred acres of land (actually over nine hundred), or possibly more, as in regard to quality of the land as well as to actual acreage. Transition affirms that he had a tract extending from Maunmux Spring to the Nashua River, large tracts to the west of the river in what is now Pepperell and land to the north end of Baddycock. (NG)

It is said that his house was a fortified garrison, a place where people could gather in times of danger from the Indians …Groton, Massachusetts was on the frontier at that time and such danger was very real. The house was perhaps built like a blockhouse with a projecting upper story, loop-holes in the walls for musketry and a stockade around it. It was this obligation that lead to his death. The Indian Wars were known as The King Philip’s War which began in the early Spring of 1676, after a long preliminary warning. Trouble began at Groton, Massachusetts, March 2, 1676. On the 13th, a force of four hundred Indians attacked Groton by stealth as was their habit … Nutting’s house and others were captured and John Nutting was shot to death in its defense. It is said that his head was severed and put upon a pole. The women and children escaped with others later to the safer settlements. The eldest son was married at this time and cared for his own. He and his brother James returned to Groton at the re-settlement. The younger children did not return to Groton. Mrs. Nutting probably went to Woburn, where her mother was living. Her mother, Mrs. Jane Cole, widow of Eggleston, of James Briton and of Isaac Cole, died at Woburn, March 10, 1678. Sister Ruth, wife of Samuel Blodgett, may have lived at the same place. (NG)

John Nutting left no Will. At a court held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 1, 1684, administration was granted to John and James Nutting on the Estate of John Nutting, late of Groton, deceased. On December 4, 1716, James Nutting of Groton, Ebenezer Nutting of Medford, Jonathan Nutting of Cambridge, John Stone and Sarah (Nutting) Stone and Jacob Taylor and Deborah Nutting Taylor of Groton, the children of John Nutting of Groton aforesaid, deceased and intestate, for L60 paid by our brother John Nutting of Groton conveyed to him all their interests in the Estate of John Nutting lying in Groton (Middlesex Deeds, Volume 18, page 290). This deed is evidence for his legal heirs that were living as of December 14, 1716. (NG)

(Soldier’s in the King Philip War, Chapter 6, Part 11)
On March 9th the Indians again appeared at Groton, doing some mischief, and again on the 13th in full force, and destroyed all the houses in town except the garrison houses, and one even of these, from which, however, the people had escaped. I think that Major Willard marched up from Watertown with Capt. Cook's force on the 12th or 13th, and arrived at Groton on the 14th, as the Indians retired on that day, apparently aware of the approaching force. The people got safely within their garrisons before the attack, and but one man, John Nutting, was killed. The town was abandoned within a few days, and the inhabitants removed to the towns nearer the coast. Major Willard, with his family, removed to Charlestown. It is likely that he had removed his family some time before the destruction of his house, on the 13th, as that stood in an exposed position, and his son Samuel Willard, the minister of Groton, had another of the garrisoned houses.