By Muriel Bristol | March 10, 2024
John Nutter was born in Newington, NH, January 15, 1784, son of Hatevil and Susannah (Shackford) Nutter. (Note his father’s male Puritan “virtue” name: “Hate-Evil”).
(The known children of Hatevil and Susanna (Shackford) Nutter were William Shackford Nutter (1781–1872), John Nutter (1784–1866), Elizabeth Nutter (1786–1866), Mary Nutter (1788–1863), Ann S. Nutter (1790–1870), Abigail Nutter (1793–1842), and Susan S. Nutter (1802–1882)).
Hatevil Nutter, Jr., headed a Newington, NH, household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 16-plus years [himself], two males aged under-16 years [William S. Nutter and John Nutter], six females [Susanna (Shackford) Nutter, Elizabeth Nutter, Mary Nutter, Ann S. Nutter, Abigail Nutter, and one other], and one slave. (New Hampshire, which had 141,885 persons enumerated in 1790, had one hundred fifty-eight slaves [0.01%]. Newington, NH, which had five hundred forty-two persons, had fourteen slaves [2.6%]. (Milton never had any in any census year)). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jona Warner Nutter and Valentine Pickering.
Hatevil Nutter headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Susanna (Shackford) Nutter], two males aged 16-25 years [William S. Nutter and John Nutter], two females aged 10-15 years [Elizabeth Nutter, and Mary Nutter], and two females aged under-10 years [Ann S. Nutter, and Abigail Nutter]. His household appeared in the roughly alphabetically arranged enumeration between those of Wm Neal and Paul Nute.
Hatteville Nutter headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 45-plus years [Susanna (Shackford) Nutter], one male aged 26-44 years [William S. Nutter], one male aged 16-25 years [John Nutter], four females aged 16-25 years [Elizabeth Nutter, Mary Nutter, Ann S. Nutter, and Abigail Nutter], and one female aged under-10 years [Susan S. Shackford]. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Mark Miller and Henry Rines.
Brother William S. Nutter married, March 17, 1811, Ruth Wentworth. She was born in Rollinsford, NH, October 22, 1784, daughter of Bartholomew and Ruth (Hall) Wentworth.
Sister Elizabeth Nutter married in Wakefield, NH, November 17, 1811, John Hart, both of Milton. Rev. Asa Piper performed the ceremony. He was born April 17, 1786.
John Nutter signed the June 1814 petition seeking incorporation of the Milton Congregational Society. (See Milton Congregational Society Petition – 1814).
Sister Ann S. Nutter married in Milton, circa 1820, Gilman Jewett. He was born in Exeter, NH, January 18, 1777, son of Paul and Elizabeth ((Gilman) Gilman) Jewett
John Nutter held the office of Milton Town Moderator for a single year around 1825-26.
William Neil of Portsmouth, NH, made his last will, March 22, 1825. He devised to his wife, Margaret Neil, two-thirds of his Portsmouth, NH, dwelling house, outbuildings, and land, which was the same that he had purchased of George Furber, in May 1807. This bequest was to satisfy in full his note to her for $1,400 and any interest accrued. He also devised to her a life estate in all his furniture. He devised to his daughter, Margaret Grieve, widow of Samuel Grieve, the remaining one-third of his dwelling house, outbuildings, and land, along with all the household furniture, that furniture to be delivered after the decease of her mother. He devised $300 to his son-in-law, George Andrews, as well as all the furniture give to his daughter, Mary Sarah Melcher, at the time of the marriage. Andrews was to invest the money and pay Mary Sarah Melcher an annual dividend. If Mary Sarah Melcher should survive her present husband, Daniel F. Melcher. Anything remaining after her decease should be divided among her surviving children. He devised $1 to his son, Thomas Neil. He confirmed his daughter Ann Andrews, wife of George Andrews, on the Dover, NH, house already given to her, as well as an additional $1. He devised to his son, Robert Getty Neil, the balance of his deed account, as well as an additional $1. He devised to his son, Charles Neil, the Portsmouth, NH, house and land on the corner of Broad street, it being the same purchased of George Turner, in October 1820. Charles was also to receive any rest and residue remaining. He named son-in-law George Andrews as executor. Jas. H. Pierrepont, Jno. W. Foster, and Gorge Mancut signed as witnesses (Rockingham County Probate, 48:297).
William Neil died in Portsmouth, NH, in April or May 1825, aged seventy-nine years (Columbian Centinel, May 18, 1825). [“a native of Ireland & for 30 years a Merchant”].
The last will of William Neil, late of Portsmouth, NH, was proved in a Rockingham County Probate court held in Portsmouth, NH, May 17, 1825 (Rockingham County Probate, 48:299).
John Nutter married (1st) in Dover, NH, October 17, 1825, Margaret (Neil) Grieve, he of Milton, and she apparently of Dover, NH (Dover Historical Society, 1894). She was born in Portsmouth, NH, circa 1792, daughter of William and Margaret Neil, and was the widow of Samuel Grieve (Rockingham County Probate, 48:297).
John Nutter was said to have been a Milton Mills merchant, and post offices were often in storefronts or doctor’s offices. The U.S. Post Office Department appointed him as the first Milton Mills Postmaster on November 13, 1826. He held that office from then through March 1837. Dr. John L. Swinerton succeeded him, although Nutter appears to have returned briefly in 1841-42. (These offices were political plums and these appointment dates suggest that John Nutter was a Democrat, while Dr. John L. Swinerton was a Whig). (See also Milton’s First Postmasters (1818-c1840)).
Sister Abigail Hubbard married in Milton, January 19, 1827, Aaron Hubbard, she of Milton and he of Shapleigh, ME. Rev. William McKay performed the ceremony. Hubbard was born in Shapleigh, ME, January 26, 1782, son of Aaron and Martha (Nason) Hubbard.
The U.S. Congress expanded the network of “Post Road” routes in 1827. The expanded network included a regular overland connection between Maine points and the Milton Mills post office run by John Nutter. (See Milton in the News – 1827).
Mother-in-law Margaret Neil of Dover, NH, widow of William Neil of Portsmouth, NH, made her last will July 30, 1827. She devised $500 to Charles Neil of Portsmouth, NH, merchant, for the benefit of Robert Neil. She devised $1 to her daughter, Margaret Nutter, wife of John Nutter. She devised $500 to Charles Neil for the benefit of her daughter, Mary Sarah Melcher. He was also to receive her household furniture, after expiration of a life-estate in that furniture to be held by daughter Mary Sarah Melcher. Charles Neil, who was identified as a son of her late husband (rather than herself), was to receive all the rest and residue, and was appointed executor. George Gray, Thomas b. Kittredge, and William N. Andrews signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 42:131).
Mrs. Margaret ((Neil) Grieves) Nutter, “consort of John Nutter & daughter of William and Margaret Neal,” died in Milton, August 27, 1827, aged thirty-five years.
John Nutter appeared in a US. Postal Department postmasters list in 1828. He was Postmaster at Milton Mills.
John Nutter received a five-year appointment as a Milton justice of the peace, June 17, 1828.
Justices of the Peace. Milton. Jotham Nute, D. Hayes, John Remich, J. Roberts, Hanson Hayes, Stephen M. Mathes, John Nutter, Thomas Chapman (Lyon, 1829).
The Milton Selectmen of 1830 were John Nutter, T.C. Lyman, and Chas. Swasey. (His elder brother, William S. Nutter, was also twice a Milton Selectman, in 1818 and 1833).
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. Milton, Joshua N. Cate, Jotham Nute, Daniel Hayes, John Remich, James Roberts, Hanson Hayes, Stephen M. Mathes, John Nutter, Thomas Chapman, Theodore C. Lyman, Samuel S. Mason, Stephen Drew, Israel Nute (Claremont Manufacturing Company, 1830).
Hateval Nutter headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 80-89 years [himself], one female aged 70-79 years [Susanna (Shackford) Nutter], one female aged 40-49 years [Mary Nutter], one female aged 20-29 years [Susan S. Nutter], and one male aged 15-19 years. His household appeared in the enumeration between those Obediah Whitham and Jas Applebe.
John Nutter headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years, and one male aged 15-19 years. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Mehitable Swasey and Nathl Jewett.
Father Hatevil Nutter died, probably in Milton, December 25, 1831, aged eighty-three years.
Former mother-in-law Margaret Neil died in Dover, NH, December 29, 1831, aged seventy-eight years. Her last will was proved in a Strafford County Probate court held in Dover, NH, January 2, 1832 (Strafford County Probate, 42:134).
John Nutter married (2nd) in Dover, NH, May 16, 1833, Lydia Hayes, he of Milton and she presumably of Dover, NH. She was born in Dover, NH, March 25, 1784, daughter of Aaron and Deborah (Wingate) Hayes.
John Nutter received a five-year renewal appointment as a Milton justice of the peace, June 15, 1833.
Justices of the Peace. Milton – Levi Jones, Daniel Hayes, John Remich, James Roberts, Hanson Hayes, Stephen M. Mathes, John Nutter, Theodore C. Lyman, Samuel S. Mason, Stephen Drew, Israel Nute, John L. Swinerton, Thomas Chapman (Hayward, 1834).
Among the fifty-two founding members of the Baptist Church of Milton, October 28, 1834, were William S. Nutter, Elizabeth [(Nutter)] Hart, Susan S. Nutter, Ruth [(Wentworth)] Nutter, Mary Ann Nutter, Hannah Nutter, and Elizabeth Nutter. William S. Nutter was clerk from its founding through 1837. (He was succeeded in that position by his step-nephew Asa Jewett) (Scales, 1914).
John Nutter received $7.51 in 1835, as compensation for his work as Milton Mills postmaster (US Dept. of the Interior, 1835).
John Nutter received $12.49 in 1837, as compensation for his work as Milton Mills postmaster (US Civil Service Commission, 1838).
Brother William S. Nutter removed from Milton at some time after his resignation as church clerk, in 1837, and his next enumeration in the Federal Census in Waterboro, ME, in 1840.
John Nutter received a five-year renewal appointment as a Milton justice of the peace, June 21, 1838.
Mother-in-law Deborah (Wingate) Hayes died in Milton Mills, September 18, 1838.
John Nutter received $29.88 up to December 31, 1839, as compensation for his work as Milton Mills Postmaster. J.L. Swinerton took over again and received $6.58 from that point through May 26, 1843 (Claxton & Co., 1843).
The NH Political Manual and Annual Register of 1840 identified Milton’s Justices of the Peace as being Levi Jones, Daniel Hayes, John Remick, JAMES ROBERTS, Hanson Hayes, Stephen M. Mathes, John Nutter, Theodore C. Lyman, Samuel S. Mason, Stephen Drew, John L. Swinerton, Thomas Chapman, Joseph Cook, John J. Plumer, Daniel Hayes, Jr. (McFarland & Jenks, 1840).
Susannah [(Shackford)] Nutter headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. Her household included one female aged 80-89 years [herself], three females aged 30-39 years [Mary Nutter, Susan S. Nutter], and one male aged 15-19 years. One member of her household was engaged in Agriculture. Her household appeared in the enumeration between those of Simeon Applebee and Bray Sims.
John Nutter headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 50-59 years [Lydia (Hayes) Nutter], and one female aged 20-29 years. One member of his household was engaged in Agriculture. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Gilman Jewett and Samuel S. Hart.
Sister Abigail (Nutter) Hubbard died in Acton, ME, June 21, 1842, aged forty-nine years.
John Nutter received a five-year renewal appointment as a Milton justice of the peace, June 24, 1843.
Justices of the Peace. Milton – Levi Jones, Stephen Drew, Daniel Hayes, Hanson Hayes, John Nutter, Theodore C. Lyman, John L. Swinerton, Joseph Cook, John J. Plumer, Daniel Hayes, jr., Enoch Banfield, Daniel P. Warren, Joseph Cook, James Berry, Wm. B. Lyman (NH Register and Farmer’s Almanac, 1844).
Justices of the Peace. MILTON – Levi Jones, Stephen Drew, Hanson Hayes, John Nutter, Theodore C. Lyman, John L. Swinerton, Joseph Cook, John J. Plumer, Daniel Hayes, Jr., Enoch Banfield, Daniel P. Warren, James Berry, William B. Lyman, Levi Hayes, Jr., James Furnald (NH Register and Farmer’s Almanac, 1846).
Mother Susanna (Shackford) Nutter died in Milton Mills, November 13, 1848, aged ninety-one years.
John Nutter did not receive another renewal as a Milton justice-of-the-peace. There was instead a marginal notation to the effect that he was “now [of] Rochester.” In the Rochester roster, he received an initial five-year appointment as a Rochester, NH, justice of the peace, June 19, 1848.
Lydia (Hayes) Nutter died in Dover, NH, February 21, 1850, aged sixty-six years.
John Nutter, 3d, a farmer, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included [his sister,] Mary Nutter, aged sixty-two years (b. NH). John Nutter, 3d, had real estate valued at $1,500.
John Nutter, Esq., married (3rd) in Portsmouth, NH, in October 1852, Maria Melcher, he of Rochester, NH, and she of Portsmouth, NH. Rev. Richard S. Rusk performed the ceremony. She was born in Portsmouth, NH, in 1790, daughter of John V. and Mehitable (Whidden) Melcher. (Maria Melcher’s brother, Daniel Fowle Melcher, had been married to Mary Sarah Neil, who was a sister of Nutter’s first wife, Margaret ((Neil) Grieve) Nutter).
MARRIED. In Portsmouth, John Nutter, Esq., of Rochester, to Miss Maria Melcher, only daughter of the late John Melcher, Esq., of Portsmouth (Exeter News-Letter, October 1852).
(“John Melcher, the oldest printer in the Union, died at Portsmouth, N.H. on Sunday morning, June 9, aged 60 years. He was an apprentice to Daniel Fowle, who introduced the first printing press into New Hampshire in 1756, and was proprietor of the Portsmouth Gazette during the revolution, when it was a strong advocate of the rights of the people, as it has been ever since” (Piscataqua Observer, July 4, 1850)).
Justices of the Peace. ROCHESTER – JAMES FARRINGTON – JEREMIAH H. WOODMAN, Stephen M. Mathes, Charles Dennett, Louis McDuffie, John Meader, Watson Hayes, Jonathan Hussey, Moses Roberts, James Tebbets, jr., Samuel Rogers, Daniel J. Parsons, James H. Edgerly, Sam’l Demeritt, Nicholas V. Whitehouse, Jeremiah M. Hackett, Daniel Lothrop, Wm. A. Kimball, Reuben Tilton, Jabez Dame, jr., John Nutter, Joseph Bunton, James Bodge, Samuel Meserve, Aaron P. Wingate (Claremont Manufacturing, 1854).
Brother-in-law John Hart died in Milton, February 9, 1854, aged sixty-seven years. (“He was a beloved husband, a kind and affectionate father – a friend to all: and died in the hope of immortality beyond the grave”).
John Nutter, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH (“Farmington P.O.”), household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Mariah [(Melcher)] Nutter, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), and Mary E. Witham, aged thirteen years (b. NH).
John Nutter, Esq., of Rochester, NH, made his last will, April 12, 1861. He devised to his beloved wife, Mariah M. [(Melcher)] Nutter, during her natural life, the income on $2,000, as well as the income on the house lot and establishment where she lived, “as secured to her by my obligation to her before our marriage.”
He devised $100 to Deborah Lefavour [1816-1866], wife of Robert Lefavour and daughter of Paul Hayes; and $200 to Sarah Boyle, also daughter of Paul Hayes. (These two legacies were to be paid after the death of his wife, Mariah M. Nutter). He devised $200 to William A. Nutter, the amount of his note in favor of John Nutter, after the decease of Mariah M. Nutter, with William A. Nutter paying her interest until her death. He devised $400 to Nancy [(Nutter)] Kimball [1818-1889], wife of William A. Kimball, to be equally divided between her and her three children. [She was a daughter of brother William S. Nutter]. Nancy H. Kimball was to receive also his furniture after the decease of his wife. He devised to John Kimball, son of William A. Kimball, all his books, his portable writing desk, surveying compass, all of the articles in the barn, including saws, planes, augers, axes, and tools. He devised $500 to his three sisters, Mary Nutter, Ann S. Jewett, and Susan S. Nutter, “to be enjoyed by them socially together, and so on to the last survivor.”
He noted that he was omitting bequests to his brother, William S. Nutter, as well as his brother’s children Mary Ann [Nutter], Elizabeth [(Nutter)] Ford, and Sarah [(Nutter)] Philpot; his sister, Elizabeth [(Nutter)] Hart, her sons, Edward Hart, Oliver Hart, William S. Hart, and Cyrus F. Hart, and her daughters, Ann [(Hart)] Gerrish and Susan [(Hart)] Lord; and the daughter of his late sister, Abigail Hubbard. He had assigned to them during his lifetime. He devised a residue to [his nephew,] Samuel Shackford Hart, whom he named as executor. Silas Hussey, Jr., Daniel Young, and Ben. Hobbs signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate Docket 2652 (Strafford County Probate, 74:204)).
Sister Mary Nutter died in Milton, January 19, 1863, aged seventy-three years. (“She rests in hope of a blessed immortality”).
Brother-in-law Maj. Aaron Hubbard died in Acton, ME, February 18, 1863, aged eighty-one years.
John Nutter died in Dover, NH, April 15, 1866, aged eighty-two years.
The last will of John Nutter of Rochester, NH, was proved by Judge D.G. Rollins in a Strafford County Probate court held in Dover, NH, May 1, 1866 (Strafford County Probate Docket 2652 (Strafford County Probate, 74:206)).
Sister Elizabeth (Nutter) Hart died in Milton, June 19, 1866, aged eighty years, six months.
Sister Ann S. (Nutter) Jewett died in Milton, November 28, 1870, aged seventy-nine years, eleven months.
Brother William S. Nutter died in Waterboro, ME, March 9, 1872, aged eighty-nine years.
Maria M. (Melcher) Nutter died of old age in Portsmouth, NH, September 13, 1873, aged eighty-two years.
References:
Claremont Manufacturing Co. (1846). New Hampshire Register and Farmer’s Almanac. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=5ucWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA102
Claxton, A.B., & Co. (1843). Register of All Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=2j1FWHpku7QC&pg=RA1-PA32
Dover Historical Society. (1894). Collections of the Dover, N.H., Historical Society. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=Jr0MAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA183
Farmer, John & Lyon, G. Parker. (1844). New-Hampshire Annual Register, and United States Calendar. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=BJIBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA50
Find a Grave. (2013, July 29). Elizabeth Nutter Hart. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114576349/elizabeth_hart
Find a Grave. (2013, August 22). Aaron Hayes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115883139/aaron-hayes
Find a Grave. (2013, November 7). Abigail Nutter Hubbard. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/119939688/abigail-hubbard
Find a Grave. (2013, July 29). Ann S. Nutter Jewett. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114596973/ann_s_jewett
Find a Grave. (2016, February 5). John Vicker Melcher. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/157842733/john-vicker-melcher
Find a Grave. (2013, September 2). William Neil. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/116431626/william-neil
Find a Grave. (2011, December 31). Hatevil Nutter, III. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/82754846/hatevil-nutter
Find a Grave. (2013, August 22). John Nutter. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115883330/john-nutter
Find a Grave. (2013, August 22). Lydia [Hayes] Nutter. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115883372/lydia_nutter
Find a Grave. (2016, February 1). Maria Melcher Nutter. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/157702361/maria-nutter
Find a Grave. (2013, July 25). Margaret Nutter. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114373253/margaret-nutter
Find a Grave. (2012, October 16). Mary Nutter. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/99018792/mary-nutter
Find a Grave. (2012, October 16). Susan S. Nutter. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/99018909/susan-s-nutter
Find a Grave. (2012, July 4). William Shackford Nutter. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/93028556/william-shackford-nutter
Hayward, John. (1834). New-England and New-York Law-register, for the Year 1835. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=RXc8AAAAIAAJ&pg=86
US Civil Service Commission. (1838). Official Register: Persons in the Civil, Military and Naval Service of the United States, and List of Vessels. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=qso-AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA19
US Dept. of Interior. (1835). Official Register of the United States: Containing a List of Officers and Employees in the Civil, Military, and Naval Service. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=C9k9AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA20
US Dept. of Interior. (1839). Official Register of the United States: Containing a List of Officers and Employees in the Civil, Military, and Naval Service. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=ytxKAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA18
US Post Office Department. (1828). List of Post Offices in the United States, with the Names of the Post-Masters. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=KPsCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA74
Milton Observer 