Subject: NUTTING FAMILY Source: Groton Historical Series by Dr. Samuel A. Green Vol 2 1890 p. 259 Boston, September 1, 1888 My Dear Dr. Green, I am sorry to say that of the early NUTTINGS I know much more concern- ing those who settled in Cambridge, Medford and Salem, than of those who remained at Groton. John Nutting, my great-great-great-great-grandfather, came to this country not long before 1650. I think he came from County Kent, but cannot make the conjecture a certainty. He was married in Woburn, Aug 28 (28 of 6 mo), 1650 to Sarah Eggleton, who is believed to have died on the voyage over, in the ship Castle. In the Woburn town records there is a further entry: "____, son of John Nutting, borne ye ____ 1651." This first John, the emigrant, was one of the petitioners for the town of Chelmsford, in the spring of 1655. I have not examined the Chelms- ford town books, so I cannot give the exact date of his settling there. But I have seen a record, kept by Reverend John Fiske, minister of the church in Chelmsford at that time. According to the record, on the 6 of 5 mo., 1656, "Testimony was given touching John Nutting and his wife, who had propounded themselves to our fellowship;" and on the 13 of 5 mo., "There was joyned to the church John Nutting, after his rela- tion made and assent manifested to the profession and covenant of the church, [and] John Nutting's wife, her relation being repeated by an officer of the church." Under date 3 of 6/56 there is a record of the baptism of their children: John, 5 years old 25 of 6 mo./56. James, 3 years old 30 of 4 mo./56 Mary, 1 year old 10 of 11 mo./56 This five-year-old John Nutting was evidently the son born at Woburn in 1651 p.260 There is a hint that the father was zealous for his children's education, as he is entered as having contributed 11s.3d., out of f4 11s.3d., for the purchase of catechisms, the number of contributors being eight. Under date 9 of 9 mo./61, John Nutting and others "propounded to the church that having some thought and inclination to a remove, they de- sired that they may have the church's prayers for a blessing of God upon their undertaking." This move being discussed, Brother Nutting assigned as a reason that having several small children both himself and his wife "were much deprived of the ordinances by their present situation;" he therefore wished to live nearer the Meeting-house. This wish was fulfilled; for in Groton, whither he went, his house must have been hard by the sanctuary. He seems not to have taken the Freeman's oath until several years after he had joined the church; for the date is given in the Massachusetts Records as 30 May, 1660. He was one of the proprietors of Groton, and as nearly as I can make out from copies of deeds, etc., had about a hundred acres of land "bounded northerly by Capt. Josiah Parker's, southerly by Baddicook Pond, and easterly by the town common;" with another tract about the same extent "over the river," as well as smaller parcels, etc. His house was one of the earliest garrisons of the town. It would be imp- ossible to distinguish between him and his son John altogether; but the tradition of captivity among the Indians refers possibly to his son. In the history of the attack upon Groton in King Philip's War, it is said that the garrisoned houses, five in number, all escaped but one, which was taken, there being of the English one slain and two wounded. It is a matter of history that Nutting's garrison was the one which did not escape, and the family tradition is distinct that he was killed at that time. This letter from the descendant, Mary E. Nutting to Dr. Samuel A. Green will be continued in Part 2, "John Nutting" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth