James Nutt

[Biographical account written by Nutt family descendant, Robert Hanscom -- 31 July 2015]:

Even though his full name was "Thomas James Nutt" [named after his maternal grandfather, Thomas James of Portsmouth, NH], he always went by his middle name James. With just one exception, he is consistently seen in every record in Derryfield as "James Nutt". He also executed his 1835 will -- and later the codicils to his will -- under James Nutt.

He was born in Derryfield, NH, 23 July 1763, the son of William Jr. and Sarah (James) Nutt. He first appears on Derryfield tax lists in the 1780s, and is seen routinely after that -- always as "James Nutt", but with one exception: in 1800, he is listed as "Thomas Nutt".

James Nutt served in the military through the Rebellion of 1786. Later, he received his share of his father's estate prior to his father's death; thus, he was not named in his father's Will of 1800. The same was true for his brother, Samuel, of Wolfeborough, NH. With his early inheritance, James purchased a farm in Derryfield in the mid-1790s.

Derryfield tax lists show James Nutt listed each year, and growing considerably wealthier with each taxation. When he made his will on 24 December 1835, he had considerable holdings in the Manchester, NH area.

Over the next few years, James Nutt executed three codicils to his will. The first, dated 2 September 1836, changed the dispersion of his land so that his youngest son, Rodnia [aka Rodney], would not get a financial advantage of his siblings. The second codicil, dated 23 September 1841, once again changed Rodney's share of the estate. The third codicil, dated 28 June 1843, effectively disinherited his oldest daughter Sarah, and is sharply phrased: "My oldest Daughter has conducted herself very foolishly: she has taken up with a profligate. I think of letting the principal of what I have allotted her Stand in the hands of her son Benjamin French, and she to have only the interest of it paid to her annually."

James Nutt died in Manchester 11 days after this last codicil was written -- on 9 July 1843, age 80. His will and the codicils were offered for probate shortly thereafter.

James Nutt was married in Derryfield on 18 August 1789 to Sarah Boyce, known as "Sally", b. Londonderry, NH, 27 May 1767. She survived him by nearly four years, and died in Manchester NH on 8 March 1847 in her 80th year of age.