Notes
Note for: Alexander McNUTT, ABT 1692 - ABT 1751 Index
Note: Our ancestor, Alexander McNitt, who was born in Laggan in 1656, came to
Boston with his youngest son, Barnard, in 1720. With their wives, they
settled with an Ulster Scottish colony near Worcester, Mass., and then
moved west to Palmer, Mass. in 1732. The eldest son of Alexander McNitt,
and brother of Barnard, named Alexander McNutt, emigrated from Laggan to
Maryland in 1735, with his family, and then moved on to the Valley of
Virginia in 1744. Another Alexander McNitt emigrated from Laggan in 1722
and settled with his family in central Pennsylvania. These and many more
emigrants from Ulster sailed across the Atlantic in small ships,
generally two masted square rigged brigantines, which plied between
Londonderry or Belfast and American ports, and were forced to locate west
of the established settlements at Boston, Philadelphia, and Tidewater
Virginia, so that they were closer to the Indian frontiers. Most of the
Ulster Scottsmen received small grants, or purchased land for their homes
and farms. Most groups included a Presbyterian minister.
The following is quoted from the Colonial Families of America, Vol. 5, p.
379:
The second ALEXANDER MACNUTT, b. in Ireland, first settled near
Hagerstown, Maryland, shortly afterward removing to Augusta County,
Virginia, where he lived on land known as the MACNUTT grants, near
Lexington. He d. there about 1751, leaving several sons, Alexander, John,
William, Robert, James and another, said to have been killed when a lad
in an Indian skirmish. There was also a daughter named Jane, who later m.
---- [Benjamin] WEIR, of Nova Scotia.
Notes
Note for: Barnard McNUTT, ABT 1700 - 16 JAN 1773 Index
Note: Barnard McNitt raised his large family of 9 sons and 5 daughters at
Elbowa Plantation in Palmer, Mass. Records seem quite reliable since
Barnard himself was town clerk for some 15 years. The children married
and moved on with some settling farther west in Massachusetts and on into
New York. Five of the sons and one daughter, moved on to Nova Scotia
where the surname became McNutt.
Notes
Note for: William McNUTT, 25 JUL 1733 - 11 JAN 1823 Index
Note: Progenitor of the Nova Scotia line of McNutts. In 1761, William (McNitt)
McNutt of Palmer migrated to Onslow, Nova Scotia, with his wife and 3
small children. At the same time several Ulster Scottish families from
Londonderry, N. H. resettled in the Minas Basin area at Onslow, Truro,
Masstown, and Londonderry, N.S. Late during 1761 the first shipload of
Ulster Scottsmen from Northern Ireland arrived, aboard the "Hopewell" at
Halifax, where they spent the winter before moving on to the Minas Basin.
Other shiploads from Northern Ireland continued to come to Nova Scotia
for several years bringing Scottish settlers from Ulster, including other
McNutt families. A second Ulster settlement was established at the
southeast end of Nova Scotia at Shelburne, where brothers of William and
a brother of Alexander settled.
William McNutt's familiy in Onslow increased to 6 sons and 4 daughters.
As a carpenter, as well as a farmer, he designed in 1770, and built, the
first church in Onslow, where almost all the Ulster Scottsmen continued
their loyalty, to the Presbyterian church. William's sons and daughters
married and remained in the area to produce at least 75 grandchildren. He
became know as the grandfather of Nova Scotia McNutts. His 5th son,
Samuel, our direct ancestor, had a large family of either 11 or 15
children, but names of only 8 have been identified in the records.
Notes
Note for: John A. [Governor] [Capt.] McNUTT, ABT 1726 - ABT JAN 1781 Index
Occupation:
Place: Weaver
Burial:
Date: 1811
Place: Falling Spring Churchyard, Hickory Hill, Rockbridge County, Virginia
Note: John McNutt b. N. Ireland. Left behind when parents came to America.
Married Katherine Anderson after she had stowed away aboard ship bringing
him to America. Settled east of Lexington VA. Known as Scotch Johnny.
7s2d
THE McNUTT FAMILY OF ROCKBRIDGE-Jno. McNutt, one of the first settlers of
the county, married Catharine Anderson, in England, )a relative of Judge
F. T. Anderson) came to America and settled on the farm now owned by
Joseph Falls, on North river. They raised seven sons: Alex, Robert, John,
Isaac, Benjamin, William and Joseph; and two daughters, Margaret and
Rebecca. Robert died of wounds at the battle of Cowpens; John married
Mary Lard; Isaac went to Red River, Louisiana; Benjamin moved to
Tennessee, married and left a family; William married Betty Grigsby and
lived in the county; Rebecca married twice, first John McCorkle, who died
of wound at Cowpens, and afterwards Arthur Glasgow; Alexander McMutt
married Rachel Grigsby, a daughter of John Grigsby; whose grave is the
oldest in Falling Spring graveyard. By this marriage there were thirteen
children, one of whom, Gallatin McNutt, was governor of Mississippi. One
of the daughters, Elizabeth, married John Hamilton of Rockbridge. They
raised two sons and five daughter, one of whom married Rev. Mr. Osborne,
and was Mrs. Cress' mother. The descendants of Jno. McNutt are settled in
the Southern and Western States, and many of them have occupied positions
of usefulness and honor in the civil and military history of the south.
Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY,
Richmond, and
Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884).
Transcribed and submitted by: "Marilyn B. Headley" , 1997
-------------------------------
From the McCormick Genealogies, Leyburn Library, Washington & Lee
University: John reported as an early settler with Alexander McNutt in
Augusta Co, VA (NGS Quarterly, Vol. 25, p. 51). "John McNutt ("Johnny,
the Scotchman) [another record calls him "Scotch Johnny"] and his wife,
Katherine Anderson, about 1750, arrived in the upper valley of the James
from County Ulster, Ireland. He settled on North River about 6 miles east
of Lexington, where he had grants of land from the government." He was
one of 122 signers of a petition against religious assessments for
support of ministers, presented to the General Assembly in the House of
Delegates, 1784.
------------------------------
Another McNutt file said: "John McNutt migrated to America from Donegal
County, Ireland about 1745 and settled in Orange Co. (now Rockbridge) Va.
on the North River about 6 miles east of Lexington where he had grants of
land from the government. His wife was Katherine, daughter of Robert
Anderson of Killagorwen. His [John McNutt's] father [Alexander?] had
already established himself close-by." It is said the original name was
McKnight and that on their emigration from Scotland to Ireland they
changed it to McNutt. This statement is quite confirmed by the fact that
on examination of a full and complete directory of Scotland in 1889, the
name McNutt was not found. Katherine Anderson had a brother, ancestor of
the Anderson Family of Boutetourt County, Virginia.
------------------------------
The following is quoted from the Colonial Families of America, Vol. 5, p.
379.
The most notable member of the family in the eighteenth century was COL.
ALEXANDER MACNUTT [Probably this Capt. John McNutt], who was b. in
Ireland about 1725 and came with his father, Alexander, to Augusta
County, Virginia. He accompanied Maj. Andrew LEWIS as a volunteer in the
Sandy Creek Expedition against the Shawnee Indians in 1756 and later
served on General BRADDOCK'S staff in the expedition against Fort
Duquesne. In one of his memorials to the Lords of Trade, he mentions
having served in upwards of twenty engagements on land and sea, always as
a volunteer and without pay. In the spring of 1760, he was in New England
and assisted in raising three hundred men for his Majesty's service at
Louisbourg. At this time Colonel MACNUTT embarked upon vast and ambitious
schemes for the re-colonization of Nova Scotia, depopulated by the
expulsion of the French Acadians. The archives of Canada contain
voluminous records of his transactions with the British and Colonial
authorities, many of which have been published. He visited England
several times in the interests of these undertakings, and on his first
visit bore letters from Governor DINWIDDIE, which procured him an
audience of the King. His Majesty conferred upon him the honorary title
of Colonel and presented him with a sword, in recognition of his
services. The sword despoiled during the Civil War of its silver
mountings, is now (1915) in possession of his gd. niece, Mrs. Alexander
GLASGOW, of Rockbridge County, Virginia. He sided with the patriots
during the American Revolution and through failure to fulfill his
contracts, lost the tracts of land amounting to several hundred thousand
acres granted him in Nova Scotia. He died unmarried, at Lexington,
Virginia, in 1811.
----------------------------------
Alexander and Rebecca are identified as children of this couple. John
McNutt was the Gov. and Lt. Gov. of Nova Scotia at the end of the era
which saw the expulsion of the French-speaking Acadians (after the
victory by the English at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, Quebec
City, 1763) and the re-settlement of the Chignecto Isthmus and other
parts of Nova Scotia by English settlers. He had some part in making
these decisions. He moved to Massachusetts and finally resettled in
Virginia after his tour of duty. All of his moves were prior to the
American Revolution (1776-1783). There are some indications that his
chilren were split in their loyalties during that era. It is apparent
that other children were born to John and his wife, who have been
verified or noted in this family tree. According to one record, George
McNutt was said to be the nephew of Gov. McNutt. (courtesy Mark Freeman
, Roots Web, Feb. 2001)
-------------------
1754
-------------------
15 May, 1754. Beverley to John McNutt, for 6 pounds, 200 acres on north
side Christian's Creek in Beverley Manor; Geo. Rutledge's line above
mouth John Buchanan's Mill Creek; comer Wm. Marshal on said Mill Creek;
James Colewell's line. Chalkley's Scotch-Irish in Virginia, Vol. 3, p.
326.
-------------------
1755
-------------------
27 Nov 1755. By order of Vestry, subscribers have processioned all the
patroned land within bounds of Cap. William Christian's Company, by Wm.
Henderson, Thomas Stuaru, viz: .... for John McNutt, present Wm.
Marshall, etal. Do, Vol. 2, p. 440.
-------------------
1756
-------------------
A John McNutt was listed in Capt. Christian's company of Augusta County
militia on 27 Jul 1756 (NGS Quarterly, Vol. 25, p.71). He had settled on
North River in an area that became Rockbridge County. His wife was
Catherine Anderson, a great aunt of Judge Francis T. Anderson. One of
their sons, Alexander, was the father of Governor Alexander G. McNutt of
Mississippi (1838-1842), and grand parent of Generals Frank Paxton and
Albert G. Jenkins, both killed in the War between the States.
------------------
1762
------------------
20 March, 1762. John McNutt, weaver, and Catren ( ) to John Attkins,
coardwaner, for 26 pounds, 200 acres on Christian's Creek in Beverley
Manor, George Rutledge's line, John Buchanan's Mill Creek; cor. Wm.
Marchal, James Caldwell's line.
11 April, 1762. Andrew Duncan's will--To wife, Jennet, negro slaves; to 5
daughters, Elizth., Mary, Jennet, Jean, Florence; to brother's son, James
Duncan; to son, Andrew, infant, testator's home plantation. Executors,
John Moore, Joseph Culton. Teste: John McNutt, Hugh Wardlaw, David
Sayers. 18th May, 1762, proved, by Davis Sayers, John McNutt. Executors
refuse to execute. Administration granted Jennet Duncan, the widow, who
qualifies (her mark), with Andw. Russell, John Moore. Chalkley's
Scotch-Irish in Virginia, Vol. 3, p. 69.
27th July, 1762. Benjamin Bennett to John McNutt, for 43 pounds, in Fork
of James, joining Samuel McDowel. Teste: Patrick ( ) McCollam, Patrick
McCorkle. Delivered: James Trimble, 12th November, 1772. Chalkley's
Scotch-Irish in Virginia, Vol. 3, p.387
-------------------
1767
-------------------
14 August, 1767. John Taylor to Thomas Ratliff. 75 acres on James River.
Teste:
James Trimble, James Allison, John McNutt, John Allison. Delivered: (?)
John Trimble, 12 September, 1755 (possibly his own signature).
-----------------
1768
-----------------
19 Aug 1768. Witnesses: James Harris, John McNutt. Chalkley's
Scotch-Irish in Virginia, Vol. 1, p. 151.
-----------------
1785
-----------------
1 March, 1785. Patrick Cunningham and Jane, of Wilks County, Georgia, to
John and David Cunningham, power attorney to convey tract which belonged
to Alexander Cunningham in his lifetime to James Ewing. Teste: Alexander
McNitt, Wm. Hamilton, Med. Wood.
30 September (2d year of George 111, 1761?).--Alexander McNutt, now at
Halifax, Nova Scotia, to John McNutt, of Augusta County, power of
attorney to collect debts, &c. Teste: lliam Nesbett, John Binney.
Acknowledged 3O March, 1761, before William Nisbett, Notary and
Tabillion, now dwelling at Halifax. Delivered: Thos. Smith, 21 October,
1785. Chalkley's Scotch-Irish in Virginia, Vol. 3, p. 575.
18 May, 1785. John McKnight (signed McNutt), of Rockbridge, to Thomas
Smith, lot in Staunton.
-----------------
1787
-----------------
1787 CEN: Rockbridge Co, VA, John McNutt, Sr, 2WM>16<21, 1B<16, 5 horses,
13 cattle.
-----------------
1792
-----------------
Mar 1792. McNutt vs. Bowyer.--Power of attorney by Alexander McNutt now
at Halifax, Nova Scotia, to John McNutt, of Augusta County, 1761. Do. p.
396.Rockbridge County, VA Will Book 4, p. 357.