from Piscataqua Pioneers (pgs. 137-8)
NUTE, JAMES. He was one of the party of "stewards and servants" sent over by Capt. John Mason between 1630 and 1634, to manage the mills and settlement at "Great Works," South Berwick, which was commenced about 1630. His name is spelled "Newt" in the list of men. Just what part of the work he engaged in is not known or how long he remained there. He finally crossed the river and became an early settler in Dover, where he could get all the land he wanted, as he could not do under the lordship of Capt. Mason, who would not sell his land, but only lease it. The list of names of the men in whose company Mr. Nute came over, can be found on page 26 of Stackpole's History of Old Kittery.Probably he joined the Dover Neck settlement sometime in 1634, or '35. It is certain he was there in 1640, as he signed the "Combination" agreement for good government in that year. His residence was on Low street until about 1661, when he removed to the Back River District, having purchased land which has remained in possession of the Nute family to the present time (1918). It is one of the best farms in that section of Dover, He was alive there in 1691, but just what year he died is not known, nor the date of his birth, but probably he was a young man of twenty-five years, and lived to pass the four score mark, as several of his descendants have done on that farm. His wife's name is not known, but she may have been one of the twenty-two young women who came over in the ship "Pied-Cow," in 1634 and landed at "Cow Cove."
James Nute's name appears in the town records,in business affairs, many times, showing that he was a citizen of good standing. The Court records, however, show that he was at one time "presented for abusing the Town Clerk (Pomfrett) in saying he was a deceitful man and had a deceitful heart." The Court reprimanded him and warned him not to commit such an offense again, and placed him under bonds to keep the peace with the clerk. He was one of the Selectmen in 1659 and in 1660. He served on the Grand Jury several times. He officiated in other minor offices, like a good citizen.
After he moved across the Back River it was much further to go to attend meetings on the Lord's Day. His home on The Neck was near the meeting house, and he and his family were regular attendants. So it came to pass that he became somewhat negligent in crossing the river on Sunday. The result was that he was "Presented in court (in 1662) for being absent twenty139 six days from church meetings, and for entertaining the Quaker missionaries four hours." He was admonished for absence from meetings, and fined according to law, forty shillings per hour.
Children: (1) James, b. 1643; m. Mary .Lived on the home farm; d. ab. 1691.(2) Abraham,b. 1647; m. ; he was living in 1724.(3) Martha, b. 1653; m. ab. 1678, William Dam; they lived in the William Dam garrison.