Nutting, James Walton

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: Wendy L. Thorpe, “NUTTING, JAMES WALTON,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 9, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/nutting_james_walton_9E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Lawyer, editor, and office-holder; b. probably in 1787 at Kempt, Hants County, N.S., the son of John Nutting, a Boston loyalist, and Mary Walton; m. 9 July 1813 Mary Elizabeth MacLean, and they had three sons and two daughters; d. 7 July 1870 at Halifax, N.S.
    • James Walton Nutting probably obtained his early schooling at King’s Collegiate School, Windsor, N.S. From 1804 to 1810 he attended King’s College, distinguishing himself academically and graduating ba. In October 1810 he was admitted to the bar, and began work as a notary and tablion public in the office of William Thompson, prothonotary of the Supreme Court and clerk of the crown. In 1811 he replaced Thompson but was not officially appointed to the position until 30 May 1834. He was to hold this office to his death in 1870.
    • Thereafter Nutting was prominent in the affairs of the Granville Street Church, whose congregation gave impetus to the Baptist education movement in Nova Scotia. He was one of the representatives of his congregation who attended an important meeting of the Nova Scotia Baptist Association at Upper Horton (Wolfville) on 23 June 1828, where recognition of the necessity for a school for potential Baptist leaders resulted in the organization of the Baptist Education Society. Nutting was appointed to the committee of management, which raised funds, chose Horton as the site of the new academy, secured the services of a teacher, and generally maintained the school for a few years after it opened on 1 May 1829.
    • During his lifetime Nutting was respected for his integrity. Described by a contemporary as “a scholarly, polished, old school gentleman and devout, God-fearing man,” Nutting’s break with the Church of England apparently did not diminish the esteem in which he was held. The governors of King’s College conferred upon him an honorary dcl in 1868.
  • Son of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=9771
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