Background
Alexander McNutt was the son of Alexander and Jane McNutt. He was probably born in about 1725 in Londonderry, Ireland.
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Alexander McNutt
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McNutt came to America before 1753 and settled near Staunton, Va. In 1756, he was an officer in the militia on Major Andrew Lewis's Shawnee expedition. In 1760 he was captain of Massachusetts militia, raising replacements. Representing Apthorp and Hancock of Boston from 1758 to 1761 he canvassed New England for settlers for Nova Scotia. Having persuaded a number, including some Scotch-Irish of Londonderry, N. H. , to go there, he proposed direct immigration of Irish Protestants. In 1761, he went to England, where he was well received. At first, his project was favored, and he sent some settlers, but later direct Irish settlement was forbidden. He next encouraged immigration from other colonies and interested prominent people in the north, including Benjamin Franklin and the Rev. James Lyon of Trenton, N. J. In 1765 with his associates he was granted about 1, 745, 000 acres in Nova Scotia, of which probably 1, 600, 000 acres were in the ill-defined St. John region. Most of this land was escheated between 1770 and 1788 because the promoters did not comply with the terms and on account of the Revolution. He sympathized with the revolting colonies and left Nova Scotia in 1778. He lived at Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, but visited Philadelphia to urge the Congress to try to draw Nova Scotia into the Revolution. Between 1778 and 1781 he advocated an invasion of the province and helped foment rebellion. Probably he was still associated with Lyon, who was in Maine. About 1780 he published The Constitution . .. of the Free and Independent State . .. of New Ireland, a tract containing promises of democratic government but really advertising his lands. "New Ireland" probably embraced eastern Maine and southern New Brunswick. After the Revolution, he lived near Lexington, Va. He died unmarried. To the last, he claimed his northern lands and bequeathed 100, 000 acres to Liberty Hall Academy, now Washington and Lee University, but the title was not good.
Achievements
Personality
McNutt's schemes were too ambitious to be practicable. His enthusiasm ultimately inspired distrust rather than confidence. This may be the explanation of his failure to obtain the support of British and provincial officials for his land schemes and was probably the cause of American distrust of his plans for winning Nova Scotia. He was a man of strong personality, not always scrupulous, but an interesting example of the colonial speculator-patriot.
Connections
McNutt died unmarried.
