Samuel Shute
Encyclopedia
Samuel Shute was a military officer and royal governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay
. After serving in the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession
, he was appointed by King George I
as governor of Massachusetts in 1716. His term was marked by numerous disagreements with the colonial legislature, and he returned to England in 1723 to lobby for a clarification of the governor's powers. Although his position was vindicated, he was not returned to the governorship, and remained in England. He remained politically influential with respect to Massachusetts politics, promoting the appointment of Jonathan Belcher
to the governorship in 1730.
, England
on January 12, 1662. He was the eldest of six children of Benjamin Shute, a London
merchant. His mother, identified in sources as Elizabeth, Patience, or Mary, was the daughter of Joseph Caryl
, a dissenting Presbyterian clergyman. His brother John, afterward Lord Barrington, became an influential member of parliament and political leader of religious Dissenters. Shute was educated by Rev. Charles Morton
, who afterward emigrated to New England
. He afterward attended the University of Leyden in Holland, but subsequently entered the English army, serving under the Prince of Orange
, and afterward under the Duke of Marlborough
. Under the latter leader he was made a lieutenant-colonel, and received a brevet promotion to colonel. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Blenheim
. He was a man well esteemed at court, a friend to liberty, and of an open, generous, and humane disposition. Upon the accession of King George I
in 1714, Colonel Burgess was commissioned as governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, but for a consideration of £1,000 sterling, he resigned, and Shute was appointed in his place.
Shute arrived in Boston
on October 4, 1716, succeeding Joseph Dudley
as governor. He at once entered into disputes with the Massachusetts General Court concerning the royal prerogative, a conflict that continued during his entire term of office. His motives in this regard appear to have been sincere and well-intentioned, but he was by nature stubborn and unwilling to yield his point. He condemned the banking solution of the province's ongoing currency problems proposed by the legislature, and attempted to institute a rival banking system originated by himself. He sought to conciliate the Indians at the expense of further alienating the colonists. He had annulled the election of Elisha Cooke, Jr.
to the governor's council after a dispute with him over royal rights to ship timber in Maine
(then part of Massachusetts). He was further attacked by George Vaughan
, his Lieutenant Governor in New Hampshire
, who claimed full gubernatorial powers anytime Shute was away from that province. Shute's most notorious controversy concerned his own salary, which was a frequent source of dispute between governor and legislature. In 1723 he left for England, ostensibly because of the pressure of private business. However, he raised complaints about his disputes with the legislature with the Privy Council
, which in 1725 issued an explanatory colonial charter
confirming his position. According to one authority (Williamson's History), Shute was now pensioned in England. One circumstance connected with the administration of Governor Shute, is worthy of notice. It is well known that a large number of Scotch emigrants from the north of Ireland settled the town of Londonderry, N. H. Prior to leaving Ireland, and to prepare the way and secure a reception and place of residence on their arrival here, early in 1718 they sent Rev. William Boyd with an address to Gov. Shute, expressing a strong desire to emigrate to New England, should he afford them suitable encouragement. The address was very concise and appropriate, and had 217 signatures. The governor gave the desired encouragement, and the emigrants arrived in five ships at Boston on Aug. 4, 1718. Gov. Shute, who never married and had no children, died in England, Apr. 10, 1743.
Shutesbury, Massachusetts
is named in his honor.
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
. After serving in the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
, he was appointed by King George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
as governor of Massachusetts in 1716. His term was marked by numerous disagreements with the colonial legislature, and he returned to England in 1723 to lobby for a clarification of the governor's powers. Although his position was vindicated, he was not returned to the governorship, and remained in England. He remained politically influential with respect to Massachusetts politics, promoting the appointment of Jonathan Belcher
Jonathan Belcher
Jonathan Belcher was colonial governor of the British provinces of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.-Early life:Jonathan Belcher was born in Cambridge, Province of Massachusetts Bay, in 1682...
to the governorship in 1730.
Life
Samuel Shute was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on January 12, 1662. He was the eldest of six children of Benjamin Shute, a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
merchant. His mother, identified in sources as Elizabeth, Patience, or Mary, was the daughter of Joseph Caryl
Joseph Caryl
Joseph Caryl was an English Nonconformist divine.-Life:He was born in London, educated at Merchant Taylors' School, and graduated at Exeter College, Oxford, and became preacher at Lincoln's Inn. He frequently preached before the Long Parliament, and was a member of the Westminster Assembly in 1643...
, a dissenting Presbyterian clergyman. His brother John, afterward Lord Barrington, became an influential member of parliament and political leader of religious Dissenters. Shute was educated by Rev. Charles Morton
Charles Morton (educator)
Charles Morton was a Cornish nonconformist minister and founder of an early dissenting academy, later in life associated in New England with Harvard College.-Life:...
, who afterward emigrated to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. He afterward attended the University of Leyden in Holland, but subsequently entered the English army, serving under the Prince of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, and afterward under the Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
. Under the latter leader he was made a lieutenant-colonel, and received a brevet promotion to colonel. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Blenheim
Battle of Blenheim
The Battle of Blenheim , fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement...
. He was a man well esteemed at court, a friend to liberty, and of an open, generous, and humane disposition. Upon the accession of King George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
in 1714, Colonel Burgess was commissioned as governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, but for a consideration of £1,000 sterling, he resigned, and Shute was appointed in his place.
Shute arrived in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
on October 4, 1716, succeeding Joseph Dudley
Joseph Dudley
Joseph Dudley was an English colonial administrator. A native of Roxbury, Massachusetts and son of one of its founders, he had a leading role in the administration of the unpopular Dominion of New England , and served briefly on the council of the Province of New York, where he oversaw the trial...
as governor. He at once entered into disputes with the Massachusetts General Court concerning the royal prerogative, a conflict that continued during his entire term of office. His motives in this regard appear to have been sincere and well-intentioned, but he was by nature stubborn and unwilling to yield his point. He condemned the banking solution of the province's ongoing currency problems proposed by the legislature, and attempted to institute a rival banking system originated by himself. He sought to conciliate the Indians at the expense of further alienating the colonists. He had annulled the election of Elisha Cooke, Jr.
Elisha Cooke, Jr.
Elisha Cooke, Jr. was a physician and politician from the Province of Massachusetts Bay. He was the son of Elisha Cooke, Sr...
to the governor's council after a dispute with him over royal rights to ship timber in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
(then part of Massachusetts). He was further attacked by George Vaughan
George Vaughan (New Hampshire)
George Vaughan may be best known for being Lieutenant Governor of colonial New Hampshire for only one year. A graduate of Harvard College in 1696, he was also at various times a merchant, Colonel of militia, agent for the province to England, and counsellor.1Sources disagree regarding whether he...
, his Lieutenant Governor in New Hampshire
Province of New Hampshire
The Province of New Hampshire is a name first given in 1629 to the territory between the Merrimack and Piscataqua rivers on the eastern coast of North America. It was formally organized as an English royal colony on October 7, 1691, during the period of English colonization...
, who claimed full gubernatorial powers anytime Shute was away from that province. Shute's most notorious controversy concerned his own salary, which was a frequent source of dispute between governor and legislature. In 1723 he left for England, ostensibly because of the pressure of private business. However, he raised complaints about his disputes with the legislature with the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
, which in 1725 issued an explanatory colonial charter
Explanatory charter
The Explanatory Charter was a supplement to the royal charter of the Province of Massachusetts Bay issued by King George I on August 26, 1725. The provincial charter, issued by William and Mary in 1691, was modified, and certain of its terms were clarified .-Background:The issuance of the...
confirming his position. According to one authority (Williamson's History), Shute was now pensioned in England. One circumstance connected with the administration of Governor Shute, is worthy of notice. It is well known that a large number of Scotch emigrants from the north of Ireland settled the town of Londonderry, N. H. Prior to leaving Ireland, and to prepare the way and secure a reception and place of residence on their arrival here, early in 1718 they sent Rev. William Boyd with an address to Gov. Shute, expressing a strong desire to emigrate to New England, should he afford them suitable encouragement. The address was very concise and appropriate, and had 217 signatures. The governor gave the desired encouragement, and the emigrants arrived in five ships at Boston on Aug. 4, 1718. Gov. Shute, who never married and had no children, died in England, Apr. 10, 1743.
Shutesbury, Massachusetts
Shutesbury, Massachusetts
Shutesbury is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,810 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
is named in his honor.