Peter MacNutt

MACNUTT, PETER, farmer, merchant, and officeholder; b. 5 April 1834 in Darnley, son of Peter S. MacNutt and Mary Longworth; m. 30 January 1861 Anna Stewart, and they had five children, Annabella Emma, Mary M. Ella, Lucy Penelope, D. Preston, and C. Ernest; Presbyterian; d. 24 October 1919 in Charlottetown. MacNutt, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1897 for 4lh Prince. He was elected in the general elections of 1900 and 1904 for 3rd Prince. Earlier in his political career, MacNutt was elected to the Legislative Council in a by-election in June 1882 for 2nd Prince. He was re-elected to the Legislative Council later in 1882 and again in 1890 for 2nd Prince. MacNutt's early education took place in the local school in Darnley, and from there he went to Central Academy in Charlottetown. He was a successful businessperson and farmer. In 1857 he entered into a partnership with Dougald S. MacNutt in general merchandising at Malpeque. When Dougald died in 1888, MacNutt continued the business on his own. D. Preston entered into partnership with his father in 1902 and the business became known as MacNutt and Son. MacNutt retired from this enterprise in 1910, due to tailing health. Throughout his career, he held numerous public offices. In 1863 MacNutt was appointed as one of His Majesty's coroners for the Island. He served as a Commissioner of Small Debts until 1873, and as Prince County Sheriff from 1875 to1877. MacNutt owned and operated a farm in Malpeque. In the local community he was considered one of the leading citizens of his day. He was actively involved with his church, where he served for 30 years as the chair of the Managers of the Presbyterian Church in Malpeque. MacNutt served in the military as the Captain of the Malpeque Rifles, a company of the Prince County Regiment of the Volunteer Brigade. Peter MacNutt died 24 October 1919. Anna MacNutt, the daughter of Thomas Stewart of Malpeque, was born ca. 1840.