For what little we know of life of John and Sarah and their growing brood at Chelmsford we are indebted to the Note Book, kept by the first pastor of Chelmsford, The Reverend John Fiske. This Note Book, again, would perhaps never have been heard of by our generations, except for the publication of extracts from it, by Dr. Samuel A. Green, the honored Secretary of the Mass. Historical Society; himself a Groton man, and an enthusiast in all that pertains to Groton History.

These notes are from Reverend John Fiske's notebook:

Their admission to the church

"29 of 4*, '56 (1656)

"This day testim: was given touching Jo: Nutting & his wife, by Isa. Lernet, Sim: Thompson, and Abram Parker"

"13 of 5, '56 ... there was joyned to the Church Jo: Nutting, after his Relation made, ...assent given to the p'fession of faith & Cov't of the Church."

"It. Jo: Nutting's wife, hr Relation being repeated by the officer of the Church.."

"Three of Jo: Nutting's Children baptized, - John, James, Mary. 3 of 6, '56.

"(Date uncertain) Josiah Nutting, Br Nutting's child, baptized."

"13 or 12, '59, Sarah Nutting, dau. of Br. and sister Nutting, baptized.

Both of these died in infancy, and are not reckoned in the later lists.