James Lovell Shute

Catherine Grover Shute

James L. Shute's mother Catherine Grover (born June 29, 1798), was the daughter of Edmund and Catherine (Bunker) Grover of Durham NH. On April 26, 1818 she married Andrew Breden Shute, a shipbuilder from Newmarket (Newfields) NH. They were the parents of nine children in addition to James Lovell. [Andrew W. (1819-1846), George (1821-1902), Nancy Foss (1825-1904), Henry Breden (1826-1911), Augustus B. (abt 1828), Edmund W. (abt1830), Calvin (1832), John (1835) and Mary Melvina (1838-aft1912)] Catherine died March 12, 1867 and is buried in Gloucester's Oak Grove Cemetery nearby her son James.

James and Abbie Shute

Sarah Abigail Merchant was born in 1836 to Samuel and Sally (Davis) Merchant, the second of eight children. She and James resided at several different homes in Gloucester (all of which are still standing in 2007). One of the homes was located 8 Prospect Court, and was located on a hill with a view that would have looked out across the harbor at the Shute & Merchant wharves. In addition, they also lived at 4 Commonwealth Avenue where Abbie resided until her death in 1927. In 1884, James had a home built at 9 Bellevue Avenue as a wedding gift for his son William Thomas and bride Marian Bruce Rust. At that time, there were only four homes on the street, which was unpaved at that time. That home's location high on a hill and at the end of the street afforded a wonderful view of the river off in the distance. The will of James L. Shute also indicated that he also owned a house and land at 160 Washington Street.
James L. Shute was not only a business man, he was also an inventor. He is credited with inventing several machines that helped to modernize fish processing operations (see the company history for one of those) which were then adopted by many other firms. Earlier in history of Shute & Merchant, he conceived of the idea that it would be more efficient and cost saving to produce the wooden boxes needed for packing fish. As a result of his idea, what eventually became the Merchant box company began in a small building on the Shute & Merchant wharves.

In January of 1909, James suffered a heart attack as he stepped off an electric tram in Gloucester. His funeral was well attended by the leading businessmen of the community, as well as his cousin Judge Henry A. Shute of Exeter NH. James and Abbie are buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

From Richard Shute of Boston Massachusetts 1631-1703 & Selected Progeny by Alan H. Shute and Clark H. Flint

From the House of Jabez -- Chronicles of the Merchant-Marchant Family by Frank R. Merchant

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