John Nutt was born in Lympstone, England. He acted as a brigand and a pirate in Newfoundland waters from 1620 to 1623.

John Nutt and his family came to came to Newfoundland in 1620 when he was serving as a gunner on Dartmouth ship.

After three years of piracy, Nutt requested a pardon from John Eliot, the Vice Admiral of Devon. This pardon was granted in return of a 500 pound ranson. On his return to England, Eliot betrayed Nutt and imprisoned him.

Nutt was tried as a pirate and about to be hanged when George Calvert, (a.k.a Lord Baltimore )England's Secretary of State, intervened on his behalf. The reason for this interverntion is that Nutt and Calvert were associated, having probably met in association with the Colony of Avalon, Ferryland, Newfoundland when George Calvert lived there.