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.

His father was a representative of an English trading firm who migrated to the Province of New Hampshire, where he became a wealthy merchant.

His mother also came from a family of merchants, one of whom, her uncle John Cutt, was the first royally appointed governor of the province.

This was occasioned by his opinions on some important measures not agreeing fully with those of the General Assembly, especially on the excise and impost laws.

"[1] "In 1716, Samuel Shute, a resident of Massachusetts, was appointed governor of that province and of New Hampshire, and soon after a controversy arose between these two highest officials.