The settlers were younger and more socially prominent than settlers of other towns in the area, and were forced out of England by declining economic opportunities. In 1635, Reverend Thomas Parker from Wiltshire applied to the General Court for the liberty to settle and begin a plantation on land that is now Newbury. The proprietors made the land grants in such a way that 60% of the land was controlled by 10% of the population. As the community grew, fishing became an important industry, as did small scale shipbuilding, weaving, tanning and shoemaking. Farmers dealt in cattle and sheep and by 1791 there were 3,000 head of cattle grazing on town lands.

About the same time, the town set a pattern of diversified industry, producing woolen goods made by the first American-made wool carding machines as well as snuff, chaises and slate. Competition from England's woolen mills decreased the emphasis on woolens and led to greater cotton fabric production and the establishment of a cooperage, machine made nail factory and scythe mill.

Newbury Mass is located in Northeastern Massachusetts, bordered by Newburyport and Salisbury on the north; West Newbury, Groveland, and Georgetown on the west; Rowley on the south, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Newbury is about 12 miles east of Haverhill; 28 miles north of Boston; about 72 miles south of Portland, Maine; and about 250 miles from New York City.