Editing Newbury, Massachusetts (section)

== History ==
[[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] lived along the [[Merrimack River]] for thousands of years prior to [[European colonization of the Americas]]. At the time of contact, [[Pennacook]] or Pentucket controlled territory north of the Merrimack, while [[Agawam people|Agawam]] and [[Naumkeag people|Naumkeag]] controlled territory southeast and southwest of the river respectively.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Perley|first=Sidney|url=http://archive.org/details/indianlandtitles00perl|title=The Indian land titles of Essex County, Massachusetts|date=1912|publisher=Salem, Mass. : Essex Book and Print Club|others=The Library of Congress}}</ref> The original name for the land that would become Newbury may have been ''Quascancunquen'' meaning "waterfall," referring to the [[Waterfall|falls]] in Byfield where Central Street crosses the Parker River, and was likely part of the territory of Agawam sachem [[Chief Masconomet|Masconomet]] at the time of contact.<ref name=":0" /> No formal agreements between the original inhabitants of Newbury and English colonists would be made until more than a generation had passed from settlement and the effects of [[virgin soil epidemic]]s had significantly decreased native populations in the area.
[[File:Samuel Chase House 082411.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Samuel Chase House]], built ca 1715, is a rare example of a brick house built in that time period.  The story handed down in the Chase family is that the bricks were made on the property and Hannah Chase carried them to the jobsite in her apron.]]

English colonists settled and incorporated Newbury Plantation in 1635. The Rev. [[Thomas Parker (minister)|Thomas Parker]] and cousin Rev. [[James Noyes]], along with the latter's brother Nicholas, led a group of about 100 pioneers from [[Wiltshire]], England. They sailed from the [[River Thames]] aboard the ship ''[[Mary and John (ship)|Mary and John]]'', first landing in Agawam (now [[Ipswich, Massachusetts|Ipswich]]) in 1634. They arrived the next spring at the Quascacunquen River, now the [[Parker River (Massachusetts)|Parker River]]. A commemorative stone marks the spot where Nicholas Noyes was the first of the new settlers to leap ashore at Newbury, named after [[Newbury, Berkshire|the town in Berkshire]], England.

In 1650, 30 acres of modern day [[West Newbury, Massachusetts|West Newbury]] referred to as Indian Hill was purchased by the town of Newbury from an indigenous man named Great Tom for three pounds.<ref name=":0" /> In 1681, the descendants of an indigenous man Old Will would sell one hundred and sixty acres to the town of Newbury for six pounds, thirteen shillings, and four pence.<ref name=":0" /> Finally, in 1700, the grandson of sachem Masconomet of the Agawam would relinquish his title to any lands in Newbury for a sum of ten pounds.<ref name=":0" />

In 1791, 3,000 head of cattle grazed town lands, or on the region's abundant salt marsh hay. Other trades included tanning and shipbuilding. Newbury originally included [[Newburyport, Massachusetts|Newburyport]], set off in 1764, and [[West Newbury, Massachusetts|West Newbury]], set off in 1819.

In 1636, the first water-powered mill was established at the falls. Gristmills and sawmills were built, and in 1794, the first textile mill in Massachusetts. At Byfield in 1763 was founded the nation's first boarding [[University-preparatory school|preparatory school]], Dum'r (Dummer) Charity School, known subsequently as Dummer Academy, Governor Dummer Academy, and now [[The Governor's Academy]]. It was also site of the first female seminary, founded in 1807. Byfield developed into a [[mill town|mill village]], and once had six water-powered mills, manufacturing various products from woolens to snuff.

The railroad entered the community in 1850, carrying freight but also tourists, helping Plum Island develop into a [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] seaside resort. Back on the mainland, silver was discovered in a large field in 1878, and the Chipman Silver Mine would begin operations until it finally closed in 1925. By 1905, however, the economy had shifted back to agriculture, and Newbury became a supplier of eggs, milk and poultry. Some would dig for clams or hay the salt marshes. The town is today primarily residential, with many examples of fine antique architecture.