John Emery Sr. was born September 29, 1597, in Romsey, England, to John and Agnes Emery. Emery, his brother Anthony, their wives, and two of his five children left Southampton, England for Boston on April 3, 1635, on the ship James, and arrived in Boston June 3, 1635. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Newbury, Massachusetts where he lived until his death in 1683. His first wife, Alice Grantham (1599-1649), gave birth to four of Emery’s five children, including: John (born 1628), Ann (1631-1687), and Ebenezer (born 1648). In 1650, he married Mary Webster, the widow of John Webster and daughter of John and Judith Shatswell. Mary had one child, Jonathan (1652-1723), and died in Newbury, Massachusetts in 1694.

On arrival to Newbury, John Sr. was granted a half-acre of land by the town of Newbury for a house lot. During his lifetime, Emery was granted many acres of land by the town. At various times he either sold or gave most of his land to his son, John Jr. Emery was appointed one of ninety-one freeholders of Newbury in 1642. In 1644, he was granted twenty two acres and five rods in the great field beyond the town.

Emery held many positions of town authority, such as Newbury Selectman, Fence Viewer, Collector of Votes, and was a member of the Woodman party. In 1663, Emery found himself in trouble for entertaining travelers and Quakers, and was fined four pounds; he unsuccessfully petitioned the General Court for remission of his fine. Emery died November 3, 1683.

John Emery Jr. was born in 1628, in England, to John (1597-1683) and Alice (1599-1649) Emery, in England. He sailed with his family to Boston, Massachusetts in 1635, and shortly thereafter they moved to Newbury, Massachusetts. He married Mary Webster (died 1709), the daughter of John and Mary (Shatswell) Webster in 1648, and they had thirteen children: Mary (born 1652); Hannah (born 1654); John (1656-1730); Bethia (born 1658); Sarah (born 1660); Joseph (born 1663); Stephen (1666-1746/7); Abigail (born 1668); Samuel (1670-1724); Judith (born 1673); Lydia (born 1675); Elizabeth (born 1680); and Josiah (1681-1718).

Emery was a Selectman, Jury of Trials, chosen to carry votes to Salem, served on trial juries, was a tything man, and a way warden. He owned fourscore acres of land over the Artichoke/Rasberry River, and was made a freeman in 1690 (Emery 3-5). Emery died in 1693 (Burns 20).