On October 1, 1808, a company of eleven people began running a daily stage coach from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Boston, Massachusetts, through Newburyport and Salem. By April 1814, the Eastern Stage Company, although operating without a charter, had 425 shares. When the company obtained its New Hampshire incorporation in 1818, the proprietors of some of the most prominent stage lines in the area were among those included in the Eastern State Company.

The Eastern Stage Company was a thriving business despite the tolls that it had to pay for running its equipment over the Newburyport and Boston Turnpike. For some years these tolls ran from $800 to $1000 per year. Eventually the Eastern Stage Company increased its capital stock and the number of coaches was doubled. At the annual meeting in 1829, the stockholders voted that the directors be authorized to apply to the Massachusetts legislature for an act of incorporation. This was done to protect the property of the company. The Massachusetts charter was granted on March 12, 1830.

The Eastern Stage Company followed a number of different routes. One of the main runs – Portsmouth to Boston – included stops at Greenland and Hampton, New Hampshire, Newburyport, Ipswich, Salem, and Lynn. Newburyport appeared to be the center of activity of the Eastern State Company with "The Ann Street House" serving as the Boston terminal. In 1825, Eastern Stage owned 35 coaches and 12 chaises. A total of 287 horses were used and of this number, 70% of them were based in Newburyport. Twenty-five men were employed in Newburyport at that time, solely in building and repairing the rolling stock.

Over the years the Eastern Stage Company built up interests in hotels and taverns, and erected blacksmith ships and stables. In 1825 a dividend of 11% was declared. As of 1833, the Eastern Stage Company was free of debt and employed 500 men.

The Eastern Railroad, which was chartered in 1836, had a generally detrimental impact on the stage business. The railroad competition, in addition to the appearance of competitive stages on the roads, forced the Eastern Stage Company to reduce fares. Struggling to continue operations, it tried cutting expenses. This proved fruitless and in February 1838 the company voted to sell all the real estate and personal property, and bring its affairs to a close. The last day of the Eastern Stage Company as a corporation was June 26, 1838; on June 27, 1838, trustees took over the affairs of the company. They administered the company until October 21, 1840, the last day of record for the trustees.