Parker River Watershed Cultural History

The Native Americans of Northeastern Massachusetts referred to the Parker River as "Quasacuncon" which meant waterfall. The English colonists used several additional names for the Parker such as Newbury River, Oldtown River, or the Falls River. On September 22, 1697 the Newbury selectmen ordered that the river be "called by the name of the river Parker in remembrance of the worthy, learned, and reverend minister Mr. Thomas Parker, who was a first planter and pastor of ye church of Newbury and learned schoolmaster."

• Newbury History

• Georgetown History

• Rowley History

• Boxford History

• West Newbury History

• Newburyport History

• Industrial and agricultural history of the watershed

Historical Maps

• Historical maps of Byfield

• Dams, culvets, and fishways along the Parker River in Newbury (drawings ca. 1942)

• Historical maps of Rowley

• Historical maps of Essex County

• Historic USGS Maps of New England

• Library of Congress