Amesbury (āmz'ber"ē, –burē) [key], town (1990 pop. 14,997), Essex co., NE Mass., on the Merrimack River; inc. 1668. The town's economy relies on light manufacturing. John Greenleaf Whittier lived there most of his life, and his house is preserved. Josiah Bartlett was born in Amesbury.
