John moved to Newburyport in 1802, and lived there until his death. At the time of his death he was a ship-master and the largest ship owner and merchant in the State.

John was a Captain in the War of 1812. In 1818 he purchased the brick house at the corner of Fruit and High Streets at Newburyport up hill from the wharf where Cushing ships would put out to sea for the remainder of that century. Three generations of the family spanned the rise and decline of Newburyport's prosperous shipping era, distinguishing themselves on land as well as at sea.

Sources:
1. The Genealogy of the Cushing Family (An account of the Ancestors and Descendants of Matthew Cushing, who came to America in 1638) by James Cushing, The Perrault Printing Co - Montreal, 1905. First Edition, 1877, by Lemuel Cushing, D1881 (Finished by his family) Pg 115.
2. Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts - Early Vital Records to about the year 1850 on CD-ROM. Search & ReSearch Publ Co, 1998.
Text: VR Salisbury 1:65 s Benjamin and Hannah
Text: Newburyport 2:604 John N m b Sallisbury,typhus fever a 69 y 8 m
Text: Newburyport VR 2:123
3. "Colonial Families Of The United States", Edited by George Norbury MacKenzie, L.L.B., Member of theAmerican Historical Association, Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, Md. 1995. Library of Congress Catalogue Card # 66-18423.

• Married: 1 Apr 1799 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts

1. Caleb, Hon. Attorney General, Brigadier General Cushing b: 17 Jan 1800 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts
2. Lydia Cushing b: 13 Aug 1805 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts

• Married: 29 Jan 1815 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts

1. Mary Ann Cushing b: 4 Mar 1816 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts
2. Philip Johnson Cushing b: 11 Dec 1818 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts
3. John Newmarch Cushing b: 21 Oct 1820 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts
4. William Henry, Hon. Cushing b: 10 Aug 1823 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts
5. Sarah Chickering Cushing b: 10 Aug 1823 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts
6. Elizabeth Cushing b: 23 Jul 1826 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts