John Prescott

1605 - 1681  (~ 76 years)

• Name	John Prescott
  Christening	1604/05	Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England   [1, 2]
  History	birth to 1629	Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England
  He was mentioned in his father's will of 7 November 1608. [2]
  History	1629 to Abt 1638 (~ 24 years)	Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England
  In 1629 he moved to Sowerby. [2]
  Immigration	Abt 1638 (~ 33 years)	Barbadoes   [2, 3]
  Immigration	1640 (~ 35 years)  [2, 3]
  They arrived in Boston fro the Barbadoes, and settled in Watertown.
  History	1641 to 1643 (~ 36 years)	Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  He was probably a Cromwellian soldier and brought to the new world with him a helmet and coat of chain mail. Caleb Butler, in his History of Groton gives this story: "John was a sturdy, strong man of stern countenance, and whenever he had any difficulty with the Indians, he would clothe himself with his coat of mail, helmet, cuirass, and gorget, which gave him a fierce and frightful appearance. They having once stolen from him a horse, he put on his armour and pursued them; and in a short time overtook the party. They were surprised to see him alone, and a chief approached him with uplifted tomahawk. John told him to strike, which he did, and finding the blow made no impression on his cap, he was much astonished, and asked John to let him put it on, and then strike on his head, as he had done on John's. The helmet being too small for the chief's head, the stroke settled it down to his ears, scraping off the skin of both sides of his head. They gave him up his horse, thinking him to be a supernatural being." [2]
  History	1643 to 1676 (~ 38 years)	Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  About 1643, he moved to Lancaster upon its founding. [2] In 1652, John took the Oath of Fidelity. [2] In 1657, he built a saw mill above his grist mill. [2] In 1667, he contracted with the town of Groton to build them a grist mill in exchange for 520 acres of land. He did so on a site, now in the bounds of Harvard. He placed his son, Jonas in charge, and later deeded the lands and mill to Jonas. [2] In 1667, he was elected a Selectman. [4] On 19 May 1669, he became a freeman. [4] In 1673, he made his will. [1]
  History	1676 to 1679 (~ 71 years)	Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  He moved to Concord after Lancaster's destruction. [4]
  History	1679 to death (~ 74 years)	Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  In 1679, he returned to Lancaster. [4] On 4 April 1682, hi swill was probated. [1]
  Death	20 Dec 1681	Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [1, 2, 6]
  Potter (1887) gives his death as 1683. [5]
  History	1893 (~ 288 years)  [4]
  At the 250th anniversary of the founding of Lancaster, a memorial stone was erected at his grave site. It reads as follows: HERE WITH HIS CHILDREN ABOUT HIM LIES JOHN PRESCOTT FOUNDER OF LANCASTER AND FIRST SETTLER OF WORCESTER COUNTY BORN AT STANDISH LANCASHIRE ENGLAND DIED AT LANCASTER MASSACHUSETTS DEC 1681 INSPIRED BY THE LOVE OF LIBERTY AND THE FEAR OF GOD THIS STOUT HEARTED PIONEER FORSAKING THE PLEASANT VALES OF ENGLAND AND ENCOUNTERED WILD BEAST AND SAVAGE TO SECURE FREEDOM FOR HIMSELF AND HIS POSTERITY HIS FAITH AND VIRTUES HAVE BEEN INHERITED BY MANY DESCENDANTS WHO IN EVERY GENERATION HAVE WELL SERVED THE STATE IN WAR, IN LITERATURE, AT THE BAR, IN THE PULPIT, IN PUBLIC LIFE, AND IN CHRISTIAN HOMES
  Siblings	1 brother and 4 sisters
  1. Margaret Prescott,   b. 20 Apr 1588, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England   2. Hellen Prescott,   c. Oct 1593, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England   3. Rodger Prescott,   c. 2 Dec 1594, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England   4. Alice Prescott,   c. 7 Feb 1598, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England   5. Cecelia Prescott,   c. 16 Oct 1602, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England + 6. John Prescott,   c. 1604/05, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England d. 20 Dec 1681, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  (Age ~ 76 years) ▻ Mary Platts,  m. 21 Jan 1628/29
  Patriarch & Matriarch	William Prescott   (2 x Great Grandfather)  Helen,   b. Abt 1571, England d. 18 Nov 1643, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England  (Age 72 years)  (Mother)
  Person ID, Branch	I488	Roy Line, Boudreau Line
  Last Modified	18 Nov 2019

  
  

  Father	Ralph Prescott,   c. 16 Jun 1569, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England d. 24 Jan 1609, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England (Age ~ 39 years)
  Mother	Helen,   b. Abt 1571, England d. 18 Nov 1643, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England (Age 72 years)
  Family ID	F500	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Spouse / Partner	Mary Platts,   b. Wygan, Lancashire, England d. After 1678, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [1]
  Marriage	21 Jan 1628/29	Wygan, Lancashire, England   [2, 3, 6, 7, 8]
  Age at Marriage	He : ~ 24 years and 1 month - She : ??.
  Notes	Weis (1682) says they were married at Sowerby Parish on 15 March 1607. [1]
  Children	6 sons and 5 daughters
  +   1. Mary Prescott,   c. 24 Feb 1629/30, Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England d. Apr 1716, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Age ~ 86 years) ▻ Thomas Sawyer  m. 2 Jul 1648     2. baby boy Prescott,   b. 7 Mar 1631, Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England d. 7 Mar 1631, Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England (Age 0 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]     3. Martha Prescott,   c. 11 Mar 1632, Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England d. 24 Jan 1655/56, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Age ~ 23 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]     4. baby boy Prescott,   b. 1633, Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England d. 3 Jan 1634, Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England (Age 1 year)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]     5. John Prescott,   c. 1 Apr 1635, Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England d. After 1718 (Age ~ 83 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] +   6. Sarah Prescott,   c. 16 Apr 1637, Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England d. 25 Aug 1714, Stow, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Age ~ 77 years) ▻ Richard Wheeler  m. 2 Aug 1658;   Joseph Rice  m. 23 Dec 1677     7. Hannah Prescott,   c. 16 Apr 1639, Barbadoes d. 11 Sep 1697, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Age ~ 58 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]     8. Lydia Prescott,   b. 15 Aug 1641, Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. d. 1712 (Age 70 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]     9. Joseph Prescott,   b. 1645, Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. d. 31 Dec 1732 (Age 87 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]   10. Captain Jonathan Prescott,   b. 1646, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. d. 5 Dec 1721, Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Age 75 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]   11. Captain Jonas Prescott,   b. Jun 1648, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. d. 31 Dec 1723, Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Age 75 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]
  Family ID	F501	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	18 Nov 2019

  
  

• Pedigree

  ← Click to display 1John Prescott(1604/05 – 1681) 2Ralph Prescott(1569 – 1609) 4Roger Prescott(Abt 1532 – 1594) 8James Prescott(1508 – 1568) 16William Prescott 17Alice 9Alice Standish(1510 – 1564) 18Roger Standish, Esq.(Abt 1490 – ) 19 5Ellen Shaw 10 20 21 11 22 23 3Helen(Abt 1571 – 1643) 6 12 24 25 13 26 27 7 14 28 29 15 30 31

  
  

• Event Map		Christening - 1604/05 - Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England History - birth to 1629 - Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England History - 1629 to Abt 1638 - Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England Marriage - 21 Jan 1628/29 - Wygan, Lancashire, England Immigration - Abt 1638 - Barbadoes History - 1641 to 1643 - Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. History - 1643 to 1676 - Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. History - 1676 to 1679 - Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. History - 1679 to death - Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Death - 20 Dec 1681 - Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources 🟢 Primary Evidence 🟡 Secondary Evidence 🟠 Tertiary Evidence 🔴 Unreliable Evidence

  [S59] Weis, Frederick Lewis. Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came to New England Between 1623 and 1650 Fifth Editionif, (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1982). [S485] Wheeler, Daniel Merrick. The Wheeler Family of Rutland, Mass. and Some of their Ancestors, (Pittsfield, Massachusetts: by the author, 1924). [S1196] Drake, Samuel G. "Brief Memoirs and Notices of Prince's Subscribers" , (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume VI, 1852). [S479] Roper, Kenneth L. The Ropers A Biographical Record from Circa 1300 to 1982, (Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1982). [S1048] Potter, Charles Edward. Genealogies of Some Old Families of Concord, Mass. and Their Descendants in Part to the Present Generation, (Boston: Alfred Mudge & Son, 1887). [S804] MacKenzie, George Norbury. Colonial Families of the United States of America, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1966). [S1197] Somerby, H. G. "Pedigree of Lawrence", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume X, 1856). [S1198] Hunt, John G. "Notes on Families of the Parish of Halifax, Yorkshire - Farrer, Deane, Platts, Fairbank, Prescott", (New Haven, Connecticut: The American Genealogist, volume XL, 1964).