John Prescott was born in 1605 in Standish, Lancaster, England to Ralph Prescott & Lady Ellen Shaw.
He was the founder of Lancaster, Massachusetts. He left England to avoid persecution. In 1638 he landed in Barbados, where he bought land. In 1640 He came to America. He was admitted as a freeman in 1669. He was a farmer and a blacksmith and millwright. John took the Oath of Fidelity in 1652.
In 1652, he agreed with the town of Lancaster to build a grist mill. It was completed and ground its first grain on 23 March 1653/54.
In 1657, he built a sawmill above his grist mill.
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 him.
He served on 3 Feb 1667 as Selectman of Lancaster.
He became a freeman on 19 May 1669.
He moved in 1676 to Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, after Lancaster's destruction.
He returned in 1679 to Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
"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 armor 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." John Prescott and Mary Platts moved about 1643 to The Nashaway Purchase, now Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, thus becoming the first settler of Lancaster and the first settler in Worcester County.
He died on Saturday, 20 December 1681 at Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, at age 76 years.
He died in 1683 at age 78 years.
See link to Wikipedia below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster,_Massachusetts#History
John's gravestone in the Old Settlers Cemetery in Lancaster, MA. He died 20 Dec 1681 in Lancaster, MA.
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 TOOK UP HIS ABODE IN THE UNBROKEN FOREST 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 Note: Age: Approx 76. Founder of Lancaster. Burial: Old Settlers Burial Yard, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Plot: Created by: Jim Sanders Record added: Mar 06, 2002, Find A Grave Memorial# 6238510.
He married Mary Gawkroger (1607-1718) daughter of Sir James Gawkroger & Lady Martha Ainsworth. They married 21 Jan 1629 in Wigin, Lancashire, England.
They had the following children:
Mary Prescott
1629–1716
Infant Prescott
1631–1631
Martha Prescott
1632–1655
Infant Prescott
1633–1634
John Prescott II
1635–1718
Sarah Prescott
1637–1714
Hannah Prescott
1639–1697
Lydia Prescott
1641–1712
Joseph Prescott
1645–1732
Capt. Jonathan Prescott
1646–1721
Capt. Jonas Prescott
1648–1723
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| I do not know who originally posted this photo, I found it on Ancestry, but several trees have it with different posters. 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 TOOK UP HIS ABODE IN THE UNBROKEN FOREST 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 Note: Age: Approx 76. Founder of Lancaster. Burial: Old Settlers Burial Yard, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Plot: Created by: Jim Sanders Record added: Mar 06, 2002, Find A Grave Memorial# 6238510.
Sources: Ancestry. The main source of this information is William Prescott's 1870 "Prescott Memorial." Bio Submitted by: Bob Speckman Salem, OR August 2008 Family & Lineages of Members of the National Society of Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, Vol. I
I was so excited to find this ancestor of mine. He is on my paternal side.
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