Captain Jonas Prescott

Other Events and Attributes:

• Married: 14 Nov 1672, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts; Mary Loker, the daughter of John and Mary (Draper) Loker. She was born on 28 September 1653 in Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Her birth date was recorded as 28 (7) 1653. She died on Thursday 20 October 1735 in Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Issue: 1. Mary Prescott (1674-____) 2. Elizabeth Prescott (1676-____) 3. Jonas Prescott (1678-____) 4. Dorothy Prescott (1681-____) 5. James Prescott (1684-____) 6. Sarah Prescott (1686-____) 7. Abigail Prescott (1688-____) 8. Martha Prescott (1690-____) 9. Deborah Prescott (1694-____) 10. Benjamin Prescott (1696-1738)
• Freeman: 1678, Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; He was first in Sudbury, where he took the freeman's oath.
• Moved To: 1678, Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; Jonas was a blacksmith and one of the largest landowners in town.
• History: 1682; Jonas owned a mill in Lancaster, which he received from his father.
• Military: say 1690; He was a captain in the militia.
• Married: 5 Oct 1699, Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; Thankful Wheeler.
• Offices Held: say 1700; He a Justice of the Peace.

Notes:

Name:


Married:
Their marriage date was recorded as 14 (9) 1672.

Wheeler (1924) gives the marriage date as 0 December 1672.

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to 1629, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England
• History: 1629 to Abt 1638, Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England
• Immigration: Abt 1638, Barbadoes
• Immigration: 1640; They arrived in Boston fro the Barbadoes, and settled in Watertown.
• History: 1641 to 1643, Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
• History: 1643 to 1676, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts
• History: 1676 to 1679, Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
• History: 1679 to death, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts
• History: 1893; 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

Notes:

Name:
   

History:
He was mentioned in his father's will of 7 November 1608.

History:
In 1629 he moved to Sowerby.

History:
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."

History:
About 1643, he moved to Lancaster upon its founding.

In 1652, John took the Oath of Fidelity.

In 1657, he built a saw mill 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 Jonas.

In 1667, he was elected a Selectman.

On 19 May 1669, he became a freeman.

In 1673, he made his will.

History:
He moved to Concord after Lancaster's destruction.

History:
In 1679, he returned to Lancaster.

On 4 April 1682, hi swill was probated.

Died:
Potter (1887) gives his death as 1683.

John married Mary Platts on 21 Jan 1628/29 in Wygan, Lancashire, England. Mary (daughter of Abraham Gawkroger Platts) was born in Wygan, Lancashire, England; died after 1678 in Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: Abt 1638, Barbadoes
• Immigration: 1640; They arrived in Boston fro the Barbadoes, and settled in Watertown.
• History: 1676 to 1679, Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Notes:

Birth: She may have been born in Sowerby, York, England.

Name:


History:
She moved to Concord after Lancaster's destruction.

In 1678, she deposed giving her age as 66 years.

Notes:

Weis (1682) says they were married at Sowerby Parish on 15 March 1607.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 7 Nov 1608, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England; He mentions his son, John.
• Probate/Proved: 24 Jan 1608/09

Notes:

Birth: Weiss (1982) gives his birth as about 1571/72.

Ralph married HelenEngland. Helen was born about 1571 in England; died on 18 Nov 1643 in Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to death

Notes:

History:
She was living in 1608.

On 7 December 1609, she made her will.

On 24 January 1608/09, her will was probated at Chester.

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to death, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England

Notes:

History:
On 26 September 1594, he made his will.

On 1 October 1594, his will was probated at Chester.

Roger married Ellen Shaw on 23 Aug 1568 in Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England. Ellen was born in Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England; died in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Genet Fairbanke on 2 Dec 1571 in Halifax, Yorkshire, England. Genet (daughter of George Fairbanke and Sybil Waide) was christened on 26 Apr 1552 in Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]