In 1669, John Prescott was proclaimed a Freeman. He may have been long a
Church member, or may not even at this date have yielded the
conscientious scruples that had a quarter of a century earlier subjected
him to the reproach of an ecclesiastical oligarchy. The laws concerning
Freemen, in reluctant obedience to the letter of Charles II., were so
changed in 1665 that those not Church members could become Freemen, if
freeholders of a sufficient estate, and guaranteed by the local minister
"to be Orthodox and not vicious in their lives." Prescott had the true
Englishman's love of landed possessions, and about this time added a
large tract to his acreage by purchase from his Indian neighbors. This
transaction gave cause for the following petition:

_To the honorable the Gov'r the Deputy Gov'r mag'tr & Deputy es
assembled in the gen'rall Court_:

The Petition of Jno Prescott of Lanchaster, In most humble wise
sheweth. Whereas ye Petition'r hath purchased an Indian right to a
small parcell of Land, occasioned and circumstanced for quantity &
quality according to the deed of sale herevnto annexed and a pt.
thereof not being legally setled vpon piee vnlesse I may obteyne
the favor of this Court for the Confirmation thereof, These are
humbly to request the Court's favor for that end, the Lord hauing
dealt graciously with mee in giueing mee many children I account it
my duty to endeauor their provission & setling and do hope that
this may be of some vse in yt kind. I know not any claime made to
the said land by any towne, or any legall right y't any other
persons haue therein, and therefore are free for mee to occupy &
subdue as any other, may I obteyne the Court's approbation. I shall
not vse further motiues, my condition in other respecks & w't my