te the mill was done, and Prescott "began
to grind corne the 23d day of the 3 mo, 1654."

The commissioners, appointed by the General Court to oversee the
prudential management of the town, met at John Prescott's in 1657 and
confirmed "the imunityes provided for" in the above covenant specifying
that they "should continue and remayne to him the said Jno. Prescott his
heyres and assignes vntil the 23d of May, in the yeare of our Lord
sixteen hundred sixty and two."

The corn mill was located a little lower upon the brook than the
extensive factory buildings now utilizing its water power. The half used
force of the rapid stream, and the giant pines of the virgin forest then
shadowed all the region about, were full of reproach to the restless
miller. His busy brain was soon planning a new benefaction to his fellow
citizens, and when his means grew sufficiently to warrant the
enterprise, his busy hands wrought its consummation. As before, a formal
agreement preceded the work:

"Know all men by these presents that for as much as the Inhabitants
of Lanchaster, or the most part of them being gathered together on
a trayneing day, the 15th of the 9th mo, 1658, a motion was made by
Jno. Prescott blackesmith of the same towne, about the setting vp
of a saw mill for the good of the Towne, and y't he the said Jno
Prescott, would by the help of God set vp the saw mill, and to
supply the said Inhabitants with boords and other sawne worke, as
is afforded at other saw mills in the countrey. In case the Towne
would giue, grant, and confirms vnto the said John Prescott, a
certeine tract of Land, lying Eastward of his water mill, be it
more or less, bounded by the riuer east, the mill west the stake of
the mill land and the east end of a ledge of Iron Stone Rocks
southards, and forty acres of his owne land north, the said land to
be to him his heyres and assignes for euer, and all the said land
and eurie part thereof to be rate free vntill it be improued, or
any p't of it, and that his saws, & saw mill should be free from
any rates by the Towne, therefore know ye that the ptyes abouesaid
did mutually agree and consent each with other concerning the
aforementioned propositions as followeth:

The towne on their part did giue, grant & confirme, vnto the said
John Prescott his heyres and assignes for euer, all the
aforemention