John Prescott seems to have been quite well-known, and, well respected, in his day. He seems to have been a very hearty, and determined, person to do what he did. 
Per consultation with Gary Boyd Roberts (07-15-1995 at NEHGS) the English lineage of John Prescott has not been proven yet. 
John reportedly was supposed to have been a Cromwellian soldier. But he left England to avoid religious persecution. 
John is considered the "father of Lancaster". He was one of 
the very first persons to come to the land that was to become the town of Lancaster as well as several of the nearby surrounding towns. There were no bridges, ferries or other such means to cross the rivers to get to the area. John lost all of his belongings on one river while crossing by horse. A week later his wife and children almost drowned. The lack of a safe means to reach the area kept most people away. The officials for the colony refused to pay to have a safe crossing 
provided. But this did not deter John from getting into the area. Though his co-partners gave up, John kept on building the town. For 40 years he "was the very heart and soul Lancaster". After the massacre in 1675 John returned to Lancaster "to die at his post". 
In 1652, nine families of the Nashaway plantation petitioned the court to grant them a charter for township. They proposed to name the town "Prescott" in honor of their hard-working citizen, John. But the magistrates 
turned down this petition. They did not want to name the town after a person when the governor had not even had a town named after him yet. And besides, they said, John had not even been declared a freeman yet. The book "The Early Records of Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1643 to 1725" by Henry S. Nourse in 1884, tells a great deal about the first 75 years of the town. It goes into great detail about such things as land grants and transactions, court cases, etc., all taken mostly from 
the early court records. On page 33 in the book it has a petition from 29 men and 2 women inhabitants of Lancaster on behalf of John Prescott. The petition was trying to get a loan for John to build a corn mill. The signatures of these petitioners were included in the book. Many of the signatures are ancestors, two were children of John Prescott, five were brother-in-laws to various ancestors, three were the fathers of these brother-in-laws, and one was a cousin of an ancestor. 

In 1653 John brought in a grinding stone to allow the people in Lancaster to be able to grind their grain for making bread. Before he did, the townspeople were grinding grain by hand. He later set up a corn mill and a saw mill. He was also the town's blacksmith. In 1658 John received a grant of an additional 20 acres on the river in which to build his saw mill. 
John eventually owned 700 acres of land scattered around the Lancaster area. His son Jonas received land and 
the mill at Nonaicoicus. John owned 300 acres in what later became a part of the town of Clinton. He had 100 acres in part of the town of South Lancaster that ran from George Hill to the meeting of the two rivers. 
John had fifty grandchildren. 


A William Hickling Prescott (May 04, 1796 in Salem, Massachusetts to Jan. 28, 1859 in Boston) is the triple great grandson of John Prescott. William is a Harvard University graduate and is known as the founder of the town of Prescott, Arizona. His father was William Prescott Jr. and his mother was Catherine Hickling. William Jr. was the son of William Sr. (Feb. 20, 1726 in Groton,  Massachusetts to Oct. 13, 1795 in Pepperell,  Massachusetts) a colonel in the Revolutionary 
War (a statue of him is in Charleston, Massachusetts). William Sr. was the son of Benjamin Prescott (1696-1738) and Abigail Oliver (1697-1765). Benjamin was the son of Jonas Sr. and Mark Loker. Jonas was a son of John Prescott and Mark Gawkroger. This information of William Hickling Prescott is found in wikipedia.org.

In Almira White's 1900 book WHITE FAMILY QUARTERLY, the lineage of John Prescott is given back to well before the 14th century. There are over 150 of his ancestors listed. However, it is all unproven. Frederick G. Rolfe of Massachusetts has a chart that shows the lineage of John back both to Charlemagne and to Alfred the Great (King of England from 871 to 901). Again, it's unproven. John's father may have been Nathaniel Prescott. John's wife may have been Mary (Rozer) Platt of Yorkshire, England. (note that this lineage has yet to be totally proven) 
[01]--Gilbert De Prescote (1070-____), father of Sir Richard De Prescote 
[02]--Sir Richard De Prescote (1100-____), father of Sir Richard de Prescote 
[03]--Sir Richard de Prescote (1162-c1230), father of Patricus de Prescote and Walter de Prescote 
[04]--Patricus de Prescote (1192-1230), father of Richard de Prescote; William De Prescott and Patrick de Prescote 
[05]--William De Prescott (1195-1230), father of Robert De Prescott, half brother of Richard de Prescote 
[06]--Robert De Prescott (1215-c1254), father of Sir Richard De Prescott 
[07]--Sir Richard De Prescott (1254-1292), father of Robert De Prescott 
[08]--Robert De Prescott (1285-1373), wife Isabel De Prescott, father of Sir Robert De Prescott, Knight 
[09]--Sir Robert De Prescott, Knight (1320-1391), father of Thomas de Prestcote 
[10]--Thomas de Prestcote (1360-1445), born in England, father of Richard Prestcote, III 
[11]--Richard Prestcote, III (c1380-1427), wife Elizabeth Prestcote (?1351-?1409) and ?? Prescott, father of John Prescott, III; James Prescott and ? De Prestcote 
[12]--John Prescott, III (1410-1500), birthplace Standish Parish, Lancaster, Lancashire, England died at Lancaster, Lancashire, England, wife Elizabeth Prescott, father of James Prescott 
[13]--James Prescott (c1458-1484), birthplace Coppull, Lancashire, England, died at Aughton, Lancashire, England, wife Alice Prescott (Molyneaux) [(1450-15380827), birthplace Driby, Lincolnshire, England, died at Somme, Picardie, France], father of William Prescott, III 
[14]--William Prescott, III (1484-1548), birthplace Coppull, Lancashire, England, died at Standish Parish, Lancashire, England, wife Alice Prescott (Molineaux) [(1484-15380827), birthplace Coppull, Lancastershire, England, died at Coppull, Lancastershire, England], father of Edward Prescott; Richard Prescott, III; Joanna Prescott; Peter Prescott; James Prescott, Esquire; John Prescott, Rev.; Henry Prescott, Dr.; Robert Prescott, II, Thomas Prescott 
[15]--James Prescott, Esquire (c1509-1583-0301), birthplace Shevington, Standish, Lancashire, England, died at Shevington, Standish, Lancashire, England, buried in Lancashire, England, wife Alice Prescott and Elizabeth Prescott (Standish), father of Sir James Prescott; Ralph Prescott; Robert Prescott, III; William Prescott, IV; Roger Prescott; Joanna Prescott; John Prescott; Alice B. Prescott; Katherine Prescott; Isabella Prescott; Ellen Wynard and Richard Prescott, IV 
[16]--Roger Prescott (15380820-15940926), birthplace Shevington, Standish, Lancashire, England, died at Shevington, Standish, Lancashire, England, buried in Standish Parish, Lancashire, England, wife Ellen Prescott and Elizabeth Prescott, father of Anne Prescott; Ralph Prescott; Isabel Prescott; Margaret Prescott; Roger Prescott; Alice Prescott; Cecelia Prescott; James Prescott; Lawrence Prescott and Helen Or Elene Prescott 
[17]--Ralph Prescott (15690615-16090124), birthplace Shevington, Lancashire, England, died at Shevington Twp, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England, buried in Shevington Twp, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England, wife Elene Prescott (also known as "Helen Shaw", "Bridget") [(15841101-16431118), birthplace Shevington, Standish, Lancashire, England, died in Shevington, Standish, Lancaster, England, buried in Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancshire, England], father of John Prescott <<<>>>; John Prescott; Helen Prescott; Roger Prescott; Alice Prescott; Cecelia Prescott and James Prescott, half brother of James Prescott; Lawrence Prescott and Helen\Elene Prescott 
[18]--John Prescott (c1605-16811220), birthplace perhaps Lancashire, England, died in Lancaster, Worcester County, Province of Massachusetts, Colonial America (Lancaster, MA), buried in Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts, wife Mary ?, father of Mary Sawyer (Prescott); Prescott; Martha Rugg; Infant Prescott; John Prescott, Jr.; Sarah Rice; Hannah Rugg; Infant Prescott; Lydia Fairbank; Capt. Jonathan Prescott; Joseph Prescott; Captain Jonas Prescott and Daughter Prescott, half brother of John Prescott; Helen Prescott; Roger Prescott; Alice Prescott; Cecelia Prescott; and James Prescott 
[19]--Mary "Marie" Prescott Sawyer (Puritan) (16290224-17060912), birthplace Sowerby-Bridge, Halifax, Yorkshire, England, died in Lancaster, Worcester, Province of Massachusetts, British America, sister of Prescott; Martha Rugg; Infant Prescott; John Prescott, Jr.; Sarah Rice; Hannah Rugg; Infant Prescott; Lydia Fairbank; Captain Jonathan Prescott; Joseph Prescott; Captain Jonas Prescott and Daughter Prescott

Historical
1605: England - Gunpowder Plot failed in England
1605: Turkey, Hungary - The fortresses of Veszprem en Visegrad in Hungary are retaken by the Ottomans
1606: Netherlands, Australia - Captain Willem Janszoon and his crew aboard the Dutch East India Company ship Duyfken becomes the first recorded Europeans to sight and make landfall in Australia
1606: Turkey, Austria - The Long War between the Ottoman Empire and Austria is ended with the Peace of Zsitvatorok
1607: Ireland - Flight of the Earls (the fleeing of most of the native Gaelic aristocracy) occurs from County Donegal in the west of Ulster in Ireland
1607: United States - Jamestown, Virginia, is settled as what would become the first permanent English colony in North America
1608: Canada - Quebec City founded by Samuel de Champlain in New France (present-day Canada)
1609: Germany - Maximilian of Bavaria establishes the Catholic League
1609: Netherlands, Spain - The Netherlands and Spain agree to a Twelve Years Truce in the Eighty Years War
1609: United States - Pedro de Peralta, a later governor of New Mexico, establishes the settlement of Santa Fe
1610: France - King Henry IV of France is assassinated and is succeeded by his nine year old son, King Louis XIII who rules until 1643
1610: Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Sweden - Battle of Klushino, the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth army defeats combined Russian-Swedish forces and conquers Moscow
1612: England - King James version of the Bible is published
1613-1617: Poland, Lithuania - Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is Invaded by the Tatars (or Tartars) dozens of times
1613: Russia - The Time of Troubles in Russia ends with the establishment of the House of Romanov which rules until 1917
1613: United States - Pochahontas marries John Rolfe
1616: England - William Shakespeare dies
1616: Spain - The last remaining Moriscos (Moors who had nominally converted to Christianity) in the Spain are expelled
1618-1638: Germany - The Bohemian Revolt precipitates the Thirty Years War which devastates Europe in the years 1618-1648
1618: China - The Manchus start Invading China, their conquest eventually topples the Ming Dynasty
1618: Romania - Bethlen Gabor, Prince of Transylvania, joins Protestant Rebels
1619: Austria, Romania - Bethlen Gabor is defeated outside Vienna
1620-1621: Poland, Turkey - Polish-Ottoman War over Moldavia
1620: Poland - Battle of White Mountain, Emperor Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor, defeats the Bohemian rebels
1620: Romania, Turkey - Bethlen Gabor allies with the Ottomans and an Invasion of Moldavia takes place, the Polish suffer a disaster at Cecora on the River Prut
1620: United States - The Puritan Pilgrims arrive in the Mayflower at Cape Cod
1621: Poland, Turkey - The Battle of Chocim Poles and Cossacks under Jan Karol Chodkiewicz defeat the Ottomans
1621: United States - The Pilgrims celebrate the first Thanksgiving with their Indian neighbors
1622: United States - Jamestown massacre Algonquian natives kill 347 English settlers outside Jamestown, Virginia (a third of the population of the colony) and burn the Henricus settlement
1623: Italy - Maffeo Barberini is elected Pope Urban VIII at the Papal conclave of 1623
1624-1642: France - As chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu centralises power in France
1625: United States - New Amsterdam founded by the Dutch West India Company in North America
1626: Italy - St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican completed
1626: United States - The Dutch buy Manhattan Island for $24, a presence is established but no large settlements made
1627: France - Cardinal Richelieu lays siege to Protestant La Rochelle which eventually capitulates
1629: France - Cardinal Richelieu allies with Swedish Protestant forces in the Thirty Years War to counter expansion by Ferdinand II
1631: Italy - Mount Vesuvius erupts near Naples
1632: germany - Battle of Lutzen (first of two), death of king of Sweden Gustav II Adolf
1633: Italy - Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome for his trial before the Inquisition
1633: United States - The city of Baltimore is settled
1634: Ethiopia - Emperor Fasilides expels the Catholic Patriarch Afonso Mendes and several Jesuit missionaries from Ethiopia
1634: Germany - Battle of Nordlingen (first of two), in Bavaria, results in Catholic victory
1636: Ethiopia - Emperor Fasilides founds the city of Gondar, which becomes the capital of Ethiopia for the next two centuries
1636: United States - Harvard University is founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts
1636: United States - Roger Williams is driven from Puritan Massachusetts and settles Rhode Island, a haven for religious freedom
1638: United States - Delaware is settled by Peter Minuet
1639-1651: England, Ireland, Scotland - Wars of the Three Kingdoms, civil wars throughout Scotland, Ireland, and England
1639: Italy - Disagreements between the Farnese and Barberini Pope Urban VIII escalate into the Wars of Castro and last until 1649
1639: Spain, England - Naval Battle of the Downs, Republic of the United Provinces fleet decisively defeats a Spanish fleet in English waters
1639: United States - John Wheelwright is banished from Boston and founds a colony in New Hampshire
1640-1668: Portugal - The Portuguese Restoration War led to the end of the Iberian Union
1640: England - Torture is outlawed in England
1640: Scotland - King Charles was compelled to summon Parliament due to the revolt of the Scots
1640: United States - The population of the American Colonies is estimated at 5,700. Starting in the 1990's, Charles Anderson of the New England Historic Genealogical Society begins books that provides information about all persons in New England by 1640.
1641: France - Rene Descartes publishes Meditationes de prima philosophia Meditations on First Philosophy
1641: Ireland - The Irish Rebellion
1641: Japan - The Tokugawa Shogunate Institutes Sakoku, foreigners are expelled and no one is allowed to enter or leave Japan
1642-1649: England - Civil War in England, Charles I is beheaded by Cromwell
1642: England - Isaac Newton is born
1642: Neatherlands, New Zealand - Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman achieves the first recorded European sighting of New Zealand
1644-1674: Mauritania - The Mauritanian Thirty-Year War
1644: China - The Manchu conquer China ending the Ming Dynasty, the subsequent Qing Dynasty rules until 1912
1644: Italy - Giovanni Battista Pamphili is elected Pope Innocent X at the Papal conclave of 1644
1645-1669: Turkey, Italy - Ottoman war with Venice, the Ottomans Invade Crete and capture Canea
1645: Japan - The death of Miyamoto Musashi, legendary Japanese Samurai warrior of natural causes
1647-1652: Spain - The Great Plague of Seville
1647: Turkey - Seven-year-old Mehmed IV becomes Ottoman sultan
1648-1653: France - Fronde civil war in France
1648-1667: Poland, Lithuania - The Deluge wars leave Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in ruins
1648-1669: Turkey, Italy - The Ottomans capture Crete from the Venetians after the Siege of Candia
1648: Spain, Italy - The Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years War and the Eighty Years War and marks the ends of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire as major European powers
1649-1653: Ireland - The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
1650: United States - An estimated 40,000 people are living in the American Colonies
1652: England, Netherlands - Anglo-Dutch Wars begin
1652: South Africa - Cape Town founded by the Dutch East India Company in South Africa
1654-1661: Turkey, Albania - Mehmed Koprulu is Grand Vizier
1655-1661: Sweden - The Northern Wars cement the rise of Sweden as a Great Power
1658: India - After his father Shah Jahan completes the Taj Mahal, his son Aurangzeb deposes him as ruler of the Mughal Empire
1660: England - Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge founded
1660: England - The Commonwealth of England ends and the monarchy is brought back during the English Restoration
1661: China - The reign of the Kangxi Emperor of China begins
1661: India - Mehmed Koprulu dies and is succeeded by his son Ahmed
1662: France - Jacques Aymar-Vernay, who later reintroduced Dowsing into popular use in Europe, is born
1663: France - France takes full political and military control over Its colonial possessions in New France, microscope of Hooke discovers cells
1663: Turkey, Austria-Hungary - Ottoman war against Habsburg Hungary
1664: England - Forestry book by John Evelyn called Sylva is published in England
1664: Hungary, Turkey - Battle of St. Gotthard (first of two), count Raimondo Montecuccoli defeats the Ottomans, the Peace of Vasvar is Intended to keep the peace for twenty years
1664: United States - British troops capture New Amsterdam and rename It New York
1665: England - The Great Plague of London (aka. Bubonic Plague, Black Death) kills 70,000 people
1665: Portugal, Congo - Portugal defeats the Kongo Empire
1666: England - The Great Fire of London burns most of the city
1667-1668: France, Netherlands - The War of Devolutionm France Invades the Netherlands, the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668) brings this to a halt
1667-1699: Turkey - The Great Turkish War halts the expansion of the Ottoman Empire into Europe
1668: Spain, Portugal - Peace Treaty of Lisbon between Spain and Portugal recognizes Portugal as Independent country
1669: Turkey, Crete - The Ottomans capture Crete
1670: Canada - The Hudson Bay Company is founded in Canada
1672-1673: Turkey, Ukraine - Ottoman campaign to help the Ukrainian Cossacks, John Sobieski defeats the Ottomans at the second battle of Khotyn (1673)
1672-1676: Poland, Turkey - Polish-Ottoman War
1672-1678: France, Netherlands - Franco-Dutch War
1672: Belgium - Lynching of Johan de Witt and his brother Cornelis de Witt in the Hague, William III of Orange takes power
1672: Netherlands, France, England, Germany - Rampjaar in the Netherlands, combined attack by France, England and two German states on the Republic of the United Provinces
1674: England - The Treaty of Westminster ends the war between England and the Republic of the United Provinces
1674: India - Maratha Empire founded in India by Shivaji
1676-1681: Russia, Turkey - Russia and the Ottoman Empire fight the second (of ten) Russo-Turkish Wars, Turkish victory
1676: Poland, Turkey - The Treaty of Zurawno brings Polish-Ottoman hostilities to a halt
1676: Turkey - Kara Mustafa becomes Grand Vizier
1678: Netherlands, France - The Treaty of Nijmegen ends the hostilities between the Netherlands and France
1680: United States, Spain - The Pueblo Revolt drives the Spanish out of New Mexico until 1692
1681: Hungary - The Pasha of Buda supports rebellion led by Imre Thokoly in Hungary