mill; and forty acres of Land on the south east of the mill brooke, lying between the mill brooke and Nashaway Riuer in such place as the said John Prescott shall choose with all the priuiledges and appurtenances thereto apperteyneing.  To haue and to hold the said land and eurie parcell thereof to the said John Prescott his heyeres & assignes for euer, to his and their only propper vse and behoofe.  Also wee do covenant & promise to lend the said John Prescott fiue pounds in current money one yeare for the buying of Irons for the mill.  And also wee do covenant and grant to and with the said John Prescott his heyres and assignes that the said mill, with all the aboue named Land thereto apperteyneing shall be freed from all com’on charges for seauen yeares next ensueing, after the first finishing and setting the said mill to worke.

     In witnes whereof wee haue herevnto put our hands this 20th day of
     the 9mo.  In the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred
     fifty and three.

THOMAS JAMES
WILL’M KERLY SEN’R  LAWRENCE WATERS
JNO PRESCOTT        EDMUND PARKER
JNO WHITE           RICHARD LINTON
RALPH HOUGHTON      RICHARD SMITH
JNO LEWIS           JAMES ATHERTON
JACOB FARRER        WILL’M KERLY JUN’R

     In six months from that date 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