History of the town of Groton, including Pepperell and Shirley, Butler, Caleb, page 286
He, or his father for him, built the mill in the south part of the town, now within the limits of Harvard. He became one of the largest landholders in town. He received no devise, legacy, or inheritance from his father, who stated in his will, that he had received his full proportion, in the mill and land at Monafocua, (probably the Indian name of the place where the mill stood,). He married Mary, the only daughter of John Loker, of Sudbury, by whom he had four sons and eight daughters.
"A romantic story has come down, by family tradition, to the present generation, of the courtship of this loving pair of fruitful progenitors, and is still preserved with much accuracy, it is presumed, as a nursery tale. John Loker, of whom we have no other account than as connected with this affair, is said to have been wealthy, and he and his wife to have been somewhat aristocratic in their feelings and notions. Having only one daughter, and she exceedingly fair and good promise, they disdained to betroth her to a blacksmith, the son of a blacksmith, however rich and otherwise unexceptionable he might be. They had set their hearts upon Mary's marrying a lawyer. So when they found that there was a strong attachment between their idol, the fair Mary, and the young blacksmith, they remonstrated, but unwittingly pursued a direct course to foster and strengthen it. They forbade his entering their house, or having any communication whatever with their daughter; and the more effectually to prevent any intercourse, they grated the windows of her apartment in the house; and when they thought there was any danger of an interview between them, they locked her in. Jonas, however, was not to be baffled by grates and locks. He took opportunities, when the cold night wind blew and pelting storm raged, when no listener could over hear the soft whispering of true lovers, to place himself beneath her grated window, and there enjoy sweet communion with his dearly-beloved. Their intercourse was soon discovered by the chagrined parents; and the next expedient resorted to was to place Mary in some secluded spot, under the care of some watchful and faithful guardian. Chockset, now called Sterling, then a frontier settlement, was chosen as the place of her seclusion. Jonas searched the country around, and made diligent inquiry to find the place of her banishment, for some time in vain. At length,, being one day in the wilds of Chockset, he made his usual inquiry of some young men he saw, if they had any pretty girls in their neighborhood. They told him there was to be a quilting that very day, where all their girls would be; that they themselves were going in the evening to dance with them, and invited him to be one of the party, where he might see for himself. He cheerfully accepted the invitation; and on arriving at the cottage where the seamstresses of the settlement were assemble, whom should be there find, but his adored Mary Loker. This was indeed a happy adventure. Concealing, as well as they could, their former acquaintance, they took opportunities to be partners in the dance, and made assignments for future meetings. Having thus fortunately discovered the place of her banishment, he renewed his visits, till her parents finding it out, took her home. She was then sternly told, that she must reject the blacksmith, and receive the addresses of the lawyer. She resolutely replied, "she would never marry to any one but Jonas Prescott." The rejoinder was, "Then you shall never have a farthing of our property." To this there was a general demurrer; a decree for marriage without dowry followed. The consummation took place before even the most common utensils for housekeeping could be procured; (some delay might have been made, to see if the old folks would not relent, and provide her some;) the tradition positively asserts, that her only implement for boiling was a two quart kettle, and her wash-tub, the shell of a large pumpkin. From this happy pair sprung the doctors, warriors, civilians, statesmen, with other numerous descendants, of whom Mary lived to see one hundred and seventy-five."
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Jonas Prescott found in:
Marriage Index: Massachusetts, 1633-1850
Married: Jan 01, 1670 in: Groton, Middlesex Co., MA
Gender: M This record can be found at: Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Film # 0873746 item 4.
Spouse name: Laker, Mary
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JONAS PRESCOTT * and MARY
LOKER.?
1 Mary, born 3 d. 12 m. 1674, [married Benj. Farnsworth.
2 Elizabeth, born Jan. 23, 1676, [married Eleazer Green.
3 Jonas, born Oct. 26, 1678, [married Thankful Wheeler.
4 Nathaniel, born Dec. 21, 1680, [died Jan. 29, 1680-1.
5 Dorothy, born Feb. 16, 1681, [married John Varnum.
6 James, born Mar. 16, 1684, [died young.
7 Sarah, " May 3, 1686, [married John Longley.
8 Abigail, born May 8, 1688, [married James Parker.
9 Martha, born Feb. 20, 1690, [married Shebuel Hobart.
10 Susanna, born Dec. 31, 1691, [married William Lawrence.
11 Deborah, born Mar. 5, 1694, [married Samuel Parker.
12 Benjamin, born Jan. 4, 1695, [married Abigail Oliver.
* Died Dee. 31, 1723. ?Died Oct. 28, 1735.
II. (I.3)
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New England Families: Genealogical and Memorial, Vol. 1, page 117
He settled in Groton; he was a blacksmith; he assisted in rebuilding the town after its destruction by Indians; was town clerk, selectman, captain of militia, justice of the peace, and representative in the general assembly, 1699 and 1705.
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Jonas Prescott found in:
Massachusetts Vital Records, 1600s-1800s
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 31-DEC-1723
Town of Record: Groton
County of Record: Middlesex
Comment: /S JOHN AND MARY /N [A. 76 Y. G. R. 2.]
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Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988
Name: Jonas Prescott
Event Type: Death
Birth Date: abt 1647
Death Date: 31 Dec 1723
Death Place: Groton, Massachusetts
Death Age: 76
Father Name: John Prescott
Mother Name: Mary Prescott


GROTON EPITAPHS.
Page 4
[Death's Head.]
Here Lyes Buried the Body of Jonas Prescott Esqr, Who Deceased Decem.br ye 31st, 1723 Age 76 Years
The son of John and Mary (Platts) Prescott, born at Lancaster, in June, 1648
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Groton Epitaphs
page 9

HERE LIES BURIED
YE BODY OF YE
WIDOW MARY
PRESCOTT RELICK
OF JONAS PRESCOTT
ESQR WHO DECD
OCTOBR YE 28TH A D
1735 IN YE 82ND
YEAR OF HER AGE
The daughter of John and Mary (Draper) Loker, born September 28, 1653; she was the mother of twelve children, of whom ten lived to grow up and be married, each one having a large family. It is said that she lived to see 176 of her descendants.
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