New England Families: Genealogical and Memorial, Vol. 1, page 117
(Prescott Line)
Although the direct lineage of the American family of this name cannot be traced back further than the time of Queen Elizabeth, it is well known that Prescott was an ancient name in Lancashire, England. James Prescott, of Standish, of that county, was one of the gentlemen required by order of Queen Elizabeth, in 1564, to keep in readiness horses and armor. His son, Sir James, was created lord of the manor of Fryby, in Lincolnshire, and had arms granted him as follows: Ermine, a chevron sable, on a chief of the second two leopard's heads, or. Crest: Out of a ducal coronet or, a boar's head and neck, argent, bristled of the first. Sir James had a son, Roger, who lived in sherington, in the parish of Standish, and had a son, Ralph, baptized in 1571-72, who lived in Sherington, and had a son, John, who became the direct ancestor of the family in America.
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279. RALPH20 PRESCOTT, younger son of Roger and Helen (Shaw) Pres
cott, was born at Shevington and baptized at Standish Parish, 16 June 1569.
He died there, 3 January 1608/9. He married Helen (or Elene) and was
mentioned in his father's will as co-executor with his mother in 1594.
Children of Ralph and Helen Prescott of Shevington:
282. Helen 21 Prescott, bapt. St. Par., 1 Nov. 1594.
283* Roger Prescott, son and heir, bapt. St. Par., 9 Nov. 1595; res. Wigan.
284. Alice Prescott, bapt. St. Par. 9 Feb. 1597/8.
285. Cecilia Prescott, bapt. St. Par., 16 Oct. 1602.
286. John Prescott, b. Shevington, 1604; m. 11 Apr. 1629, at Sowerby, co.
York, Mary Gawkroger, bapt. Sowerby, 15 Mar. 1606/7, the dau. of James
and Martha (Ainsworth) Gawkroger. This is the John Prescott, youngest
son of the youngest son of the youngest son, blacksmith, who was the
Founder of Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1645.