Rev. Col. John Hancock Sr. (March 1, 1671New England Historic Genealogical Society (1877) ''The New England Historical and Genealogical Register,'' p. 330. Heritage Books, December 6, 1752Green, Samuel Abbott (1899). ''Groton historical series: A collection of papers relating to the history of the town of Groton, Massachusetts.'' via Princeton University) was a colonial American

clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

man, soldier, planter, politician, and paternal grandfather of American politician John Hancock III.Brown, John Howard (1900). ''Lamb's biographical dictionary of the United States.'' James H. Lamb Co. Hancock graduated from

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...

in 1689 and was ordained that year. He taught at the Grammar School at

Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As part of the Boston metropolitan area, the cities population of the 2020 U.S. census was 118,403, making it the fourth most populous city in the state, behind Boston ...

starting in 1691. In 1692 he was engaged as the preacher at Medford, Massachusetts, where he lived and served until November 1693. He was invited to preach at

Lexington, Massachusetts Lexington is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is 10 miles (16 km) from Downtown Boston. The population was 34,454 as of the 2020 census. The area was originally inhabited by Native Americans, and was firs ...

in 1697, and remained the pastor there for 55 years, until his death in 1752.
His sons: * Col. John Hancock Jr. (1702–1744), was also a minister and was father of the politician John Hancock. * Thomas Hancock (1703–1764) was a merchant in Boston who built the

Hancock–Clarke House The Hancock–Clarke House is a historic house in Lexington, Massachusetts, which is now a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1738, the house is notable as the only surviving house associated with statesman and Founding Father John Hancock, w ...

for his father. He is buried at the Old Burying Ground in Lexington, Massachusetts.

References

External links

Deed from Isaac Powers to John Hancock for Jack (a slave), 22 April 1728
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hancock, John Sr. 1671 births 1752 deaths Harvard College alumni Massachusetts colonial-era clergy Burials in Massachusetts Hancock family of Massachusetts