In the 1740's everybody in Braintree, Massachusetts, knew Johnny Hancock. He was the son of Parson Hancock and the nephew of Thomas Hancock, the richest trader and merchant in Boston. He was very popular, too, because he was friendly, the kind of boy people liked to have around.

Johnny liked the dame school that he attended in Braintree. He liked his friend John Adams, with whom he played nearly every day. He liked his Indian friends, one of whom was Little Turtle. Much as he liked Braintree, however, he liked the larger city of Boston even more.

There was something about Boston that fascinated Johnny. Perhaps it was the many ships that came to the busy wharves or the enticing shops that lined the narrow streets. Perhaps it was merely the splendor of the home where Uncle Thomas lived, and the homes where other rich people lived.

When Parson Hancock died, Uncle Thomas adopted Johnny, and he came to the great house to live. Uncle Thomas and Aunt Lydia treated him as if he were their own son. He attended grammar school, visited his uncle's wharf and shops, and had his own pony.

When Johnny was old enough, he attended Harvard College, which was near by. Then he began to work for his uncle, and afterwards became his uncle's partner. When his uncle died, he inherited his property and became one of the richest men in America.

John Hancock was a successful trader and merchant, but he faced hard times because of the Stamp Act and other English restrictions on colonial trade. Soon he turned to politics and became a leader in colonial plans to resist England. At one time Governor Gage, the English ruler of Massachusetts, had him arrested for treason.

Later John Hancock was chosen to represent Massachusetts in the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. He was President of the Continental Congress when it adopted the Declaration of Independence. He signed the Declaration in big bold letters so that King George of England would be able to read his name without wearing glasses.

John Hancock: New England Boy is a thrilling story of colonial and Revolutionary War times. It provides authoritative information about a New England patriot, too often neglected in the annals of American history. The author, Cathrine Seward Cleven, is a noted writer of books for children.

From the dust jacket