HANCOCK JOHN TAX FREE BOND TRUST
NSAR-B, 1997-10-23
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
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012 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK SIGNATURE SERVICES, INC.
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
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014 A00AA04 FREEDOM DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
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SIGNATURE   SUSAN S. NEWTON                              
TITLE       VICE PRESIDENT      
 


<TABLE> <S> <C>

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   <NUMBER> 011
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK TAX-FREE BOND FUND, CLASS A
       
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   <NUMBER> 012
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK TAX-FREE BOND FUND, CLASS B
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK HIGH YIELD TAX-FREE FUND, CLASS A
       
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    750,908
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.20
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 022
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK HIGH YIELD TAX-FREE FUND, CLASS B
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      159,024,417
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     169,092,419
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</TABLE>


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