HANCOCK JOHN TAX FREE BOND TRUST
NSAR-A, 1999-04-27
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
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007 C030100 N
007 C010200  2
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<PAGE>      PAGE  2
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<PAGE>      PAGE  5
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<PAGE>      PAGE  7
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<PAGE>      PAGE  9
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<PAGE>      PAGE  10
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<PAGE>      PAGE  11
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070 I020200 N
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076  000200     0.00
SIGNATURE   SUSAN S. NEWTON                              
TITLE       VICE PRESIDENT      
 


<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<SERIES>
   <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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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       847,883
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<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    1,231,579
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    381,659
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.27)
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .99
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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>
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1999
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<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     174,248,419
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</TABLE>


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