<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 023
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK MASSACHUSETTS TAX-FREE INCOME FUND-CLASS C

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       70,060,047
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      71,290,795
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,121,969
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   4,191
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              72,416,955
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       964,130
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      131,055
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          1,095,185
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    70,504,155
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           14,989
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        2,877
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (416,010)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     1,230,748
<NET-ASSETS>                                71,321,770
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            4,075,691
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 557,881
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      3,517,810
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (124,454)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  (4,310,747)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        (917,391)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        1,076
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         14,977
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 12
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       6,988,143
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          2,838
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (291,631)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          347,533
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                585,693
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            59,765
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.46
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.21
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.61)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.21)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.85
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.44



</TABLE>