<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK MASSACHUSETTS TAX-FREE INCOME FUND - CLASS A
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       62,095,093
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      67,237,777
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,250,883
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  43,443
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                         1,563,172
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              70,095,275
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       76,509
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             76,509
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    65,168,967
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,795,560
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,613,097
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        2,838
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (255,367)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     5,102,328
<NET-ASSETS>                                70,018,766
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,954,542
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 260,609
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,693,933
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        36,264
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (439,167)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        1,291,030
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    1,517,027
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        378,925
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    274,676
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             78,214
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       5,685,139
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          2,838
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (291,631)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          166,973
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                380,605
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        59,134,471
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.60
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.32
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.07)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.32)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.53
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.71
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>