John Handfield (circa 1693 - 1787) was a British military officer, member of the

Nova Scotia Council Formally known as "His Majesty's Council of Nova Scotia", the Nova Scotia Council (1720–1838) was the original British administrative, legislative and judicial body in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Council was also known as the Annapolis Counci ...

, and office holder. Handfield was commissioned in Philipps' Regiment (the

40th Regiment of Foot The 40th (the 2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1717 in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 82nd Regiment of Foot (Prince of Wales's Volunte ...

) as an Ensign in 1720, taking up his duties at Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1731 and received promotions to Lieutenant-Captain (1739), Captain (1740), Major (1754), and Lieutenant-Colonel (1758). Appointed to the

at Annapolis Royal in 1736 and granted the position of Justice of the Peace by Governor

Peregrine Hopson Peregrine Thomas Hopson (5 June 1696 – 27 February 1759) was a Kingdom of Great Britain, British army officer who commanded the 40th Regiment of Foot and saw extensive service during the eighteenth century and rose to the rank of Major General ...

in 1752. During

Father Le Loutre's War Father Le Loutre's War (1749–1755), also known as the Indian War, the Mi'kmaq War and the Anglo-Mi'kmaq War, took place between King George's War and the French and Indian War in Acadia and Nova Scotia. On one side of the conflict, the Kingdo ...

, Captain Handfield was first in command of Fort Vieux Logis (1749); successfully defending the fort during the Siege of Grand Pre, while losing his son and future son-in-law Captain John Hamilton who were taken prisoner by the Mi'kmaq and

Acadian militia The military history of the Acadians consisted primarily of militias made up of Acadian settlers who participated in wars against the English (the British after 1707) in coordination with the Wabanaki Confederacy (particularly the Mi'kmaw mil ...

s. In 1750 he was commander at

Fort Anne Fort Anne is a historic fort protecting the harbour of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. It was built by Scottish settlers in August 1629 as Charles Fort. For the first 120 years of the fort's service period, the settlement of Port Royal, later A ...

, Annapolis Royal. He took command at

Fort Lawrence Fort Lawrence was a British fort built during Father Le Loutre's War and located on the Isthmus of Chignecto (in the modern-day community of Fort Lawrence). Father Le Loutre's War Despite the British Conquest of Acadia in 1710, Nova Scotia re ...

where he married

John Hamilton (British army officer) John, Johnny, or Jon Hamilton may refer to: Arts and entertainment * John Hamilton (painter) (fl. 1765–1786), British painter * John R. Hamilton (architect) (), English architect * John McLure Hamilton (1853–1936), Anglo-American artist * Joh ...

to his daughter (1752). Through his marriage to Acadian Elizabeth Winniet (sister of

Joseph Winniett Joseph Winniett (1726–1789) was a public official, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He was the first Acadian elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. He represented Annapolis Township from 1761 to 1765 and Annapolis County from ...

, both of whom were grandchildren of

Pierre Maisonnat dit Baptiste Pierre Maisonnat dit Baptiste (born in Bergerac, France 1663, died in Acadia after August 1714) was a French privateer famous for the success he had against New England merchant shipping and fishing interests during King William's War and Queen An ...

), John was related to many Acadians and thus found carrying out his duties to deport the Acadians at Annapolis disagreeable. In a letter to John Winslow he states, "I heartily join with You in wishing that we were both of us got over this most disagreeable and troublesome part of the Service." In 1758 he fought at the Siege of Louisbourg, retiring from His majesty's service in 1760. He moves to Boston upon his retirement and by 1776 is found in Ireland where he dies at Waterford on April 20, 1787.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Handfield, John 1787 deaths 40th Regiment of Foot officers 1690s births People from Annapolis County, Nova Scotia People from Kings County, Nova Scotia People of Father Le Loutre's War