<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000736260</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HANCOCK JOHN FINANCIAL SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JHF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001106184</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LINDE EDWARD H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>JOHN HANCOCK PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 111</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02117</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23878</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.0000</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13033.4</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13033.40</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38.1050</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-05-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-05-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.4950</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-05-13</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-05-13</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposed pursuant to merger agreement between issuer and Manulife Financial Services in exchange for 28,302 shares of Manulife common stock having a market value of $37.10 per share on the effective date of the merger.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Deferred stock units, or DSUs, are obligations of the Company to pay deferred compensation in the future with a return on the amount of compensation deferred equal to the return that would occur if the deferred amount were used to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, including the reinvestment of cash dividends when paid into shares of common stock.  DSUs are not convertible into another security of the Company and cannot be settled in or surrendered for shares of stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">1-for-1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">DSUs are payable in cash upon separation unless a specific deferral date is designated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Pursuant to merger agreement between issuer and Manulife Financial Services, these DSUs are deemed to be invested in 15,448 DSUs based on Manulife shares and have a value of $37.10 per DSU on the effective date of the merger.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Pursuant to merger agreement between issuer and Manulife Financial Services, this option was assumed by Manulife in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 17,779 shares of Manulife common stock for $32.15 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Pursuant to merger agreement between issuer and Manulife Financial Services, this option was assumed by Manulife in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 5,926 shares of Manulife common stock for $31.63 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: James R. Savage, Jr., Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2004-04-28
1
0000736260
HANCOCK JOHN FINANCIAL SERVICES INC
JHF
0001106184
LINDE EDWARD H
JOHN HANCOCK PLACE
PO BOX 111
BOSTON
MA
02117
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2004-04-28
4
D
0
23878
0
D
0
D
Deferred Stock Units
0.0000
2004-04-28
4
D
0
13033.4
0
D
Common Stock
13033.40
0.00
D
Director Stock Option (right to buy)
38.1050
2004-04-28
4
D
0
15000
0
D
2001-05-14
2006-05-14
Common Stock
15000.00
0.00
D
Director Stock Option (right to buy)
37.4950
2004-04-28
4
D
0
5000
0
D
2002-05-13
2007-05-13
Common Stock
5000.00
0.00
D
Disposed pursuant to merger agreement between issuer and Manulife Financial Services in exchange for 28,302 shares of Manulife common stock having a market value of $37.10 per share on the effective date of the merger.
Deferred stock units, or DSUs, are obligations of the Company to pay deferred compensation in the future with a return on the amount of compensation deferred equal to the return that would occur if the deferred amount were used to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, including the reinvestment of cash dividends when paid into shares of common stock.  DSUs are not convertible into another security of the Company and cannot be settled in or surrendered for shares of stock.
1-for-1
DSUs are payable in cash upon separation unless a specific deferral date is designated.
Pursuant to merger agreement between issuer and Manulife Financial Services, these DSUs are deemed to be invested in 15,448 DSUs based on Manulife shares and have a value of $37.10 per DSU on the effective date of the merger.
Pursuant to merger agreement between issuer and Manulife Financial Services, this option was assumed by Manulife in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 17,779 shares of Manulife common stock for $32.15 per share.
Pursuant to merger agreement between issuer and Manulife Financial Services, this option was assumed by Manulife in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 5,926 shares of Manulife common stock for $31.63 per share.
By: James R. Savage, Jr., Attorney-in-fact
2004-04-30