Roger Handasyd

Lieutenant General Roger Handasyd, also spelt Handaside, (11 March 1689 – 4 January 1763) was an English military officer and Member of Parliament for different seats between 1722 and 1754.

Roger was born in 1689 in the Dutch town of Heusden, the eldest survivor of six children; his siblings included Thomas (1692-1729), William (1693-1745), Clifford (1695-1772) and Anne (1697-1777).

[3] In 1710, he married Elizabeth Thorneycroft (1689-1773) but they had no surviving children; he died in London on 4 January 1763 and was buried in St Andrews, parish church of Great Staughton near Gaynes Hall, purchased by his father in 1717.

As in this instance, they could be used to reward deserving officers or to provide pensions for the families of those killed in action; Handaysd's contemporary Henry Hawley was commissioned at the age of nine, after his father died at the Battle of Steenkerque in 1692.

[12] When the Jacobite rising of 1745 began in August, most of the regular army was in Flanders; Handasyd was sent to the border fortress of Berwick-upon-Tweed, which became a key position after the government defeat at Prestonpans in September.

General Wade, commander at Newcastle, instructed him to establish a supply base at Berwick and obtain information on rebel movements.

[14] The Jacobites reached Derby before returning to Scotland in late December; Handasyd's brief spell in command ended when Henry Hawley arrived in Edinburgh on 5 January and took over as Commander-in-Chief.

19th century engraving of fortress at Berwick-upon-Tweed ; Handasyd was appointed Governor, shortly before the Jacobite rising of 1745
Hanover Square , ca 1750 where Handasyd rented a house; he died here on 4 January 1763