<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 12/31/95
000 C000000 092551
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN INVESTORS FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-115
001 C000000 6173751700
002 A000000 101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02199
002 D020000 7603
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 2
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN INVESTORS FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN BALANCED FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK ADVISERS, INC.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-8124
008 D01AA01 BOSTON
008 D02AA01 MA
008 D03AA01 02199
008 D04AA01 7603
011 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-43582
011 C01AA01 BOSTON
011 C02AA01 MA
011 C03AA01 02199
011 C04AA01 7603
012 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK INVESTORS SERVICES CORPORATION
<PAGE> PAGE 2
012 B00AA01 84-1885
012 C01AA01 BOSTON
012 C02AA01 MA
012 C03AA01 02199
012 C04AA01 9114
013 A00AA01 ERNST & YOUNG LLP
013 B01AA01 BOSTON
013 B02AA01 MA
013 B03AA01 02166
014 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
014 B00AA01 8-13995
014 A00AA02 JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS, INC.
014 B00AA02 8-43582
014 A00AA03 TUCKER ANTHONY, INC.
014 B00AA03 8-24297
014 A00AA04 SUTRO & CO., INC.
014 B00AA04 8-7981
014 A00AA05 FREEDOM DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
014 B00AA05 8-37458
014 A00AA06 JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
014 B00AA06 8-15661
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 52
019 C00AA00 JOHNHANCOC
020 A000001 PERSHING DIVISION OF DLJ
020 B000001 13-2741729
020 C000001 195
020 A000002 PAINE WEBBER
020 B000002 13-2638166
020 C000002 192
020 A000003 SALOMON BROTHERS
020 B000003 13-3082694
020 C000003 147
020 A000004 MORGAN STANDLEY
020 B000004 13-2655998
020 C000004 111
020 A000005 LEHMAN BROTHERS
020 B000005 13-2726611
020 C000005 102
020 A000006 SMITH BARNEY
020 B000006 13-1912900
020 C000006 125
020 A000007 GOLDMAN SACHS
020 B000007 13-5108880
020 C000007 96
020 A000008 FIRST BOSTON
020 B000008 13-5659485
020 C000008 92
020 A000009 JANNEY MONGOMERY & SCOTT
020 B000009 94-1707676
<PAGE> PAGE 3
020 C000009 70
020 A000010 COWEN & CO
020 B000010 13-5616116
020 C000010 73
021 000000 1841
022 A000001 LEHAMN BROTHERS
022 B000001 13-2501865
022 C000001 6748756
022 D000001 6899
022 A000002 BANKERS TRUST
022 B000002 13-4941247
022 C000002 4332223
022 D000002 0
022 A000003 UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND
022 B000003 04-2474663
022 C000003 2810274
022 D000003 46988
022 A000004 SWISS BANK CORP
022 C000004 2684414
022 D000004 0
022 A000005 SANWA BANK
022 B000005 13-3046258
022 C000005 713385
022 D000005 1773
022 A000006 MERRILL LYNCH
022 B000006 13-5674085
022 C000006 452674
022 D000006 775
022 A000007 FIRST BOSTON
022 C000007 56253
022 D000007 1267
022 A000008 FORD MOTOR CREDIT
022 B000008 38-1612444
022 C000008 50160
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 GOLDMAN SACHS
022 B000009 13-5108880
022 C000009 35914
022 D000009 6113
022 A000010 MABOR SECURITIES
022 B000010 13-5220060
022 C000010 8955
022 D000010 28391
023 C000000 18064666
023 D000000 223943
024 00AA00 N
025 D00AA01 0
025 D00AA02 0
025 D00AA03 0
025 D00AA04 0
025 D00AA05 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
025 D00AA06 0
025 D00AA07 0
025 D00AA08 0
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
037 00AA00 N
038 00AA00 0
039 00AA00 Y
040 00AA00 Y
041 00AA00 Y
049 00AA00 N
050 00AA00 N
051 00AA00 N
052 00AA00 N
053 A00AA00 N
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 Y
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 Y
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 Y
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 N
055 A00AA00 N
055 B00AA00 N
056 00AA00 Y
057 00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 N
059 00AA00 Y
060 A00AA00 Y
060 B00AA00 Y
061 00AA00 1000
062 A00AA00 N
062 B00AA00 0.0
062 C00AA00 0.0
062 D00AA00 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 5
062 E00AA00 0.0
062 F00AA00 0.0
062 G00AA00 0.0
062 H00AA00 0.0
062 I00AA00 0.0
062 J00AA00 0.0
062 K00AA00 0.0
062 L00AA00 0.0
062 M00AA00 0.0
062 N00AA00 0.0
062 O00AA00 0.0
062 P00AA00 0.0
062 Q00AA00 0.0
062 R00AA00 0.0
063 A00AA00 0
063 B00AA00 0.0
066 A00AA00 Y
066 B00AA00 N
066 C00AA00 N
066 D00AA00 N
066 E00AA00 Y
066 F00AA00 N
066 G00AA00 N
067 00AA00 N
068 A00AA00 N
068 B00AA00 N
069 00AA00 N
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
077 J000000 N
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 Y
077 Q010000 Y
077 Q020000 N
077 Q030000 N
078 000000 N
080 A00AA00 GULF INSURANCE COMPANY
080 B00AA00 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C00AA00 35000
081 A00AA00 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 6
081 B00AA00 68
082 A00AA00 N
082 B00AA00 0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
015 A000101 INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
015 B000101 C
015 C010101 BOSTON
015 C020101 MA
015 C030101 02110
015 E010101 X
028 A010100 33214
028 A020100 0
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 28565
028 B010100 30734
028 B020100 0
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 36118
028 C010100 22738
028 C020100 6973
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 25314
028 D010100 24777
028 D020100 0
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 24261
028 E010100 23893
028 E020100 0
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 21442
028 F010100 27464
028 F020100 13432
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 26984
028 G010100 162820
028 G020100 20405
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 162684
028 H000100 100901
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 3398
030 B000100 5.00
030 C000100 0.00
031 A000100 521
031 B000100 0
032 000100 1097
<PAGE> PAGE 7
033 000100 1780
034 000100 Y
035 000100 530
036 A000100 Y
036 B000100 0
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 100
042 D000100 0
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 5453
044 000100 8206
045 000100 Y
046 000100 N
047 000100 Y
048 000100 0.000
048 A010100 750000
048 A020100 0.600
048 B010100 1500000
048 B020100 0.550
048 C010100 2500000
048 C020100 0.500
048 D010100 0
048 D020100 0.000
048 E010100 0
048 E020100 0.000
048 F010100 0
048 F020100 0.000
048 G010100 0
048 G020100 0.000
048 H010100 0
048 H020100 0.000
048 I010100 0
048 I020100 0.000
048 J010100 0
048 J020100 0.000
048 K010100 25000000
048 K020100 0.450
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 N
070 B010100 Y
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 N
070 E020100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 8
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 N
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 Y
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 Y
070 L020100 N
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 Y
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 N
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 N
070 R020100 N
071 A000100 604908
071 B000100 656232
071 C000100 1307854
071 D000100 46
072 A000100 12
072 B000100 19738
072 C000100 29978
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 8018
072 G000100 0
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 2884
072 J000100 226
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 93
072 M000100 134
072 N000100 78
072 O000100 150
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 36
072 S000100 34
072 T000100 5453
072 U000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 9
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 79
072 X000100 17185
072 Y000100 0
072 Z000100 32531
072AA000100 20230
072BB000100 0
072CC010100 299815
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 28763
072DD020100 3339
072EE000100 7241
073 A010100 0.3959
073 A020100 0.2764
073 B000100 0.0837
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 37
074 B000100 99076
074 C000100 0
074 D000100 111669
074 E000100 34215
074 F000100 1310049
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 0
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 8579
074 M000100 39
074 N000100 1563664
074 O000100 2506
074 P000100 2574
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 536
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 1558048
074 U010100 71653
074 U020100 14433
074 V010100 17.87
074 V020100 17.86
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 116571
074 Y000100 0
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 1388998
076 000100 0.00
015 A000201 INVESTORS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000201 C
<PAGE> PAGE 10
015 C010201 BOSTON
015 C020201 MA
015 C030201 02111
015 E010201 X
015 A000202 CITIBANK
015 B000202 S
015 C010202 BUENOS AIRES
015 D010202 ARGENTINA
015 E040202 X
015 A000203 NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED
015 B000203 S
015 C010203 MELBOURNE
015 D010203 AUSTRALIA
015 E040203 X
015 A000204 EUROCLEAR
015 B000204 S
015 C010204 VIENNA
015 D010204 AUSTRIA
015 E040204 X
015 A000205 EUROCLEAR
015 B000205 S
015 C010205 BRUSSELS
015 D010205 BELGIUM
015 E040205 X
015 A000206 BANK OF BOSTON
015 B000206 S
015 C010206 BRASILIA
015 D010206 BRAZIL
015 E040206 X
015 A000207 ROYAL TRUST CORPORATION OF CANADA
015 B000207 S
015 C010207 TORONTO
015 D010207 CANADA
015 E040207 X
015 A000208 BANK OF BOSTON
015 B000208 S
015 C010208 SATIAGO
015 D010208 CHILE
015 E040208 X
015 A000209 EUROCLEAR
015 B000209 S
015 C010209 COPENHAGEN
015 D010209 DENMARK
015 E040209 X
015 A000210 EUROCLEAR
015 B000210 S
015 C010210 HELSINKI
015 D010210 FINLAND
015 E040210 X
015 A000211 EUROCLEAR
015 B000211 S
<PAGE> PAGE 11
015 C010211 PARIS
015 D010211 FRANCE
015 E040211 X
015 A000212 EUROCLEAR
015 B000212 S
015 C010212 FRANKFURT
015 D010212 GERMANY
015 E040212 X
015 A000213 CITIBANK
015 B000213 S
015 C010213 ATHENS
015 D010213 GREECE
015 E040213 X
015 A000214 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000214 S
015 C010214 HONG KONG
015 D010214 HONG KONG
015 E040214 X
015 A000215 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000215 S
015 C010215 DJAKARTA
015 D010215 INDONESIA
015 E040215 X
015 A000216 BANK OF IRELAND SECURITIES SERVICES
015 B000216 S
015 C010216 DUBLIN
015 D010216 IRELAND
015 E040216 X
015 A000217 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B000217 S
015 C010217 MILANO
015 D010217 ITALY
015 E040217 X
015 A000218 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000218 S
015 C010218 TOKYO
015 D010218 JAPAN
015 E040218 X
015 A000219 CITIBANK
015 B000219 S
015 C010219 BUDAPEST
015 D010219 HUNGARY
015 E040219 X
015 A000220 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000220 S
015 C010220 SEOUL
015 D010220 KOREA
015 E040220 X
015 A000221 EUROCLEAR
015 B000221 S
015 C010221 LUXEMBOURG
<PAGE> PAGE 12
015 D010221 LUXEMBOURG
015 E040221 X
015 A000222 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000222 S
015 C010222 KUALA LUMPUR
015 D010222 MALAYSIA
015 E040222 X
015 A000223 BANCOMER, S.A.
015 B000223 S
015 C010223 MEXICO CITY
015 D010223 MEXICO
015 E040223 X
015 A000224 EUROCLEAR
015 B000224 S
015 C010224 AMSTERDAM
015 D010224 NETHERLANDS
015 E040224 X
015 A000225 NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK
015 B000225 S
015 C010225 WELLINGTON
015 D010225 NEW ZEALAND
015 E040225 X
015 A000226 EUROCLEAR
015 B000226 S
015 C010226 OSLO
015 D010226 NORWAY
015 E040226 X
015 A000227 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000227 S
015 C010227 MANILA
015 D010227 PHILIPPINES
015 E040227 X
015 A000228 CITIBANK
015 B000228 S
015 C010228 LISBON
015 D010228 PORTUGAL
015 E040228 X
015 A000229 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000229 S
015 C010229 DACCA
015 D010229 BANGLADESH
015 E040229 X
015 A000230 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000230 S
015 C010230 SINGAPORE
015 D010230 SINGAPORE
015 E040230 X
015 A000231 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000231 S
015 C010231 ISLAMABAD
015 D010231 PAKISTAN
<PAGE> PAGE 13
015 E040231 X
015 A000232 EUROCLEAR
015 B000232 S
015 C010232 MADRID
015 D010232 SPAIN
015 E040232 X
015 A000233 EUROCLEAR
015 B000233 S
015 C010233 STOCKHOLM
015 D010233 SWEDEN
015 E040233 X
015 A000234 EUROCLEAR/CITIBANK
015 B000234 S
015 C010234 ZURICH
015 D010234 SWITZERLAND
015 E040234 X
015 A000235 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000235 S
015 C010235 TAI PEI
015 D010235 TAIWAN
015 E040235 X
015 A000236 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000236 S
015 C010236 BANGKOK
015 D010236 THAILAND
015 E040236 X
015 A000237 CHASE MANHATTAN
015 B000237 S
015 C010237 ISTANBUL
015 D010237 TURKEY
015 E040237 X
015 A000238 BARCLAYS BANK PLC
015 B000238 S
015 C010238 LONDON
015 D010238 UNITED KINGDOM
015 E040238 X
015 A000239 CHASE MANHATTAN
015 B000239 S
015 C010239 CAIRO
015 D010239 EGYPT
015 E040239 X
015 A000240 CITIBANK
015 B000240 S
015 C010240 CARACAS
015 D010240 VENEZUELA
015 E040240 X
015 A000241 CHASE MANHATTAN
015 B000241 S
015 C010241 PRAGUE
015 D010241 CZECH REPUBLIC
015 E040241 X
<PAGE> PAGE 14
015 A000242 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000242 S
015 C010242 PEKING
015 D010242 CHINA
015 E040242 X
015 A000243 CITITRUST COLUMBIA S.A.
015 B000243 S
015 C010243 BOGOTA
015 D010243 COLOMBIA
015 E040243 X
015 A000244 STATE BANK OF INDIA
015 B000244 S
015 C010244 NEW DELHI
015 D010244 INDIA
015 E040244 X
015 A000245 THE STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED
015 B000245 S
015 C010245 CAPETOWN, PRETORIA
015 D010245 SOUTH AFRICA
015 E040245 X
015 A000246 CITIBANK
015 B000246 S
015 C010246 LIMA
015 D010246 PERU
015 E040246 X
015 A000247 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000247 S
015 C010247 COLOMBO
015 D010247 SRI LANKA
015 E040247 X
015 A000248 BARCLAYS BANK PLC
015 B000248 S
015 C010248 ACCRA
015 D010248 GHANA
015 E040248 X
015 A000249 CITIBANK
015 B000249 S
015 C010249 WARSAW
015 D010249 POLAND
015 E040249 X
015 A000250 BARCLAYS BANK PLC
015 B000250 S
015 C010250 GARBORONE
015 D010250 BOTSWANA
015 E040250 X
015 A000251 CHASE MANHATTAN
015 B000251 S
015 C010251 JERUSALEM
015 D010251 ISREAL
015 E040251 X
015 A000252 CITIBANK
<PAGE> PAGE 15
015 B000252 S
015 C010252 AMMAN
015 D010252 JORDAN
015 E040252 X
015 A000253 CHASE MANHATTAN
015 B000253 S
015 C010253 PORT LOUIS
015 D010253 MAURITIUS
015 E040253 X
015 A000254 CHASE MANHATTAN
015 B000254 S
015 C010254 RABAT
015 D010254 MOROCCO
015 E040254 X
015 A000255 BARCLAYS BANK PLC
015 B000255 S
015 C010255 LUSAKA
015 D010255 ZAMBIA
015 E040255 X
015 A000256 BARCLAYS BANK PLC
015 B000256 S
015 C010256 HARARE
015 D010256 ZIMBABWE
015 E040256 X
028 A010200 1343
028 A020200 0
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 2068
028 B010200 1861
028 B020200 0
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 2448
028 C010200 1339
028 C020200 1187
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 2256
028 D010200 1503
028 D020200 2
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 2367
028 E010200 1531
028 E020200 0
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 2010
028 F010200 1594
028 F020200 1140
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 2467
028 G010200 9171
028 G020200 2329
028 G030200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 16
028 G040200 13616
028 H000200 8271
029 000200 Y
030 A000200 159
030 B000200 5.00
030 C000200 0.00
031 A000200 25
031 B000200 0
032 000200 3
033 000200 131
034 000200 Y
035 000200 263
036 A000200 Y
036 B000200 0
042 A000200 0
042 B000200 0
042 C000200 100
042 D000200 0
042 E000200 0
042 F000200 0
042 G000200 0
042 H000200 0
043 000200 1018
044 000200 3299
045 000200 Y
046 000200 N
047 000200 Y
048 000200 0.600
048 A010200 0
048 A020200 0.000
048 B010200 0
048 B020200 0.000
048 C010200 0
048 C020200 0.000
048 D010200 0
048 D020200 0.000
048 E010200 0
048 E020200 0.000
048 F010200 0
048 F020200 0.000
048 G010200 0
048 G020200 0.000
048 H010200 0
048 H020200 0.000
048 I010200 0
048 I020200 0.000
048 J010200 0
048 J020200 0.000
048 K010200 0
048 K020200 0.000
070 A010200 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 17
070 A020200 N
070 B010200 Y
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 Y
070 C020200 N
070 D010200 Y
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 Y
070 E020200 N
070 F010200 Y
070 F020200 N
070 G010200 Y
070 G020200 N
070 H010200 Y
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 Y
070 J020200 N
070 K010200 Y
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 Y
070 L020200 N
070 M010200 Y
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 Y
070 N020200 N
070 O010200 N
070 O020200 N
070 P010200 Y
070 P020200 N
070 Q010200 N
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 N
070 R020200 N
071 A000200 62603
071 B000200 72949
071 C000200 140427
071 D000200 45
072 A000200 12
072 B000200 5552
072 C000200 2270
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
072 F000200 891
072 G000200 0
072 H000200 0
072 I000200 331
072 J000200 47
072 K000200 0
072 L000200 34
<PAGE> PAGE 18
072 M000200 15
072 N000200 27
072 O000200 0
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 0
072 R000200 41
072 S000200 4
072 T000200 1018
072 U000200 24
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 29
072 X000200 2461
072 Y000200 0
072 Z000200 5361
072AA000200 1018
072BB000200 0
072CC010200 25174
072CC020200 0
072DD010200 2614
072DD020200 2759
072EE000200 0
073 A010200 0.4373
073 A020200 0.3632
073 B000200 0.0000
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 2
074 B000200 2503
074 C000200 0
074 D000200 59683
074 E000200 2498
074 F000200 91949
074 G000200 0
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 0
074 J000200 0
074 K000200 0
074 L000200 1582
074 M000200 46
074 N000200 158263
074 O000200 0
074 P000200 125
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 500
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 157638
074 U010200 5943
074 U020200 7478
074 V010200 11.75
<PAGE> PAGE 19
074 V020200 11.74
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 12279
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 148510
076 000200 0.00
SIGNATURE THOMAS H. DROHAN
TITLE SR. VICE PRESIDENT
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN INVESTORS FUND - CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,249,306,690
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,555,009,732
<RECEIVABLES> 8,578,846
<ASSETS-OTHER> 75,345
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 305,703,042
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,563,663,923
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,506,250
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,109,673
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5,615,923
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,240,630,349
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 71,652,920
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 76,585,860
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 23,463
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 11,691,146
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 305,703,042
<NET-ASSETS> 1,558,048,000
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 29,977,700
<INTEREST-INCOME> 19,738,678
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 17,185,344
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 32,531,034
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 20,230,031
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 299,815,354
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 352,576,419
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 28,762,733
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 5,956,805
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 13,351,175
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 20,197,037
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,912,922
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 354,619,486
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 71,625
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,298,030)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 8,017,834
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 17,185,344
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,181,866,705
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.24
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.40
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.71
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.40
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.08
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.87
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.14
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN INVESTORS FUND - CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,249,306,690
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,555,009,732
<RECEIVABLES> 8,578,846
<ASSETS-OTHER> 75,345
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 305,703,042
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,563,663,923
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,506,250
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,109,673
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5,615,923
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,240,630,349
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 14,432,679
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 8,996,738
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 23,463
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 11,691,146
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 305,703,042
<NET-ASSETS> 1,558,048,000
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 29,977,700
<INTEREST-INCOME> 19,738,678
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 17,185,344
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 32,531,034
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 20,230,031
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 299,815,354
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 352,576,419
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 3,339,275
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 1,191,400
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 6,957,758
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,772,868
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 251,051
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 354,619,486
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 71,625
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,298,030)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 8,017,834
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 17,185,344
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 190,757,274
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.24
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.27
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.71
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.28
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.08
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.86
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.90
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 013
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN INVESTORS FUND - CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,249,306,690
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,555,009,732
<RECEIVABLES> 8,578,846
<ASSETS-OTHER> 75,345
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 305,703,042
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,563,663,923
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,506,250
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,109,673
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5,615,923
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,240,630,349
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,116,297
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,062,699
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 23,463
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 11,691,146
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 305,703,042
<NET-ASSETS> 1,558,048,000
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 29,977,700
<INTEREST-INCOME> 19,738,678
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 17,185,344
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 32,531,034
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 20,230,031
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 299,815,354
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 352,576,419
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 477,188
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 92,650
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 325,074
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 305,670
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 34,194
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 354,619,486
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 71,625
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,298,030)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 8,017,834
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 17,185,344
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 16,982,182
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.24
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.46
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.71
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.46
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.08
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.87
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.74
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN BALANCED FUND - CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 136,512,031
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 156,632,412
<RECEIVABLES> 1,582,032
<ASSETS-OTHER> 48,408
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 20,120,381
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 158,262,852
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 625,264
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 625,264
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 137,801,240
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5,943,279
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6,295,898
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,435
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (285,468)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 20,120,381
<NET-ASSETS> 157,637,588
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2,270,131
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,552,411
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,461,603
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,360,939
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,018,778
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 25,174,426
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 31,554,143
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 2,613,933
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 731,880
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,309,813
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 225,314
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 16,509,643
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 13,496
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,304,246)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 891,221
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,461,603
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 65,325,441
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.84
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.44
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.91
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.44
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.75
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.27
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 022
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN BALANCED FUND - CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 136,512,031
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 156,632,412
<RECEIVABLES> 1,582,032
<ASSETS-OTHER> 48,408
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 20,120,381
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 158,262,852
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 625,264
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 625,264
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 137,801,240
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 7,478,401
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 8,046,236
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,435
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (285,468)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 20,120,381
<NET-ASSETS> 157,637,588
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2,270,131
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,552,411
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,461,603
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,360,939
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,018,778
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 25,174,426
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 31,554,143
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 2,759,067
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 752,142
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,542,113
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 225,136
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 16,509,643
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 13,496
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,304,246)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 891,221
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,461,603
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 83,211,355
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.84
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.36
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.90
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.36
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.74
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.96
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
