John Holmes (Messenger of the Plymouth Court) facts for kids
John Holmes (born in 1603, died 1652 or later) was an important early settler in the Plymouth Colony. He arrived in Plymouth, which is now in Massachusetts, sometime before late 1632. He worked as the official Messenger of the Court for Plymouth from 1638 to 1645.
Holmes was baptized on February 22, 1603, in a church called St. Nicholas in Colchester, England. He was the only son of Thomas Holmes, who was a gentleman and also worked with malt (a type of grain). His father managed Colchester Castle and was in charge of the local jail.
John Holmes married a woman named Sarah, but her last name is not known. Their son, Thomas, was baptized in England in 1628. John Holmes was last recorded in England in October 1629.
Life in Plymouth Colony
John Holmes first appeared in the Plymouth Colony records on October 16, 1632. He became an active member of the community.
In 1638, he served on a jury that made important decisions for the colony. He also helped Dorothy Temple, who was working as an indentured servant, by taking over her contract.
On December 4, 1638, Holmes became the official Messenger of the Court. This was an important job. His duties included being a bailiff (someone who helps the court), a jailkeeper, and carrying out court orders.
Family and Legacy
John Holmes had two known children in Plymouth: John (born around 1636, died 1697) and Nathaniel (born around 1643, died 1727). Many people today are descended from John Holmes. This includes famous people like John Haynes Holmes (1879–1964), who was an American church leader and worked for peace, and Newland Howard Holmes (1891–1965), who was the President of the Massachusetts Senate.
Holmes's wife, Sarah, died in 1650. The last record of John Holmes in Plymouth is from October 7, 1651. It is thought he might have returned to England by June 1652, but no one knows exactly when or where he died.
The Holmes Reservation, which is a protected natural area in Plymouth, was given to the city by one of his descendants, Francis C. Holmes. Francis C. Holmes was a leader at the Plymouth Cordage Company from 1911 to 1938.
