The author speculates that John, the original proprietor of Woodstock, and James Holmes, also at Woodstock prior to 1690, were sons of David Holmes who died in Dorchester. David's will mentions two sons, unnamed, and the timing and names of John's children fits David's family, but no other evidence is cited.
"John Holmes, the Woodstock emigrant, was born about the year 1664, and propbably in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He was married April 9, 1690, to Hannah, daughter of Isaac Newell, of Roxbury, and granddaughter of Abraham Newell, who came over in the Francis, from Ipswich, in 1634. She was baptized Feb. 19, 1671.... John Holmes was a p man in the new colony of Woodstock, and was elected to many important positions in the town. Frequent grants of land made to him for services rendered to the settlement. He died June 20, 1713; his wife died May 9, 1743."
