John Holmes (1603–1652 or later), gentleman, was an early settler and official of the Plymouth Colony who arrived there before late 1632.
In October 1629 Holmes witnessed the will of his brother-in-law Tobias Moreton, gent., son of William Mor(e)ton, Archdeacon of Northumberland and Durham; this is the last known record of Holmes in England, although son Thomas appears to have grown up in England in the household of Tobias's widow, John's sister Susan.
He served in September 1638 on the jury that sentenced Arthur Peach, Thomas Jackson, and Richard Stinnings to death for the robbery and murder of Penowanyanquis.
In the latter capacity on 8 September 1642 Holmes hanged Thomas Granger, a teenager convicted of bestiality.
The will of Susan Morton implies he was alive in June 1652, and the wording suggests the possibility he had returned to England by that time,[2] but the date and place of his death are unknown.