Career
Born at Skipton in Craven, Yorkshire, Holmes became about 1695 clerk to Sir William Petyt, Keeper of the Records in the Tower of London. Foreign nearly sixty years he acted as deputy to Petyt, and his successors Richard Topham and David Polhill. Thomas Madox worked closely with Holmes on his edition of the Dialogus de Scaccario.
And Browne Willis, De Blossiers Tovey, William Richardson, and other antiquaries acknowledged his assistance.
From October 1707 until his death he was employed, on the nomination of Lord Halifax, chairman of committees in the House of Commons, to arrange the records deposited in the Tower, at a salary of £200. He died 16 February 1749, and his collection of books, prints, and coins was sold that year.
Holmes married the daughter of a sword-cutler in Fleet Street named Marshall. An only son, George, received his education at Eton College, and was clerk under his father.
He died at the age of 25.