Sarah "Sally" Holmes

Sarah “Sally” Holmes was the first wife of Senator John Holmes. She attended many gala Washington DC balls and events while her husband was senator for Maine. Sally is shown in this portrait in some of her finery. Sally returned to Alfred when Sen. John Holmes retired in 1834. She died in Dec. 1835, shortly after the completion of their mansion- the “Bow & Arrow House” - on Waterboro Road [Rt. 4]. Several of her gowns were donated to the Maine Historical Society.

This painted is by Ethan Allen Greenwood who began painting portraits in 1801. By 1813, he was painting full time, establishing a studio near the State House in Boston—likely where Senator John Holmes of Alfred, Maine met him. Greenwood was a meticulous bookkeeper, and recorded painting both John Holmes and Sally Holmes's portraits in 1820 on June 27 and 28, respectively, in Boston. Sen. Holmes portrait is probably in the US Senate Historical Office.