Elizabeth Holmes (nee Hackworth) was born at 3 am on 13 July 1818 at Warbottle. She was the daughter of Timothy Hackworth and Jane Hackworth (nee Golightly). She moved to Shildon in 1825 when her father gained employment with the Stockton and Darlington Railway Company.

Elizabeth married Benjamin Holmes, a linen merchant (born in 1816 and died in 1847) on 8 November 1837 at St John’s Church, Shildon. They had three daughters and one son, the eldest daughter, Jane Elizabeth Holmes, died in 1863 aged 24, Mary, known as Minnie often experienced poor health and it is not known when she died. Another daughter, Ann, died of alcoholism on 5 December 1898. Elizabeth's son was Samuel Holmes, whose papers are listed in series HACK 6/2.

Benjamin Holmes died on 5 January 1847 of tuberculosis and family moved from their home in Leeds back to Soho house, Shildon. Elizabeth did not remarry and died on 26 May 1905, aged 86 years.