Elizabeth Willson Hallett was born Elizabeth Lamb, the sister of General Lamb. In 1754, she became the second wife of Joseph Willson, the younger brother of Samuel Willson, and grandson of the Samuel Willson who settled in New York City in 1674, purchased much of the land presently at the foot of Wall Street, and built a house on the site now occupied by the sub-Treasury Building on the south side of Wall Street. The Willsons had two children, Cornelia and Ann. When Joseph Willson died, Elizabeth inherited a portrait (NGA 1957.11.9), thought to be of her husband's older brother, Samuel. She later remarried, to Samuel Hallett, and had several more children, including: Elizabeth, Lydia, Jane, Sarah, Samuel and Kate. The Halletts went to New Brunswick, Canada, as Loyalists, and ownership of the painting descended through their daughter Kate, or Catherine, who became Catherine Hallett Sinott.