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NOTES  ON 


CAITHNESS  FAMILY  HISTORY 


CAITHNESS 

FAMILY  HISTORY 


BY  JOHN    HENDERSON,  W.S. 


EDINBURGH:   DAVID   DOUGLAS 


MDCCCLXXXIV 


6S 
tf? 

C3 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


EDITOR'S  NOTE,            .           .            .  .  .  .  *.•'•'  ix 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH,           .            .  .  .   "-  .  -^  /'•"•  xi 

AUTHOR'S  PREFACE,    .            .            .  .  .-  .•  i1  -  xix 

INTRODUCTION,             .            .            .  .  .  .:*-  xxi 

BRODIES,           .            .            .            .  V<  '  '"'   ;<  308 

BRUCE  OF  HAM,          .            .            .  .  .  ,^,^  ,  ,  267 

BRUCE  OF  HASTIGROW  AND  SEATER,  .  .  .  ^.,,  273 

BRUCE  OF  LYTH,          .            .            .  .  .  .-., ,  270 

BRUCE  OF  STANSTILL,              .            .  .  ...  262 

BUDGE  OF  TOFTINGALL,           .            .  .  ,.*.,  •  .,,<• .:  181 

CAITHNESS,  EARLS  OF,            .            .  .  .  . '  1 

CALDER  OF  ACHINGALE  AND  NEWTON,  L  .  .  .  ..  ,.  ,,  215 

CALDER  OF  LYNEGAR,             .            .  .  .    •  .  -,,•    ?  209 

CALDER  OF  STRATH,    .            .            .  .  ^  .  .  ^  .> , ,  217 

CAMPBELLS  OF  QUOYCROOK,  LOCHEND,  CASTLEHILL,  ETC.,    .  ;:  ,.,.  275 

COGHILL  OF  THAT  ILK,           .           .  '  •  3  -  •  %*-  , -•  •  •    ,    •    253 

CUNNINGHAM  OF  BROWNHILL,  ETC.,  .  .  .  ...  ,n  201 

DAVIDSON  OF  ACHINGILLS  AND  BUCKIES,  ETC.,  .  ^  ,..,•.,!  301 

DOULL  OF  THUSTER,    .            .            .  .  •,,•»'-,•  324 

DUNBAR  OF  HEMPRIGGS,         .            .  .  .  ....  ,;.  219 

PUNBAR  OF  NORTHFIELD  AND  BOWERMADDEN,  ^.  _  ..  ,.<T  226 


VI  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

GIBSONS,           .            ,         "  .            .•           ...  .  .  304 

GORDON  OF  SWINEY,    .            .  .     .  •*  "        .-'           .  .  .  326 

GUNNS,            •.  .       "  *            .          :.            .            .  .  .  319 

HENDERSON  OF  ACHALIBSTER  AND  WESTERDALE,     «  .  .  .  288 

HENDERSON  OF  NOTTINGHAM  AND  GERSAY,  .            .  .  .  293 

HENDERSON  OF  STEMSTER,      .            .            .            .  .  .  283 

INNES  OF  SANDSIDE,    .            .            ,'....*  .  .  245 

INNES  OF  THURSATER,  ETC.,    .            .         ••-."•'.         .  .  .  .  238 

KENNEDY  OF  STROMA,          •  ,  .         .           . ' ';        .  ,w  .  .  328 

HANSONS,                    ,           .            .           ...  .  .  312 

MANSON- SINCLAIR  OF  BRIDGEND,       .   .        ....  .  .  148 

MOWAT  OF  BRABSTERMYRE  AND  SWINZIE,     .            .  .  .  178 

MOWAT  OF  "BUCHOLLIE,          .            .            .  '.         .  .  .  173 

MURRAY  OF  CLAIRDEN  AND  CASTLEHILL,     .            .  .  .  196 

MURRAY  OF  PENNYLAND,       .          r.  ' .        .            .  .  .  189 

NICOLSON  OF  SHEBSTER,        ..           .           /  '      -.    '  .*"  .  317 

OSWALDS,         .           .           .           .        '  .   '        .  .  .  232 

SINCLAIR  OF  ACHINGALE  AND  NEWTON,       ."•  '        ...  142 

SINCLAIR  OF  ASSERY,              .  '        .            .           .    '  .  '    .  31 

SINCLAIR  OF  BARROCK,           ,           .  •'         .            .  .  .  97 

SINCLAIR  OF  BORLUM  AND  THURA,   .         •  .    '        .  .  .  255 

SINCLAIR  OF  BRABSTERDORRAN,      .  .        ]  ^           .  .  •        .  125 

SINCLAIR  OF  DUN,    '.'       "V        1   '        .            .  .  .  107 

SINCLAIR  OF  DUNBEATH  AND  LATHERON,     ....  83 

SINCLAIR  OF  DURRAN,            .           ,.            .            .  .  '    .'  75 

SINCLAIR  OF  FORSS,    .           .*          .T        .           ,  .  \  128 

SINCLAIR  OF  FRESWICK,          .           .  r"    .    ,          ./  '  .  .  51 

SINCLAIR  OF  GEISE,     .           .           .           .            .*  .  ,  43 

SINCLAIR  OF  GREENLAND  AND  RATTAR,        .  44 


CONTENTS.  Vll 

PAGE 

SINCLAIR  OF  HOY  AND  OLDFIELD,     .            .            .            .            .  146 

SINCLAIR  OF  KIRK  AND  MYRELANDHORN,     ....  330 

SINCLAIR  OF  LYBSTER,            .            .            .            .            .            .  36 

SINCLAIR  OF  LYBSTER,  KEAY,            ....        \ ... .  144 

SINCLAIR  OF  MEY,      .            .            .            .            .            .          Y  60 

SINCLAIR  OF  MURKLE,            .            .            .            .            .  24 

SINCLAIR  OF  OLRIG,    .......  80 

SINCLAIR  OF  SCOTSCALDER,     ....            .            .  39 

SINCLAIR  OF  SOUTHDUN,         .            .            .                    ,    .           .  120 

SINCLAIR  OF  STEMSTER  AND  DUNBEATH,       .            .            .        "   .  14 

SINCLAIR  OF  STIRKOKE,          .....            .  103 

SINCLAIR  OF  ULBSTER,            .            .            .            .            .            .  67 

SINCLAIR  SUTHERLAND  OF  BRABSTER,            .  93 

SINCLAIR  SUTHERLAND  OF  SWINZIE,  .            .            .            .            .  171 

ST.  GLAIR,  MAJOR-GENERAL  ARTHUR,           .            .            .  334 

SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE,          .            .            .            .            .            .  ^  151 

SUTHERLAND  OF  LANGWELL,   .            .            .            .            .            .  163 

SUTHERLAND  OF  WESTER,       .            .            .            .            .            *..  332 

TAYLOR  OF  THURA,     .            .            .            .            .            .            .  299 

TRAILL  OF  CASTLEHILL  AND  KATTAR,            ....  229 

WILLIAMSON  OF  ACHORLIE  AND  BANNISKIRK,           .            .            .  295 

LIST  OF  HERITORS  AND  WADSETTERS,          '.           .           .           »  339 


EDITOR'S  NOTE. 

THESE  notes  on  Caithness  Family  History  are  given 
to  the  public  as  left  by  the  author,  and  the  Editor 
desires  to*  thank  those  friends  who,  by  their  advice,  have 
aided  in  the  preparation  of  the  book  for  the  press. 

The  Editor  also  wishes  gratefully  to  acknowledge  the 
courtesy  of  the  Earl  of  Caithness  in  permitting  the  use 
of  the  arms  of  his  ancestor,  George,  fourth  Earl  of  Caith- 
ness, and  his  wife,  Lady  Elizabeth  Graham,  daughter  of 
the  Earl  of  Montrose,  copied  from  an  old  carving  in 
Barrogill  Castle,  which  form  the  vignette  on  the  title- 
page  ;  and  the  valuable  assistance  most  kindly  rendered 
by  Mr.  Burnett,  Lyon  King  of  Arms,  in  revising  the  work, 
and  enriching  it  with  notes  (printed  within  brackets), 
which  elucidate  or  confirm  the  text. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 

IT  may  not  be  considered  inappropriate  to  preface  the 
"  Notes  of  Caithness  Family  History  "  now  published  by 
a  brief  sketch  of  their  author. 

John  Henderson  was  descended  from  the  Brabster- 
dorran  branch  of  the  Caithness  Hendersons.  Of  his 
grandfather's  three  sons,  two  were,  like  himself,  long  and 
intimately  associated  with  the  public  business  of  their 
native  county. 

Captain  John  Henderson,  the  eldest  of  the  brothers, 
after  serving  in  the  Caithness  Fencibles  during  the  Irish 
Rebellion,  spent  his  later  years  at  Castlegreen,  Thurso, 
which  he  built.  He  died  there  in  1828,  aged  sixty-nine. 
He  was  for  many  years  factor  on  the  Ulbster  estates,  and 
was  the  first  agent  in  Thurso  for  the  Commercial  Bank  of 
Scotland.  In  1812  he  published  a  "  General  View  of  the 
Agriculture  of  Caithness,"  the  first  family  contribution 
to  the  annals  of  the  county,  and  a  work  of  considerable 
interest.  He  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Captain  William 
Maclean  of  the  40th  Regiment,  and  his  wife,  Mary, 
daughter  of  John  Sutherland  of  Forse.  The  only  sur- 


xii  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 

vivor  of  their  family  is  Major-General  William  Hender- 
son, R.A. 

William,  the  second  brother,  and  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  after  an  extended  legal  practice  in  Thurso, 
and  also  acting  as  factor  on  many  estates  in  the  county, 
was  appointed  Sheriff-Substitute  of  Caithness,  an  office 
which  he  held  until  his  death  in  1826,  aged  fifty-eight. 
He  was  proprietor  of  the  estate  of  Scotscalder,  which 
he  bought  from  Captain  Balfour.  He  married  Anne, 
daughter  of  Patrick  Brodie,  Esq.  Of  four  deceased  sons 
of  their  large  family,  the  eldest,  Dr.  Patrick,  was  the 
author  of  an  unpublished  "  History  of  Caithness,"  and 
several  other  works.  John  was  the  second  son.  Alex- 
ander, the  third,  succeeded  his  uncle,  Captain  John,  as 
agent  for  the  Commercial  Bank  in  Thurso.  The  fourth, 
Dr.  William,  was  a  distinguished  physician  and  Professor 
of  General  Pathology  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh. 

James,  the  third  of  the  brothers,  was  Captain  in  the 
R/oss-shire  Militia.  He  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  Sir 
Edmund  Lacon,  Bart.,  who,  with  their  only  child,  pre- 
deceased him..  He  died  in  1825,  aged  fifty-five. 

John  Henderson  was  born  in  the  old  house  of  Ormlie, 
near  Thurso,  on  the  21st  December  1800.  He  received 
his  early  education  in  his  native  town,  and  subsequently 
attended  Tain  Academy,  concluding  his  academical  career 
at  the  University  of  Aberdeen.  On  leaving  Aberdeen  he 
served  his  apprenticeship  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Inglis,  W.S., 
and  after  completing  his  legal  studies,  was  admitted  Writer 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH.  xiii 

to  the  Signet  in  1824.  Circumstances  led  him  to  decide 
upon  commencing  business  in  Wick,  where  he  settled  in 
1828.  He  there  received  the  appointment  of  Procurator- 
Fiscal,  which  he  retained  until  his  removal  to  Thurso  in 
1852.  He  afterwards  held  all  the  important  county 
appointments,  and  in  addition  to  these  a  large  number  of 
factorships.  His  resignation  of  the  Freswick  factorship 
in  1879  terminated  a  business  connection  between  the 
proprietors  of  these  estates  and  his  family  of  more  than 
sixty  years.  And  at  different  periods  Mr.  Henderson 
was  also  factor  on  the  Hempriggs,  Thrumster,  Forse, 
Brabster,  Lochend,  Forss,  and  Rattar  estates. 

In  1852  he  removed  to  Thurso  to  take  up,  on  his 
brother  Alexander's  retirement,  the  agency  of  the  Com- 
mercial Bank,  which  he  held  until  his  death.  He  was 
for  many  years  an  elder  in  the  parish  church  of  Thurso, 
and  was  an  attached  but  not  sectarian  member  of  the 
Church  of  Scotland. 

In  1829  he  married  his  cousin,  Barbara,  daughter  of 
William  Henderson,  Esq.,  Edinburgh,  and  sister  of  John 
Henderson,  the  first  Queen's  Remembrancer.  She  was 
in  all  respects  worthy  of  her  husband,  and  her  death,  in 
1859,  threw  an  abiding  shadow  over  his  remaining  years. 

During  his  long  life  Mr.  Henderson  had  seen  many 
and  great  changes  pass  over  the  community  to  which  he 
belonged.  The  world  into  which  he  was  born  was,  he 
used  to  say,  a  different  one  from  that  of  his  later  years. 

As  a  boy  he  had  worshipped  in  the  ancient  and  now 


xiv  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH. 

ruined  parish  church  of  St.  Peter,  and  remembered  its 
curiously  painted  wood-work  and  quaint  galleries  and 
pews;  and  he  had  heard  the  " dead-bells"  tolled  before 
the  coffin,  as  funerals  passed  down  to  the  old  churchyard. 
Little  of  the  New  Town  of  Thurso  was  then  built,  and 
thatch  prevailed  more  than  slates  on  the  roofs  of  the 
houses  which  did  exist.  In  these  days  the  citizens'  cows 
grazed  on  the  "  common  "  pasture-ground ;  were  gathered 
in  the  evening  on  the  "  Clingrag  "  (or  Lingering)  Hill,  and 
conducted  collectively  to  the  entrance  of  the  main  street, 
whence  each  animal  sedately  took  her  way  to  her  own 
place  of  abode.  He  remembered  the  annual  game  of 
"knotty,"  which  took  place  on  New- Year's  day  on  the 
sands  of  Thurso,  below  the  long  "  links,"  which  have  now 
disappeared ;  the  regularly  recurring  faction  fights  on  the 
market-days  at  which  he  and  his  companions  delightedly 
"  assisted";  and  the  cock-fights  which  the  schoolboys 
were  encouraged  to  promote,  the  winning  bird  being 
always  considered  a  perquisite  of  the  Master.  He  recol- 
lected the  arrival  of  the  news  of  the  battle  of  Salamanca, 
and  other  victories  of  the  Peninsular  war.  These  were 
events  of  moment  to  Caithness  wives  and  mothers,  for 
above  two  thousand  Caithness  recruits  were  "  attested  " 
during  that  period,  and  the  Williamsons,  Inneses,  and 
Davidsons  lost  more  than  one  gallant  soldier-son  at 
Fuentes  de  Onoro,  — the  storming  of  Ciudad  Rodrigo ;  Sala- 
manca, and  the  siege  of  Burgos.  He  used  to  tell  of  the 
rejoicings  for  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  when  a  Thurso 


BIOGBAPHICAL  SKETCH.  XV 

bailie,  who  had  vowed  never  to  change  his  wig  while 
Bonaparte  retained  power,  came  down  from  his  house, 
and  preceded  by  the  town-piper,  and  followed  by  his 
maid-servant  bearing  a  new  wig  under  her  apron,  marched 
three  times  round  the  bon-fire  in  MacDonald  Square,  and 
at  the  end  of  the  last  circuit  threw  the  time-honoured 
head-gear  into  the  flames. 

His  journeyings  to  and  from  his  father's  house  and 
Edinburgh  were  chiefly  performed  on  board  the  coasting 
vessels,  which  were  then  the  most  available  means  of 
communication  between  North  and  South.  The  fort- 
night's voyage  between  Thurso  and  Leith  was  sometimes 
exceeded  by  days,  or  even  weeks ;  and  on  one  occasion, 
in  consequence  of  an  unusually  prolonged  detention,  the 
passengers  and  crew  of  the  "  John  o'  Groat "  were  con- 
strained to  consume  the  gifts  of  Caithness  geese,  and 
other  Christmas  fare,  which  were  on  their  way  from 
"  country  cousins "  to  expectant,  but  disappointed  reci- 
pients in  the  Scottish  capital. 

During  his  later  years  Mr.  Henderson  gradually  re- 
signed the  various  appointments  which  he  had  retained 
during  his  residence  in  Thurso,  except  the  bank  agency ; 
and  his  well-earned  time  of  comparative  rest  was  spent 
in  the  retirement  of  his  much-loved  home  at  Ormlie. 
During  those  years  the  volume  of  "  Notes,"  which  had 
been  gradually  growing  beneath  his  hand,  received  many 
additions.  Its  compilation  had  long  afforded  him  an 
object  of  interest  external  to  the  engrossing  cares  of 


xvi  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 

business,  -and  the  unwearied  trouble  he  took  in  verifying 
every  detail,  and  inserting  only  what  he  believed  to  be 
absolutely  accurate,  was  characteristic. 

In  the  spring  of  1883  his  health  began  to  fail,  and 
gradually  increasing  illness  terminated  in  his  death  on 
the  25th  of  August  of  the  same  year. 

To  one  who  best  knew  him  in  the  daily  intercourse  of 
a  home-life  full  of  sacred  memories,  it  is  not  easy  to 
estimate,  as  a  whole,  such  a  life  as  his.  The  worthy 
inheritor  of  a  name  associated  with  just,  honourable,  and 
upright  lives, ,  his  public  duties  were  discharged  with 
unvarying  faithfulness  and  punctuality.  In  his  many 
factorships  he  always  knew  how  to  combine  the  interests 
of  his  clients  with  the  well-being  of  the  tenantry.  A 
singular  youthfulness,  purity,  and  guilelessness  of  nature 
remained  with  him  throughout  his  life,  a  clear  and  strong 
intellect  enabled  him  to  grasp  and  master  every  subject 
to  which  he  applied  himself,  and  an  earnest  love  of  truth 
and  thirst  after  knowledge  led  to  an  unceasing  pursuit 
of  both.  Like  most  men  of  well-balanced  character,  he 
had  a  strong  sense  of  humour.  His  judgment  of  men  and 
things  was  ever  sound,  calm,  just,  and  charitable,  and  in 
his  nature  assumption  and  self-seeking  found  no  place. 

The  words  of  one  who  knew  him  well  may  most  fitly 
close  this  brief  record  of  his  life  : — "  His  sterling,  reliable 
character,  his  manly  straight-forward  way  of  doing  busi- 
ness, his  quiet  but  firm  manner,  his  kindly  consideration 
for  many  a  poor  man  struggling  with  difficulties,  gained 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  xvii 

for  him,  as  a  business  man,  a  place  which  business  men 
rarely  attain  to  in  the  hearts  of  the  people.  ...  As  one 
who  felt  it  a  privilege  to  know  and  love  him,  I  would 
like  to  pay  a  tribute  to  his  memory  by  pointing  out,  what 
was  indeed  apparent  to  all,  that  the  singular  success  of 
his  career  was  due  not  merely  to  his  natural  disposition 
and  manner,  but  to  what  the  grace  of  God  had  made  him 
as  a  Christian  man.  He  had  learned  the  secret  <tf  doing 
his  work  in  all  the  variety  of  his  offices  '  as  to  the  Lord, 
and  not  to*  man ; '  and  on  this,  as  the  foundation  prin- 
ciple of  all  his  dealings  with  men,  was  built  a  business 
life  rarely  equalled  in  its  usefulness.  .  .  .  His  death  was, 
like  his  life,  a  humble  and  unquestioning  profession  of  his 
faith  in  his  Redeemer.  He  had  *  finished  his  course/  he 
had  '  kept  the  faith ; '  and  when  death  came,  it  came  to 
one  who,  through  the  grace  of  God  preparing  him  for  it, 
had  nothing  to  do  but  to  die." 

Fear  no  more  the  heat  o'  the  sun, 

Or  the  furious  winter's  rages, 
Thou  thy  worldly  task  hast  done, 

Home  art  gone,  and  ta'en  thy  wages. 


A.  B.  H. 


ORMLIE  LODGE,  THURSO, 
February  5th,  1884. 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 

IT  may  be  proper  to  state  that  the  object  I  have 
had  in  view  in  the  following  Notes  has  not  been  to 
collect  materials  for  a  County  Genealogy  brought  down 
to  the  present  time,  but  to  preserve  notices,  now 
generally  forgotten,  of  the  older  families  connected 
with  the  County,  and  now,  in  many  instances,  extinct. 
The  Notes  were  commenced  many  years  ago,  and  have 
been  continued  as  opportunities  of  adding  to  them 
occurred,  and  every  care  has  been  taken  to  render  them 
accurate,  the  sources  of  information  having  been  County 
and  other  records,  title-deeds  of  landed  property,  and, 
as  far  as  possible,  family  documents.  The  materials 
here  collected  may  be  of  use  to  future  inquirers. 

JOHN  HENDERSON. 

OBMLIE  LODGE, 
THURSO,  1882. 


INTRODUCTION. 

THE  EARLDOM  OF  CAITHNESS,  although  said  to  be 
traditionally  of  great  antiquity,  does  not  appear  on 
record  until  1129,  in  which  year  Mac  William,  desig- 
nated Earl  of  Caithness,  occurs  in  a  charter  by  King 
David  i.  to  the  Monastery  of  Dunfermline.  From  the 
period  of  this  Earl's  death  in  1160,  down  to  1455,  the 
dignity  was  held  by  seven  different  Earls,  the  last  of 
whom,  Sir  George  Crichton,  Lord  High  Admiral,  was 
created  Earl  of  Caithness  in  1450.  Upon  his  death  in 
1455,  the  earldom  was  granted  to  William  St.  Glair, 
Earl  of  Orkney,  by  whose  lineal  descendants  it  is  still 
enjoyed. 

What  territorial  rights  in  the  county  were  possessed 
by  the  Caithness  Earls  before  the  St.  Glairs,  it  is  difficult 
to  say,  but  it  is  improbable  that  the  repeated  grants  of 
the  earldom  by  the  Crown  carried  nothing  except  the 
barren  dignity,  and  it  is  certain  that  about  1373  David 
Stewart,  Earl  of  Strathearne  and  Caithness,  obtained 
from  his  father,  King  Robert  ii.,  the  castle  of  Braal  and 
lands  thereof;  and  that  in  1452  Sir  George  Crichton, 


xxii  INTRODUCTION. 

the  eighth  Earl,  obtained  from  James  n.  the  lands  of 
Braal,  Dunbeath,  Latheronwheel,  and  Watten. 

William  St.  Glair's  charter  from  James  n.  in  1455 
conveyed  to  him  generally  "  Commitatum  nostrum  de 
Caithness  cum  titulis  de  Carnoch  et  Eminavir  cum  perti- 
nentiis  etaliis  pertinentiis  dicti  commitatus,"  and  the 
estate  so  granted  was  declared  to  be  a  free  barony. 

In  1476  James  in.  granted  to  William  St.  Clair, 
second  Earl  of  this  family,  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  the 
earldom,  on  the  resignation  of  his  father,  with  the 
patronage  of  the  Hospital  or  Church  of  St.  Magnus, 
at  Spittal.  A  hospital,  of  what  nature  is  unknown,  was 
connected  with  this  church,  of  which  considerable  ruins, 
together  with  its  cemetery,  still  remain.  The  cemetery 
was  the  burial-place  of  the  Clan  Gunn.  The  patronage 
was  retained  by  the  Caithness  family  until  at  least  as 
late  as  1644,  when  George,  Earl  of  Caithness,  was  served 
heir  therein  to  his  father,  John,  Master  of  Berriedale.  The 
settlement  of  the  earldom  by  the  first  Earl  was  no  more 
than  a  common  conveyance  of  the  lands,  and  yet  the 
dignity  as  well  as  the  estate  was  enjoyed  by  his  third 
son,  although  the  title  is  not  even  mentioned,  and  no 
new  creation  by  patent  was  issued,  and  both  descended 
to  his  heirs.  On  the  resignation  of  his  grandson,  George, 
a  new  Crown  charter  was  granted  to  John,  his  eldest 
son,  by  which  the  dignity  was  limited  to  heirs-male,  to 
the  exclusion  of  heirs-general. 

In  1527  William,  eldest  son   of  John,   third   Earl, 


INTRODUCTION.  xxill 

obtained  a  Crown  charter  of  Murkle,  Thurso,  and 
adjacent  lands.  Murkle  probably  formed  part  of  the 
earldom  before  the  accession  of  the  St.  Glairs,  as  John, 
an  Earl  of  Caithness  in  1297,  there  swore  fealty  to  King 
Edward  I. 

The  lands  of  the  earldom  were  undoubtedly  greatly 
extended  by  the  family  of  St.  Clair,  and  included,  at  one 
period,  either  in  property  or  superiority,  the  larger  por- 
tion of  the  county.  The  prosperity  of  the  earldom  reached 
its  climax  under  George,  the  fourth  Earl,  and  its  decline 
commenced  through  the  improvidence  of  his  grandson 
and  successor,  George,  fifth  Earl.  In  the  time  of  his  great- 
grandson,  George,  sixth  Earl,  the  estates  had  become  so 
burdened  with  debt  that  he  sold  them  in  1672  to  his 
principal  creditor,  Lord  Glenorchy,  and  by  him  and  his 
successors  all  that  remained  of  the  family  possessions  was 
sold, — the  then  holders  of  many  of  the  wadsets,  with 
which  the  earldom  was  burdened,  having  become  pur- 
chasers of  the  several  lands  possessed  by  them.  In  1719 
the  Earl  of  Breadalbane  sold  to  John  Sinclair  of  Ulbster 
his  remaining  claims  on  and  rights  in  the  estates  of  the 
Caithness  family,  and  Ulbster  thereafter  sold  one-half  of 
his  purchase  to  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath. 

George  Sinclair  of  Keiss,  the  seventh  Earl,  had  a 
very  small  estate,  and  none  of  the  families  of  Murkle, 
Rattar,  and  Mey,  to  which  the  succession  to  the  title 
opened  successively  after  the  death  of  the  seventh  Earl, 
had  large  patrimonial  possessions.  The  barony  of  Mey 


xxiv  INTRODUCTION. 

was,  in  1566,  acquired  from  the  Bishop  of  Caithness  by 
the  then  Earl  of  Caithness. 

It  has  been  considered  unnecessary  to  trace  the  an- 
cestry of  the  family  of  St.  Clair  from  the  period  of  the 
Norman  Baron,  who  obtained  Roslyn  from  King  David  i., 
and  these  notes  are  confined  to  the  descendants  of  William 
of  Roslyn,  third  Earl  of  Orkney  and  first  of  Caithness. 
William,  only  son  of  his  first  marriage,  was  the  ancestor 
of  the  family  of  Lords  Newburgh  and  Sinclair,  and  his 
son  Henry  was,  in  1488-89,  by  a  special  and  singular 
Act  of  Parliament,  declared  to  be  "  chief  of  his  blood." 
This  family  had  the  lands  of  Dysart  and  Ravensheugh  in 
Fife,  and  is  now  represented,  in  the  female  line,  by  Mr. 
Anstruther  Thomson  of  Charlton,  and  the  Earl  of  Roslyn, 
the  male  line  having  ended  in  the  person  of  John,  seventh 
Lord  Sinclair,  who  died  in  1676.  The  male  line  of  Sir 
Oliver  of  Roslyn,  eldest  son  of  Earl  William's  second 
marriage,  terminated  in  1778,  on  the  death  of  William 
Sinclair,  then  of  Roslyn,  and  the  representation  of  the 
family  is  claimed  by  the  Chevalier  Enrico  Ciccopieri,  a 
major  in  the  Italian  service.  The  chevalier  has  been 
served  by  the  Sheriff  of  Chancery  heir  of  line  of  Colonel 
James  St.  Clair,  who  died  in  1807,  since  which  time  the 
representation  had  been  in  abeyance.  Both  the  elder 
branches  of  St.  Clair  of  Roslyn  having  thus  failed,  in  the 
male  line,  the  representation  is  undoubtedly  vested  in 
the  present  Earl  of  Caithness. 

In  the  sixteenth   and    seventeenth   centuries   land- 


INTRODUCTION.  XXV 

holders  of  the  name  of  Sinclair  were  numerous,  both  as 
proprietors  and  wadsetters.  In  Calder's  History  of 
Caithness  it  is  said  that  the  family  of  Sinclair  of  Dun 
came  into  Caithness  in  1379  ;  but  no  evidence  has  been 
discovered  of  any  of  the  name  of  Sinclair  having  settled 
in  the  county  until  the  accession  to  the  earldom  in  1456, 
of  William,  Earl  of  Orkney ;  nor  is  there  any  trace  of  a 
Sinclair  of  Dun  earlier  than  1540.  Between  1508  and 
1540  Dun  was  possessed  by  the  family  of  Caldell  or 
Calder. 

From  an  early  period  the  Crown  had  been  in  use  to 
grant  lands,  and  casualties  of  superiority,  such  as  non- 
entry  and  ward,  to  persons  having  neither  residential  nor 
family  connection  with  the  county ;  but  of  these  it  is 
not  proposed  to  take  notice  further  than  as  they  may 
throw  light  on  its  family  history. 

From  1290  to  1350  the  Federiths,  a  Morayshire 
family,  held  extensive  possessions  in  Caithness.  How 
these  were  acquired  does  not  appear.  Contemporary 
with  them,  and  allied  by  marriage,  were  the  Chens  or 
Cheynes,  one  of  whom — styled  in  charters  "  Ranald 
Lord  Chen  " — obtained  a  grant  from  William  Federith 
"  of  that  Ilk,"  of  a  fourth  part  of  Caithness,  which  was 
confirmed  by  David  n.  The  possessions  of  the  Cheyne 
family  were  scattered  over  the  various  parishes  in  the 
county,  and  on  the  death  of  Ranald  Cheyne,  the  one- 
half  passed  to  the  Sutherlands,  afterwards  of  Duffus  or 
"Dove-house,"  through  the  marriage  of  one  of  his  two 

d 


xxvi  INTRODUCTION. 

daughters  and  heiresses,  to  Nicolas,  brother  of  the  Earl 
of  Sutherland ;  and  the  remainder  to  the  Keiths,  after- 
wards Earls  Marischall,  by  the  marriage  of  the  other 
daughter  to  John  Keith  of  Inverruggie  about  1380.  In 
1538  William,  Earl  Marischal,  got  a  Crown  charter  of 
Ackergill  and  the  Tower  thereof;  while  Berriedale  and 
Old  Wick  fell  to  the  Sutherlands.  Ultimately  the 
Caithness  holdings  of  the  Duffus  family  with  other 
lands  were  acquired  by  the  Oliphants,  by  the  marriage 
of  William,  then  styled  of  Berriedale,  second  son  of 
Laurence,  first  Lord  Oliphant,  to  Christina,  heiress  of 
Duffus. 

The  Inneses  of  Innes,  another  Moray  shire  family,  claim 
to  have  had  the  "  third  rig  in  Caithness."  Their  his- 
torian, Forbes,  supposes  them  to  have  acquired  some  part 
of  their  Caithness  possessions  as  far  back  as  1260,  in  place 
of  lands  taken  from  them  in  Moray,  and  "  given  to  the 
Kirk."  Mr.  Cosmo  Innes,  who  edits  Forbes's  "  Account 
of  the  Familie  of  Innes,"  says,  however,  that  he  had  dis- 
covered no  evidence  of  their  possessions  in  Caithness 
previous  to  1507.  In  that  year  a  charter  of  Dunbeath, 
Beay,  and  Sandside  was  granted  to  Alexander  Innes,  son 
and  heir  of  Alexander  Innes  of  Innes,  and  these  posses- 
sions were  resigned  in  1529  in  favour  of  Alexander 
Sinclair  of  Stemster,  grandson  of  the  first  Earl  of  Caith- 
ness. In  1541  and  1564  the  family  of  Innes  of  Innes 
held  heritable  rights  in  Wick,  Latheron,  and  Thurso, 
acquired  from  the  Oliphants ;  but  they  do  not  seem  to 


INTRODUCTION.  xxvii 

have  been  landholders  in  Caithness  for  any  considerable 
period.  Until  comparatively  recent  dates  there  were 
several  landholders  of  the  name,  all  believed  to  be  of 
Morayshire  extraction,  such  as  the  Inneses  of  Thursater 
and  their  collaterals ;  the  Inneses,  wadsetters,  of  Oust, 
of  Skaill,  and  of  Borrowstown ;  and  the  late  family  of 
Innes  of  Sandside. 

The  very  ancient  family  of  the  Muats,  or  Mowats,  or 
de  Monte  alto,  as  they  were  named  of  old,  occur  as  early 
as  1275,  when  William  de  Monte  alto  witnessed  an 
agreement  between  Archibald,  Bishop  of  Caithness,  and 
William,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  and  they  were  connected 
with  the  county  as  landholders  from  at  least  the  beginning 
of  the  fifteenth  century.  This  appears  from  the  fact  that 
between  1406  and  1413  the  Duke  of  Albany,  as  Regent 
of  Scotland,  confirmed  to  John  Mowat  a  wadset  of  Fres- 
wick,  granted  to  him  by  his  father,  William  Mowat  of 
Loscraggy.  Down  to  1661  the  Mowats  were  proprietors 
of  the  estate  of  Freswick. 

The  Earls  of  Ross  appear  to  have  had  at  a  remote 
period  land  rights  in  Caithness,  but  the  origin  or  extent 
of  these  has  not  been  traced.  There  is  an  original  Precept 
of  Sasine,  dated  24th  October  1429,  by  Alexander,  Earl 
of  Boss,  in  favour  of  his  sister,  Mariota,  and  her  husband, 
Alexander  de  Sutherland,  granting  to  them,  "  omnes  et 
singulas  terras  nostras  Dominii  de  Dunbeth  ;  "  and  it  is 
supposed  to  be  the  earliest  writ  extant  concerning  these 
lands.  Alexander  Sutherland  of  Dunbeath  was  long 


XXVlll  INTRODUCTION. 

believed  by  all  Scottish  genealogists  to  have  been  the 
Master  of  Sutherland,  the  elder  brother  of  John,  third 
Earl,  but  in  the  Sutherland  Peerage  Case,  in  1771,  this 
was  proved  to  be  a  mistake,  his  Will,  made  in  1456,  hav- 
ing been  discovered,  and  produced ;  and  it  is  probable 
that  he  was  of  the  Thorboll  branch  oi  the  Sutherland 
family.  Whatever  may  have  been  his  descent,  he  was 
evidently  a  person  of  position  and  wealth ;  and  his 
daughter,  Majory,  having  married  William  St.  Clair,  first 
Earl  of  Caithness,  his  connection  with  the  county  has 
been  perpetuated  in  her  descendants  of  that  family. 

Nottingham,  the  residence  of  Sutherland  of  Forse,  is 
the  ancient  Nothingham  and  Nodingham,  and  "  Henry  of 
Nothingham,"  a  Canon  of  Caithness  in  1272,  was  probably 
so  styled  from  this  place.  In  1408  it  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  present  family  by  grant  from  Mariot 
Cheyne,  with  consent  of  Andrew  of  Keith,  her  son,  and 
Sutherland  of  Forse  is  thus  the  oldest  of  the  existing 
county  families. 

At  one  period  the  Earls  of  Sutherland  held  the  follow- 
ing lands  which  belonged  to  the  bishopric,  namely, 
Stemster  (Reay),  half  of  Brims,  Forss,  and  Baillie,  Lyth- 
more,  two-thirds  of  Oust,  Dorrary,  Myremeikle,  Scrab- 
ster,  Wick,  and  Papego,  South  and  North  Kilimster, 
Windless,  Myrelandhorn,  Ulgrunbeg  and  Ulgrimore, 
Halkirk,  Easterdale,  Westerdale,  Tormsdale,  Submin- 
ster,  Deren,  Alterwall,  Stanstill. 

Much  property  now  in  the  hands  of  the  landholders  of 


INTRODUCTION.  xxix 

Caithness  belonged  at  one  period  to  the  Bishopric,  and 
was  feued  out  in  portions  from  time  to  time  by  various 
Bishops  and  other  church  functionaries  to  the  Earls  of 
Sutherland  of  Caithness  and  others.  In  1550  Bishop 
Robert  Stuart  granted  to  John,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  the 
hereditary  bailiary  of  the  possessions  of  the  Bishopric ; 
and  in  1557  and  1559  Bishop  Robert  gave  him  a  grant  of 
the  lands  of  Forss,  Bailie,  and  Stemster,  Lythmore,  Wick, 
South  and  North  Kilimster,  and  Winless  ;  Myrelandhorn, 
Scrabster,  and  fortalice  thereof ;  Skaill,  Dorrary,  Ulgrun- 
beg,  and  Ulgrimore ;  Halkirk,  Subminster,  Tormsdale, 
Deren,  Alterwall,  Stanstill,  Brims,  and  Oust,  etc.  The 
Earl  and  his  heirs  were  also  appointed  Hereditary  Con- 
stables of  the  Castle  of  Scrabster  and  the  Palace  of 
Dornoch,  "  situated  among  the  wild  and  uncivilised  Scots, 
and  in  a  wintry  region."  In  1201  Bishop  John  occupied 
the  Palace  of  Scrabster,  and  in  1560  John,  Earl  of  Suther- 
land, there  signed  a  charter  to  the  first  Sinclair  of  Forss 
of  the  lands  of  Forss  and  Bailie,  formerly  part  of  the 
bishopric. 

Budge  of  Toftingall  dates  from  at  least  as  far  back  as 
1503,  and  the  Murrays  of  Penny  land  from  the  same  cen- 
tury. Both  families  are  now  united  and  were  represented 
by  the  late  Sir  Patrick  Murray  Threipland  Budge.  The 
Sinclairs  of  Forss  have  possessed  Forss  and  Baillie  since 
the  year  1560. 

Much  of  the  information  given  in  these  Notes  regard  - 
the  Earls  of  the  Sinclair  line  is  to  be  found  in  the 'works 


xxx  INTRODUCTION. 

of  Douglas  and  other  genealogists,  but,  without  repetition 
from  these  sources,  the  lines  of  descent  from  the  principal 
family  of  many  of  the  county  families  would  have  been 
incomplete. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  note  some  particulars  of 
the  state  of  society  in  the  county  in  last  century,  as  given 
in  1786  by  Captain  John  Sutherland  of  Wester,  whose 
recollection  extended  beyond  the  middle  of  that  century. 
He  says  the  people  in  general  took  a  great  deal  more 
trouble  in  other  people's  business  than  in  their  own,  which 
is  to  be  accounted  for  by  the  circumstances  that  the 
county  lies  in  a  remote  corner  of  the  island,  and  that  the 
access  to  and  from  it  is  only  by  one  difficult  road  (the  Ord), 
so  that  the  people  of  it  have  not  that  free  and  easy  inter- 
course with  other  counties  as  the  other  and  more  southerly 
counties  have ;  and  the  county  is  so  "  interlarded  "  by 
marriages  among  themselves  that  a  multiplicity  of  ques- 
tions arise,  particularly  in  the  way  of  succession,  which  often 
creates  bad  blood  among  relations.  The  same  cause  pro- 
duces a  great  deal  of  jaunting  and  visiting  among  relations. 
The  Captain  goes  on  to  say  that  it  was  the  general  practice 
in  the  highland  and  inward  part  of  the  county,  previous 
to  and  about  the  middle  of  the  century,  to  go  to  markets 
with  arms,  such  as  broad-swords  or  side  pistols ;  but  the 
"  parish  of  Canisbay,"  even  in  those  days,  "  did  not  seem 
to  be  inspired  with  that  warlike  genius  so  much  as  the 
other  parishes."  But  he  had  seen  from  four  to  six  men, 
dressed  in  a  sort  of  uniform,  issue  from  the  house  of  Fres- 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxi 

wick  (then  occupied  by  William  Sinclair,  who  built  it), 
to  attend  these  markets,  and  with  the  result  of  the  mal- 
treatment of  persons  with  whom  Freswick  was  at  variance.1 
Many  of  the  lairds  of  this  period,  besides  indulging  largely 
in  the  luxury  of  litigation,  passed  portions  of  the  year  in 
Edinburgh,  accompanied  by  members  of  their  families,  and 
went  into  good  society,  although  few  of  them  had  incomes 
exceeding  £200  to  £300  a  year. 

1  About  I739lor  1740  a  dispute  arose  of  followers,  armed  with  flails,  scythes, 

between  Freswick  and  George  Murray  and  suchlike   implements.      Freswick, 

of  Clairden  in  regard  to  the  right  of  as  tutor  for  his  nephew,  William   of 

taking  a  description  of  sea-fowl,  locally  Rattar,  the  proprietor,  proceeded  to  the 

called  "  Layers  or  Liarts,"  and  supposed  Craig  with  eight  followers,  armed  with 

to  be  the  Puffin,  from  the  rocks  at  Craig  broadswords    and  pistols.       A   scuffle 

of  Dunnet.     Murray,   as   possessor  of  ensued,   in    which    Clairden    received 

Dunnet,  under  a  wadset,  proceeded  to  some  personal    damage,    and   had  the 

exercise  the  privilege,  along  with  a  band  worst  of  the  fight. 


THE  ST.  CLAIES  OR  SINCLAIRS, 
EARLS  OF  CAITHNESS. 

I.  WILLIAM  ST.  GLAIR,  EARL  OF  ORKNEY,  obtained The  st.  ciairs 

or  Siuclairs, 

a  grant  01  the  Earldom  of  Caithness  in  1455  from  Earls  of  Caith- 
James  II.  He  was  the  first  of  this  family  who  enjoyed  n€ 
the  dignity.  He  held  many  high  public  offices,  possessed 
extensive  landed  property,  and  had  in  his  time  great 
influence ;  and  he  appears  to  have  lived  in  his  castle  at 
Roslyn  in  almost  regal  splendour.  In  personal  appear- 
ance he  is  described  as  having  been  "  a  very  fair  man,  of 
great  stature,  broad  bodied,  yellow  haired,  and  well  pro- 
portioned," and  to  be  "much  given  to  policy,  as  building 
of  castles,  palaces,  and  churches,"  among  which  were 
Roslyn  Castle  and  its  celebrated  Chapel. 

He  was  twice  married — first,  to  Margaret,  daughter 
of  Archibald,  fourth  Earl  of  Douglas,1  by  whom  he  had  a 
son,  William,  named  "  Williame  the  Waster,"  ancestor  of 
the  Lords  Sinclair,  and  a  daughter,  Catharine,  married 
to  Alexander,  Duke  of  Albany.  He  married,  secondly, 
Marjorie,  daughter  of  Alexander  Sutherland  of  Dunbeath. 
In  Gordon's  "  History  of  the  Family  of  Sutherland," 

1  [She  was  widow  [of  John  Stewart,  Earl  of  Buchan,  and  of  Sir  Thomas 
Stewart,  natural  son  of  Alexander,  Earl  of  Mar.] 

A 


2  THE  ST.   CLAIBS  OR  SINCLAIRS, 

The  st.  Claire  this  Alexander  Sutherland  is  stated  to  have  been  the 
of  caith-  eldest  son  of  John,  Earl  of  Sutherland ;  and  down  to 
1771  this  was  the  general  opinion  of  Scottish  genea- 
logists. But  it  was  then  proved  in  the  Sutherland 
peerage  case,  by  the  production  of  his  original  will,  that 
he  was  alive  in  1456,  and  that  he  had  several  sons  and 
daughters,  whereas  Alexander,  Master  of  Sutherland, 
appears  to  have  died  about  1444,  when  the  earldom 
went  to  his  younger  brother.  It  is  uncertain  of  what 
family  Alexander  Sutherland  of  Dunbeath  was,  but  it  is 
probable  that  he  was  of  the  Thorboll  or  Duffus  branch  of 
the  family  of  Sutherland.  It  is  on  the  supposed  descent 
of  Sutherland  of  Dunbeath  from  the  Earl  of  Sutherland, 
and  on  the  belief  that  his  daughter  Marjorie  was  the 
Earl's  granddaughter,  that  the  close  blood  connection, 
assumed  by  Douglas  and  others  to  have  existed  between 
the  Earls  of  Caithness  and  Sutherland,  is  founded. 
By  his  second  marriage  Earl  William  had  issue — 

1.  Sir  Oliver  of  Roslyn. 

2.  William,  his  successor  in  the  earldom. 

3.  Sir  David  of  Swinburgh. 

4.  Robert,  mentioned  in  a  Crown  charter  in  1506. 

5.  John,  Bishop  nominate  of  Caithness. 

William  Sinclair  of  Warsetter  in  Orkney,  who  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  George,  Earl  of  Huntly,  was  probably 
a  son  or  grandson  of  Earl  William. 

His  daughters,  by  the  second  marriage,  were— 

1.  Eleanor  ;  2.  Marion  ;  3.   Elizabeth  ;  4.  Marjorie. 


EARLS  OF  CAITHNESS.  3 

The  seniority  of  Sir  Oliver,  and  his  brother-german  The  st.  ciairs 
William,  has  been  a  matter  of  controversy.     The  unequal  Jab  of  0"ith- 
distribution  of  their  father's  large  succession  has  beenness' 
considered  to  support  the  seniority  of  Sir  Oliver,  "  for" — 
as  observed  in  Father  Hay's  account  of  the  family  of 
Roslyn — "  while  the  second  Earl  does  not  seem  to  have 
inherited  anything  beyond  the  barren  domains  belonging 
to  the  earldom,  Sir  Oliver  received  Eoslyn  and  other 
extensive  properties,  any  one  of  which  was  worth  the 
fee-simple   of  the   northern   estates   made   over  to   his 
brother." 

Nisbet,  whose  work  was  written  about  the  beginning 
of  last  century,  says,  "  To  clear  the  seniority  of  these 
sons,  I  have  seen  a  contract  of  the  date  the  9th  of 
February  1481,  betwixt  William  Sinclair  (William  the 
Waster),  son  and  heir  of  the  deceased  William,  Earl  of 
Orkney,  Lord  Sinclair  and  Zetland,  and  Henry  Sinclair, 
son  and  apparent  heir  of  the  said  William  Sinclair,  on 
the  one  part,  and  Sir  Oliver  Sinclair  of  Rosline,  on  the 
other  part,  whereby  the  said  Sir  Oliver  freely  resigns 
and  gives  over  to  the  said  William  and  his  son  and 
apparent  heir,  Henry,  the  lands  of  Causland,  Dysart,  and 
Ravensheugh,  with  the  castles ;  and,  on  the  other  part, 
William  and  his  son  Henry  renounce  all  right  to  the 
barony  of  Rosline,  Pentland  Mure,  etc.,  in  favour  of 
Sir  Oliver  and  his  heirs;  and  the  said  Oliver  obliges 
himself  that  he  shall  in  time  coming  do  worship  and 
honour  to  the  said  William  as  accords  him  to  do  to 


THE  ST.   CLAIRS  OR  SINCLAIRS, 

an  elder  brother,  and  if  it  happen  any  plea  or  debate 
ofducaith-to  be  betwixt  the  said  William  and  his  younger 
brother  "  (WiUiam,  afterwards  second  Earl  of  Caithness) 
"for  the  earldom  of  Caithness,  the  said  Sir  Oliver 
shall  stand  evenly  and  neuter  betwixt  them  as  he 
should  do  betwixt  his  brothers,  and  take  no  partial  part 
with  either  of  them."1 

II.  WILLIAM,  SECOND  EARL,  obtained  a  charter 
from  King  James  in.,  on  his  father's  resignation  in 
1476,  of  the  earldom,  including  the  patronage  of  the 
Hospital  of  St.  Magnus,  at  Spittal.  In  1505  he  sat 
in  Parliament  as  Earl  of  Caithness,  and  in  1513  he  fell 
at  Flodden. 

By  his  wife,  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Keith  of 
Inveruggie,  he  had — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

2.  Alexander,  ancestor  of  the  first  family  of  Sinclair 

of  Stemster  and  Dunbeath. 
He  had  also  a  natural  son,  William,  who  was  legiti- 

1  Mr.  Burnett,  Lord  Lyon,  who  had  all  the  older  1433.,  Sir  David  Lindsay's 

the  perusal  of  these  notes,  writes  on  4th  included,  which  was  close  to  that  period, 

November  1873,  to  Principal  Campbell,  a  mullet  for  difference,  is  to  me  very 

Aberdeen,  "I  observe  he  (Mr.  Hender-  convincing  proof  that  Sir  Oliver  was 

son)  takes  Nisbet's  view  of  the  respec-  the  third  son  of  his  father.     This  mark 

tive  seniority  of  Sir  Oliver  of  Roslyn  of  cadency  seems  first   to   have   been 

and  his  brother  William,  Earl  of  Caith-  allowed  to  be  dropped  in  1672,  probably 

ness.     My  own  belief  is  quite  the  other  in  consequence  of  both  Lord  Sinclair 

way ;  the  document  quoted  by  Nisbet  is  and  the  Earl  of  Caithness  having  their 

equally  capable  of  either  interpretation,  arms  otherwise  differenced, 
and  the  Sinclairs  of  Roslyn  having  in 


EARLS  OF  CAITHNESS.  5 

mised   in    1543,  but  of  whose   descendants,  if  any,  no  The  st.  ciairs 

.   -,          ,  -. .  -i  or  Sinclairs, 

account  has  been  discovered.  Earis  Of   a 

III.  JOHN,   THIRD  EARL,   was   slain  in  an   expedi- 
tion to  Orkney  in  1529.     He  married  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Sir  William  Sutherland  of  Duffus,  by  whom  he 
had- 

1.  William,  who  died  in  1527,  without  issue. 

2,  George,  his  successor. 

He  had  also  a  natural  son,  David,  who  held  the  office 
of  Bailie  to  the  Bishop  of  Caithness.  In  1556,  David's 
brother,  Earl  George,  obtained  a  remission  for  imprisoning 
him  in  Girnigo  Castle. 

IV.  GEORGE,  FOURTH  EARL,  was  Justiciar  of  Caithness 
by  grant,  in  1566,  from  Queen  Mary ;  and  he  was  one  of 
the  peers  who  sat  on  the  trial  of  Bothwell. 

He  married  Lady  Elizabeth  Graham,  daughter  of 
William,  Earl  of  Montr ose,  and  had — 

1.  John,  Master  of  Caithness. 

2.  William,  who  was  first  Laird  of  Mey,  and  ancestor 

of  Ulbster. 

3.  George  of  Mey,  Chancellor  of  Caithness. 

1.  Barbara,  who  married  Alexander,  Earl  of  Suther- 

land, and  was  divorced  by  him  in  1573. 

2.  Elizabeth,  married  first  to  Alexander  Sutherland 

of  Duffus,  and  thereafter  to  Hutcheon  M'Kay  of 
Farr,  ancestor  of  the  Lords  Reay. 


6  THE  ST.   GLAIRS  OB  SINCLAIRS, 

The  st.  ciairs          3.  Another  daughter,  married  to  Alexander  Innes,  of 

or  Sinclairs,  T 

Earls  of  Caith-  InneS. 

Douglas  mentions  Janet  St.  Clair,  a  daughter  of  this 
Earl,  as  third  wife  of  Robert  Munro  of  Foulis,  said  by 
him  to  have  died  without  issue.  In  1582  Janet  Sinclair, 
Lady  Foulis,  had  a  Tack  of  the  Parsonage  of  Spittal, 
which  belonged  to  the  Caithness  family. 

John,  Master  of  Caithness,  died  at  Girnigo  Castle  in 
1576.  In  1543  he  had  obtained  a  charter  from  Queen 
Mary,  by  which  the  earldom  became  a  male  fee,  to  him 
and  his  heirs-male.  He  married  Jean,  daughter  of 
Patrick,  Earl  of  Bothwell ;  and  had  three  sons  and  a 
daughter : — 

1.  George,  afterwards  Earl  of  Caithness. 

2.  James,  first  of  Murkle. 

3.  John,  first  of  Greenland  and  Rattar. 
1.  Agnes. 

Douglas  gives  the  Master  a  legitimate  son  David,  but 
this  is  an  error.  In  August  1587  David  Sinclair  obtained 
a  charter  of  Alterwall  from  Henry  Keir  of  Greenland ; 
and  in  a  Crown  charter  which  followed  thereon  he 
is  designated  "Jilio  naturali  quond.  Joannis  Magistri 
Cathanensis."  In  1588  he  obtained  Letters  of  Legiti- 
mation. He  had  two  sons,  John,  killed  at  Thurso  in 
1612,  and  Colonel  George,  who  perished  in  the  same  year 
in  the  luckless  expedition  to  Norway,  of  which  full  details 
are  to  be  found  in  Calder's  "  History  of  Caithness,"  and 
elsewhere.  In  Chambers's  "Domestic  Annals"  (vol.  i.  pp. 


EARLS  OF  CAITHNESS. 

445-6),  it  is  stated  that  in  the  Pass  Kringelen  there  is  aThest.  ciairs 
tablet  with  the  following  inscription: — "  Here  lies  Colonel 
Sinclair,  who  with  nine  hundred  Scotsmen  were  dashed 
to  pieces  like  clay-pots  by  three  hundred  Boors  of  Lessoe, 
Vaage,  and  Froen ;  Berdon  Segelstadt  Bingeboe  was  the 
leader  of  the  Boors." 

The  Master  had  also  a  natural  son,  Henry,  who  got  a 
conveyance  from  his  brother,  Earl  George,  of  part  of  the 
lands  of  JBorrowstown  and  Lybster,  with  "the  miln  and 
fishings,"  and  in  a  reversion  by  him  in  favour  of  the 
Earl  dated  23d  September  1606,  he  is  designed  as  his 
"  brother  naturall."  By  his  wife,  Janet  Sutherland,  he 
had  a  son  John,  and  he  is  probably  the  ancestor  of  a 
family  of  Sinclairs  of  Lybster,  who  occur  as  Wadsetters 
of  these  lands  down  to  1670. 

In  1614,  Henry  Sinclair  accompanied  Earl  George  in 
an  expedition  to  Orkney,  and  it  is  related  by  Gordon 
that,  while  besieging  the  Castle  of  Kirkwall,  he  "  went 
to  bed  at  night  in  health,  but  before  the  morning  he  was 
benummed  in  all  his  sences,  and  remained  so  until  his 
death," — an  event  evidently  considered  by  the  historian 
as  a  judgment  on  the  Earl's  proceedings. 

V.  GEORGE,  FIFTH  EARL,  succeeded  bis  grandfather  in 
1583.1  He  married  Jean  Gordon,  daughter  of  George, 
fifth  Earl  of  Huntly,  and  had  two  sons ;  and  a  daughter 
Elizabeth,  named  in  Douglas's  Peerage  Anne,  who  married 

1  1583-1643. 


8  THE  ST.   GLAIRS  OK  SINCLAIRS, 

The  st.  ciairs    George,  Lord  Lindsay,  afterwards  Earl  of  Crawfurd,  and 

or  Sinclairs,          .. . 

Earis  of  Caith-  died  without  issue. — Inventory  of  Caithness  titles. 

1.  William,    Lord   Berriedale,    who    married    Mary, 

daughter  of  Henry  Lord  Sinclair.  He  died 
before  his  father,  leaving  a  son,  John,  Master  of 
Berriedale,  who  married  Jean,  daughter  of  the 
Earl  of  Seaforth,  and  died  in  1639.  John  had 
three  sons, — George,  afterwards  sixth  Earl ;  and 
John  and  William,  who  died  before  him. 

2.  Francis   of    Northfield,    who    married   Elizabeth, 

daughter  of  Lord  Eraser,  and  had  a  son,  George 
Sinclair  of  Keiss,  afterwards  seventh  Ear],  and 
a  daughter  "Jean,  Lady  Mey,"  who  died  in 
1716. 

Francis  Sinclair  had  a  natural  daughter,  Margaret, 
who  in  1653  married  John,  son  of  Alexander  Sutherland 
in  Lybster,  to  whom  her  father  promised  a  tocher  of  700 
merks,  which,  however,  the  cautioners  in  the  contract  of 
marriage,  Patrick  Sinclair  of  Ulbster,  and  John  Smart, 
Minister  of  Wick,  were  compelled  to  pay. 

Earl  George  had  two  natural  sons,  Francis,  who, 
about  162 1,1  fought  a  duel  with  his  relative,  Sir  William 
Sinclair  of  Mey ;  and  John,  who  attained  the  rank  of 
Lieutenant- Colonel  in  the  German  wars.  From  Francis 
Sinclair  are  descended  the  Sinclairs  of  Stirkoke. 

VI.  GEORGE,  SIXTH  EAKL,  married  Mary,  daughter 

1  Gordon,  p.  450.  2  1643-1676. 


EARLS  OF  CAITHNESS.  9 

of  the  Marquis  of  Argyle,  and  died  at  Thurso  Castle  in  The  st.  ciairs 

..-.          .    .  orSinclairs, 

1676,  Without  ISSUe.  Earls  of  Caith- 

The  earldom  being  much  involved  in  debt,  Earl 
George  disponed  the  estates  and  title  to  his  principal 
creditor,  John  Campbell  of  Glenorchy,  who,  on  the  Earl's 
death,  married  the  Countess,  and  was  created  Earl  of 
Caithness  by  patent.  Glenorchy's  right  to  the  title  was 
challenged  by  George  Sinclair  of  Keiss,  son  of  Francis 
Sinclair  of,  Northfield,  and  after  a  proclamation  in  favour 
of  the  latter  by  the  Privy  Council  in  1681,  Glenorchy 
was  created  Earl  of  Breadalbane  and  Holland. 

VII.  GEORGE  SINCLAIR  OF  KEISS,  SEVENTH  EARL  OF 
CAITHNESS/  and  grandson  of  the  fifth  Earl,  died  in  1698 
without  issue. 

With  George  Sinclair  the  heirs-male  of  the  body  of 
the  fifth  Earl  came  to  an  end,  and  the  succession  to  the 
dignity  opened  to  the  descendants  of  James  Sinclair, 
first  of  Murkle,  in  the  person  of  his  grandson,  John 
Sinclair,  then  of  Murkle. 

VIII.  JOHN,  EIGHTH  EARL,S  was  eldest  son  of  Sir 
James    Sinclair,    second   of  Murkle,   and   married   Jean 
Carmichael  of  the  Hyndford  family.3 

In  March  1644  his  father  resigned  the  lands  of 
Murkle  in  favour  of  himself  and  of  John,  styled  his 

1  1681-98.  rary,  calls  her   simply   "Jean   Carmi- 

2  1698-1705.  chael."  Mr.  C.  H.  E.  CarmichaeFs  almost 

3  [So  designed  in  Douglas's  Peerage,  exhaustive   researches    in    Carmichael 
1764.     Crawfurd,    nearly  a  contempo-  genealogy  have  failed  to  affiliate  her.] 

B 


10  THE  ST.    GLAIRS  OR  SINCLAIRS, 

The  st.  ciairs    eldest  lawful  son,  and  the  heirs  of  his  body,  whom  failing, 
*  of  ciith  to  the  other  heirs-male  of  his  body. 

Earl  John  died  in  1705,  leaving  four  sons  and  a 
daughter : — 

1.  Alexander,  his  successor. 

2.  John,  Lord  Murkle,  one  of  the  Senators  of  the 

College  of  Justice,  who  left  no  issue. 

3.  Francis,  of  Milton  of  Lieurary,  who  left  no  issue. 

4.  Archibald. 

1.  Lady  Janet,  who  married,  in  1714,  David  Sinclair  of 
Southdun,  and  had  several  children. — (Vide  Southdun.) 

IX.  ALEXANDER,  NINTH  EARL/  married  Lady  Mar- 
garet Primrose,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Rosebery,  and 
died  in  1765,  leaving  an  only  child,  Lady  Dorothea,  who 
married  James,  Earl  of  Fife,  and  died  in  1819,  without 
issue. 

In  1761  the  Earl  executed  an  entail  of  his  estates,  in 
virtue  of  which,  on  failure  of  his  heirs  therein  mentioned, 
they  passed  to  the  Sinclairs  of  Stevenson, — a  family  not 
related  to  that  of  Murkle. 

Earl  Alexander  resided  at  Haimer  Castle,2  which  after 

1  1705-65.  been  on  a  very  moderate  scale,  the  Earl 

2  Haimer  seems  to  have  been  a  square  having  apparently  possessed  but  a  dozen 
building,  like  a  tower  or  fortalice,  and  and  a  half  of  silver  spoons  of  all  kinds, 
to  have  contained  some  eight  or  nine  an  old  tea-kettle  and  lamp,  sugar-tongs 
rooms,  including  dining-room,  drawing-  and  spoon,  a  couple  of  small  salvers,  a 
room,  tea-room,  two  "  pavilions,"  a  few  tankard,  and  some  plated  candlesticks, 
bedrooms,  with  sundry  closets,  cellars,  and   the   like.      Sumptuary  laws  were 
etc.     From  an  inventory  of  the  plate,  less  required  in  Earl  Alexander's  days 
the  establishment  would  appear  to  have  than  in  our  time. 


EARLS  OF  CAITHNESS.  11 

his  death  was  allowed  to  fall  into  disrepair,  and  now  no  The  st.  ciairs 

..  «  .  .  orSinclairs, 

vestige  of  it  remains.  Earis  of  caith- 

On  the  death  of  Earl  Alexander  the  male  issue  of uess' 
John  the  eighth  Earl,  and  of  his  father,  Sir  James 
Sinclair,  and  of  his  grandfather,  James,  first  of  Murkle, 
became  extinct,  and  the  succession  of  the  title  devolved 
on  William  Sinclair  of  Rattar,  as  the  lineal  descendant 
of  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Greenland  and  Rattar,  third  son 
of  John,  Master  of  Caithness,  and  younger  brother  of 
James,  first  of  Murkle. 

Sir  James  of  Murkle  had  a  son,  David  of  Broynach, 
whose  male  descendants  would  have  succeeded  to  the 
dignity  in  preference  to  the  Greenland  and  Rattar 
branch,  but  his  grandson,  James,  who  claimed  the  title, 
failed  to  establish  the  legitimacy  of  his  father,  David,  son 
of  David  Sinclair  of  Broynach,  and  William  of  Eattar 
was  served  heir-male  ; 1  and  in  May  1772  the  Committee 
of  Privileges  adjudged  the  title  to  him.  This  was  the 
second  instance  in  which  a  remote  heir-male  had  suc- 
ceeded to  this  peerage,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  heir  of 
line,  for  Lady  Fife  did  not  claim  the  title. 

X.  WILLIAM,  TENTH  EARL,  married  Barbara,  daughter 
of  John  Sinclair  of  Scotscalder,  and  died  in  1779.  He 
had  five  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  John,  his  successor;  2.  William,  an  officer,  who 
died  in  America,  unmarried  ;  3.  James ;  4.  Alex- 
ander; 5.  David. 

1  November  1768. 


12  THE  ST.   CLAIRS  OR  SINCLA1RS, 

The  st.  ciairs          These  three  died  young  and  unmarried. 
inC0f 'earth-        1.  Lady  Isabella,  who  died  unmarried. 

2.  Lady  Janet,  who  married  James  Traill  of  Rattar. 

XI.  JOHN,  ELEVENTH  EARL,  succeeded  in  1779,  and 
died  unmarried  in  1789,  in  his  thirty-third  year ;  and 
with  him  ended  the  direct  male  line  of  the  family  of 
Greenland  and  Rattar. 

The  Sinclairs  of  Freswick,  descended  from  that 
William  Sinclair  of  Ratter,  who  died  in  1663,  were  the 
only  collaterals  of  the  family  of  Greenland  and  Rattar ; 
and  had  John  of  Freswick  survived  John,  the  eleventh 
Earl,  he  would  have  succeeded  to  the  earldom.  He  died, 
however,  in  1784,  without  surviving  male  issue,  and  the 
title  devolved  on  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Mey,  the  lineal 
descendant  of  George,  one  of  the  younger  sons  of  George, 
the  fourth  Earl. 

XII.  SIR  JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  MEY,  TWELFTH  EARL, 
was  served  as  nearest  lawful  heir-male  of  William,  second 
Earl  of  Caithness,  in  May  1790,  and  his  claim  to  the 
peerage  was  sustained  by  the  House  of  Lords.     He  mar- 
ried Jane,  daughter  of  Alexander  Campbell  of  Barcaldine 
and   his   wife    Helen,    daughter   of    George   Sinclair   of 
Ulbster,  and  had  issue. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  dignity  will  long  remain  in 
the  present  line ;  but  in  the  possibility  of  the  failure  of  an 
heir-male,  the  next  in  succession  would  seem  to  be  the 


EARLS  OF  CAITHNESS.  13 

heir-male  of  Robert  Sinclair  of  Durran,  whom  failing,  the  The  st.  ciairs 
heir-male  (if  any)  of  George  Sinclair,  first  of  Olrig,  and  Earis  of  caith- 
whom  failing,  the  heir-male  of  George  Sinclair,  first  of ne 
Barrock.     These  exhaust  the  elder  branch  of  the  Caith- 
ness family,  and  failing  them  the  title  would  apparently 
become  extinct,  unless  an  heir  is   to   be   found   in   the 
descendants  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Stemster  and  Dun- 
beath,  second  son  of  William,  the  second  Earl. 


THE  SINCLAIES  OF  STEMSTEE  AND 
DUNBEATH. 

The  sinciairs  of  GORDON,  in  his  " Genealogy  of  the  Sutherland  Family,'* 
Dunbeath.  states  that  "  Dunbeath  was  given  to  the  Sinciairs "  by 
that  William,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  who  died  in  1370,  at 
the  time  when,  by  the  distribution  of  lands  to  his  friends, 
he  was  strengthening  his  interests  in  prospect  of  his 
son's  succession  to  the  Scottish  Crown.  But  there  is  no 
evidence  either  that  the  Sinclair  family  had  a  footing  in 
Caithness  at  so  early  a  date,  or  that  Dunbeath  did  at 
any  time  belong  to  the  Earl  of  Sutherland.  It  is  true 
that  the  earliest  writ  concerning  Dunbeath  supposed  to 
be  now  extant,  is  a  precept  of  sasine,  dated  24th  October 
1429,  granted  by  Alexander  de  Isle,  Earl  of  Ross,  for 
infefting  his  sister,  Marietta,  and  her  husband,  Alex- 
ander de  Sutherland,  in  the  lands  of  Dunbeath,  and  that 
this  Alexander  Sutherland  was,  down  to  1771,  considered 
to  have  been  the  Master  of  Sutherland,  as  the  eldest  son 
of  John,  tenth  Earl  of  Sutherland,  but  it  is  now  certain 
that  Sutherland  of  Dunbeath  was  not  a  son  of  the 
Earl. 

In  1507  Dunbeath  was  in  possession  of  the  family  of 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  STEMSTER  AND  DUNBEATH.  15 

Innes  of  Innes.     In  1529,1  on  the  resignation  of  Alex-  The  sinciairs  of 
ander  Innes,  a  Crown  charter  erecting  Dunbeath,  Reay, 
and  Sandside  into  a  barony  was  granted  in  favour  of — 

I.  ALEXANDER  SINCLAIR,  son  of  William,  second 
Earl  of  Caithness,  and  Elizabeth  Innes,  his  wife.  This 
lady  was  no  doubt  of  the  family  of  Innes  of  Innes,  and  it 
is  probable  that  through  her  marriage  to  Alexander 

Sinclair  these  estates  came  for  the  first  time  into  the 

• 

Sinclair  family.  In  1507  Alexander  Sinclair  had  obtained 
a  Crown  charter  of  Stemster,  and  thus  he  appears  to 
have  been  the  first  Sinclair  of  Stemster  and  Dunbeath. 
The  Crown  charter  in  1529  contains  the  following  clause 
of  some  antiquarian  interest — "  cum  mulierum  merchetis 
cum  furca,  fossa,  sok,  sak,  thole,  thieme,  infangtheif, 
outfangtheif,  pit,  et  gallons. "  Various  explanations  of 
the  "mercheta  mulierum"  have  been  given,  some  of 
them  sufficiently  barbarous,  but  according  to  Hailes  it 
really  seems  to  have  been  the  right  of  levying  a  fine 
from  a  serf  or  villain,  on  the  marriage  of  his  daughter. 
About  1657  the  lands  of  Inverse  of  Dunbeath  were 
erected  into  a  burgh  of  barony,  to  be  called  the  burgh  of 
Magnusburgh. 

Alexander  Sinclair  had  two  sons  and  a  daughter : — 

1.  William. 

2.  Oliver,  no  doubt  so  named  after  his  grand-uncle, 

Sir  Oliver  of  Eoslyn.      He  is  frequently  men- 

i  llth  January  1529. 


16  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  STEMSTER  AND  DUNBEATH. 

The  sinciairs  of  tioned  as  the  "  brother-german  "  of  William ;  and 

Stemsterand  .  .  _  .  .  . 

Dunbeath.  m  a  curious  document  given  in  the  "Account 

of  the  Family  of  Lines,"1  entitled  "The  Maister 
of  Elphinstoun's  Letter,"  he  occurs  as  "  Oliephare 
Syncklare,  brother  to  William  Syncklare  of  Dun- 
beytht.  In  the  "Topography  of  Scotland,"  by 
John  Harding,  between  1437  and  1460,  there 
is  reference  to  the  "  Castel  of  Dunbeke  "  as  north 
of  the  "  Water  of  Suthyrland." 

I.  Isabel,   daughter   of  Alexander  Sinclair,  married 

Gilbert  Gordon  of  Garty,  uncle  to  John,  fifth 
Earl  of  Sutherland.  She  has  attained  an  un- 
enviable notoriety  as  a  murderer,  by  poison,  of 
the  Earl  and  his  lady  in  1567,  for  the  purpose 
of  opening  the  way  for  her  own  son's  succession 
to  the  earldom. 

Alexander  Sinclair  seems  to  have  died  before  1541. 
His  widow,  Elizabeth  Innes,  appears  also  to  have  been 
dead  about  1557,  seeing  that  her  son,  William,  then  got 
a  grant  of  the  non-entry  dues  of  Dunbeath  and  the  barony, 
of  which  lands  his  father  and  mother  had  been  joint  fiars. 

II.  WILLIAM,  SECOND  OF  DUNBEATH,  was  apparently 
a  minor,  and  unmarried,  when  his  father  died,  for,  in  1541, 
Oliver  Sinclair  of  Pitcarnie,  styled  also  of  Solway  Moss, 
obtained  a  grant  of  his  casualty  of  marriage,  and  he  was 
not  infeft  as  heir  to  his  father  until  1557.2 

1  Forbes,  p.  138.  2  Precept,  May  1557. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  STEMSTER  AND  DUNBEATH.          17 

In  1562  and  1564  William  Sinclair  obtained  from  The  Smciairs  oi 
Adam,  Bishop  of  Orkney,  charters  of  Downreay;  Brubster, 
Thura,  and  others,  and  in  1557  he  got  a  Crown  charter 
of  confirmation.  The  charters  from  the  bishop  are 
alleged  by  Gordon  to  have  been  obtained  through  the 
fraudulent  use  of  the  title-deeds,  which  are  said  to  have 
been  deposited  in  the  hands  of  William  Sinclair,  in 
confidence,  by  John,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  whose  sister  he 
had  married.  This  story  is  repeated  in  the  "  Origines 
Parochiales,"  but  both  it  and  Sinclair's  alleged  complicity 
with  his  sister  in  the  crime  of  poisoning  the  Earl,  in  order 
to  escape  the  consequences  of  his  fraud,  must  be  ranked 
among  the  spiteful  assertions  so  frequently  made  by 
Gordon  when  he  has  occasion  to  notice  Caithness  affairs. 
The  Earl  lived  several  years  after  William  Sinclair  had 
obtained  the  bishop's  charters,  and  not  only  were  they 
acquired  on  the  Earl's  own  resignation  of  the  lands,  but 
there  is  nothing  to  show  that  William  Sinclair's  title  was 
ever  called  in  question  by  the  Earl. 

In  1547  William  Sinclair  obtained  from  William 
Gordon,  Treasurer  of  Caithness,  and  Rector  and  Parson 
of  St.  Magnus'  Hospital  at  Spittal,  a  charter  of  Mybster 
and  Spittal,  which  was  confirmed  by  Queen  Mary  in 
1565. 

William  Sinclair  was  twice  married — first  (according 
to  Gordon,  who  is  the  more  reliable  authority  in  this 
instance),  to  Beatrix,  daughter  of  Alexander,  Master  of 
Sutherland,  and  sister  of  John,  Earl  of  Sutherland;  or 

c 


18          THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  STEMSTER  AND  DUNBEATH. 

The  sinciairs  of  (according  to  Douglas),  to  Beatrix,  the  Earl's  daughter. 

Dunbeath.  His  second  wife  was  Margaret,  only  child  of  Alexander 
Innes  of  Innes,  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John, 
fifth  Lord  Forbes.  After  her  fathers  death  in  1553, 
Margaret  Innes  obtained  a  Crown  charter  of  the  lands 
of  Ogston  and  others  in  Morayshire. 

Forbes  and  Douglas  concur  in  saying  that  Margaret 
Innes  married  "  a  brother  of  the  Earl  of  Caithness  ;"  and 
the  former  states  that  the  Earl  had  sent  over  his  brother, 
William  Sinclair,  to  Morayshire,  "  to  woo  the  lady  for 
him,"  but  that  she  preferred  himself  to  the  Earl;  and 
that  he  got  with  her,  for  tocher,  the  Dunbeath  and 
Reay  estates,  and  also  the  lands  of  Monbeens,  Leuchars, 
Inche,  and  others,  near  Elgin.  For  this  story  there  is 
no  foundation,  since  Dunbeath,  Reay,  and  Sandside  had 
certainly  been  acquired  by  the  Sinciairs  in  1529.  Besides, 
William  Sinclair  was  not  the  brother  of  an  Earl  of 
Caithness. 

William  Sinclair  had  five  sons,  and  of  these  it  has 
been  supposed  that  by  his  first  wife,  Lady  Beatrix 
Gordon,  he  had  William,  Richard,  and  George,  and  by 
his  second  wife,  Henry  and  David.  It  is  certain,  how- 
ever, that  WiUiam  was  a  son  of  the  second  marriage.  In 
1540  Margaret  Innes  had  got  from  her  natural  brother, 
James  Innes  of  Elrick,  the  lands  of  Over  and  Nether 
Monbeens;  and  in  1575  a  precept  was  granted  by  her 
and  her  husband  for  infefting  therein  "  William  Sinclair 
of  Stemster  ;"  and  Forbes,  in  noticing  the  infeftment  on 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  STEMSTER  AND  DUNBEATH.  10 

this  precept,   mentions  him  as  the   eldest  son  and  heir  The  Smciairs  of 
of  William  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath   and  Margaret  Innes. 
Whether  any  of  the  other  sons  were  certainly  of  the  first 
marriage,  it  is  difficult  to  say.     The  sons  were — 

1.  William,  designed  "of  Stemster" — which,  being  the 

original  family  estate,  was"  most  likely  to  have 
devolved  on  his  father's  actual  eldest  son  and 
heir,  without  reference  to  a  first  or  second  mar- 
riage— is  supposed  to  have  married  Janet,  eldest 
daughter  of  George,  fourth  Earl  of  Caithness. 
He  died  before  his  father,  leaving  a  son  George. 

2.  Richard,  who  got  from  his  father  in  1589  a  charter 

of  Mybster,  Achalipster,  and  a  two  penny  land 
of  Spittal.  In  1620  he  was  served  heir  to  his 
brothers,  Henry  and  David,  and  was  styled  of 
Brims.  He  seems  not  to  have  died  before  1625. 
He  had  two  sons,  Alexander  and  Oliver,  and  a 
daughter.  Alexander,  styled  also  of  Brims,  died 
before  his  father.  In  1619  Alexander  married 
Anna,  daughter  of  Hugh  M'Kay  of  Scourie  and 
Fair,  and  his  wife  Lady  Jane,  eldest  daughter  of 
Alexander,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  and  he  had  two 
sons,  John  and  William.  John  was  served  heir  in 
Brims  to  his  father  Alexander  and  his  grandfather 
Richard.  He  married  Anna  M'Kay,  by  whom 
he  had  a  daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  married  her 
cousin,  John  M'Kay,  second  of  Strathy,  and  was 
afterwards  styled  "  Mistress  of  Strathy."  There 


20          THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  STEMSTER  AND  DUKBEATH. 

The  sinciairs  of  is   some   uncertainty   as    to  her   mother,    Anna 

Dunbeatb!  M'Kay,  but  she  is  believed  to  have  been  daughter 

of  Colonel  Hugh  M'Kay  of  Scourie.  In  1647 
John  Sinclair  and  Hugh  M'Kay  of  Dirlot  and 
Strathy,  who  were  cousins -german,  executed  a 
mutual  entail.  To  this  deed  one  of  the  witnesses 
was  "James  Sinclair  of  Gallowhill,  brother-in- 
law  to  Brims  'and  Keeper  of  a  Copy/"  About 
1660  John  Sinclair  sold  Brims  to  John  Sinclair 
of  Tannach.  Of  William,  second  son  of  Alexander 
of  Brims,  no  particulars  have  been  learned. 
Oliver,  second  son  of  Richard  Sinclair,  got,  in 
1630,  a  lifer ent  tack  of  Spittal  from  his  nephew, 
John  of  Brims.  The  daughter  of  Richard  Sin- 
clair married  Alexander  Bayne  of  Clyth,  a  man 
of  some  mark  in  his  time,  son  of  Henry  Bayne 
in  Mybster.  In  1631  her  brother  Oliver  granted 
a  bond  for  500  merks,  as  part  of  her  tocher. 
3.  George  Sinclair  in  Downreay  and  in  Durran,  the 
third  son  of  William  of  Dunbeath,  is  not  much 
noticed.  In  1643  he  renounced  a  bond  over 
Brims,  in  favour  of  his  grand-nephew,  John  of 
Brims.  He  had  a  son,  John,  and  a  daughter, 
Barbara,  who,  in  1640,  married  David  Sinclair 
of  Lybster,  in  Reay,  a  descendant  probably  of 
Henry  Sinclair  of  Lybster,  natural  son  of  John, 
Master  of  Caithness.  It  is  conjectured  that 
James  Sinclair  of  Borlum,  and  latterly  of  Toft- 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  STEMSTEB  AND   DUNBEATH.         21 

kemp,    who    held    Brubster    and   many   of  the  The  sinciairs  of 
lands  which  belonged  to  the  Dunbeath  family,  may 
possibly  have  been  a  son  of  this  George  Sinclair. 

4.  Henry  Sinclair  of  Brubster  and  Brims,  who  died 

without  issue,  probably  before  1610,  for,  in  that 
year  his  brother  Richard,  who  was  served  heir 
to  him  in  1620,  is  designed  "of  Brims."  This 
appears  in  a  renunciation  signed  at  Brims  by 
Margaret  Innes,  widow  of  their  father.  In  1586 
he  got  a  Crown  charter  of  Ormlie. 

5.  David  Sinclair  of  Thura,  who  died  also  without 

issue.1 

William  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,  who  led  a  long  and 
active  life,  was  much  harassed  in  his  old  age  by  his 
relation  the  Earl  of  Caithness.  Among  other  acts  of 
violence  the  Earl  ''wasted  Dunbeath  by  fire  and  sword, 

1  In  reference  to  the  j'ounger  children  and  David  in  1598,  when  he  is  designed 

of  William  Sinclair,  Mr.  Alexander  Sin-  of  Mybaster  (Mybster).  Then  he  is  of 

clair  writes  as  follows  (March  1867) :—  Browmes  (Brims),  in  1620.  His  oldest 

"  1.  Henry,  son  of  Margaret  Innes,  son,  Alexander,  is  only  married  in  1619 

died  s.p.,  and  his  brother  Eichard,  in  to  the  first  Anna  M'Kay,  leaving  John 

1620,  and  Richard's  grandson,  John  of  and  William,  1617;  and  Richard  had 

Brims,  in  1664,  were  both  served  heirs  also  a  son,  Olypher,  of  Spittal,  1647. 

to  him.  Richard  had  also  a  brother,  George  of 

"2.  David,  whom  you  call  'of  Thura,'  Downra,  1643.  But  in  all  this  there  is 

another  son  of  Margaret  Innes,  also  no  opening  for  James  of  Thura  or  his 

died  s.p.,  as  Richard  was  served  heir  sons.  When  Brims  comes  off  Dunbeath 

to  him  in  1620  in  Thura  and  Borlum.  in  Henry  and  Richard,  and  when  the 

"3.  Richard's  history  is  difficult.  He  mutual  settlement  of  Brims  and  Strathy 

is  son  of  William  in  1569,  in  contra-  takes  place  in  1647,  the  only  younger 

distinction  to  the  sons  of  Margaret  branches  possible  seem  to  be  John's 

Innes,  who  were  minors  in  1588.  He  brother,  William,  and  his  uncle,  Oly- 

is  styled  lawful  son,  and  put  after  Henry  pher." 


THE  SINCLAIRS   OF  STEMSTER  AND  DUNBEATH. 

The  sinciairs  of  and  besieged  him  in  his  house  at  Downreay ; "  until  at 
Dunbeath.  length  he  retired  to  Moray  shire,  among  his  wife's  friends, 
and  there  died  in  1608.  In  the  register  of  Confirmed 
Testaments,  1606-13,  there  is  an  entry  of  the  "  Testa- 
ment Testamentar,  latter  will  and  legacie  and  inventar  of 
ye  gudes  and  gear  of  umq1  an  honle  man  William  Sinclair 
of  Dunbeath."  He  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson, 

III.  GEORGE  SINCLAIR  OF  DUNBEATH,  who  married 
Margaret,  daughter  of  John,  eighth  Lord  Forbes,  and 
died  in  1624,  leaving  an  only  child  Margaret,  of  whom 
no  further  notice  is  found. 

George  Sinclair's  grandfather  had  resigned  the  estates 
in  his  favour  in  1590,  and,  in  May  1591,  he  obtained  a 
Crown  charter  of  confirmation.  He  was  either  facile, 
or  a  spendthrift,  for,  in  1602,  he  put  himself  under 
"Interdiction."  In  1610  he  resigned  the  barony  in 
favour  of  his  brother-in-law  Arthur,  Lord  Forbes ;  and 
in  1624,  Alexander,  Master  of  Forbes,  sold  Dunbeath 
for  28,518  merks,  or  about  £1550  sterling,  to  John 
Sinclair  of  Geanies,  son  of  George  Sinclair  of  Mey,  who 
thus  became  the  first  of  the  second  family  of  Sinciairs 
of  Dunbeath;  "and  thus,"  writes  Gordon  in  1630,  with 
apparent  satisfaction,  "  God  in  His  just  judgment  hath 
not  left  the  authors  of  the  Earl  of  Sutherland's  death 
unpunished;  for  Dunbeath,  his  house  and  familie,  is 
now  perished  as  we  see,  and  his  estate  is  come  into  a 
stranger's  hand." 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  STEMSTER   AND   DUNBEATH.          23 

The  remainder  of  the  barony,  and  the  lands  of  Spittal  The  smciairs  of 
and  Mybster,  were  acquired  by  Sir  Donald  M'Kay,  first 
Lord  Eeay.  In  1624  he  was  infeft,  on  a  charter  by  the 
Bishop  of  Orkney,  in  Thura,  Borlum,  Downreay,  and 
Brubster;  and  about  the  same  time  Saridside  was  pur- 
chased from  Lord  Forbes  by  William  Innes,  ancestor  of 
the  family  of  Innes  of  Sandside. 

The  only  known  existing  descendants  of  the  family  of 
Sinclair  of  ^  Stemster  and  Dunbeath  are  the  descendants 
of  Hugh  and  William,  the  elder  and  younger  sons  of 
Elizabeth,  only  child  of  John  Sinclair  of  Brims  by  her 
marriage  to  John  M'Kay,  second  of  Strathy.  For  these 
reference  is  made  to  M'Kay's  "  History  of  the  House  and 
Clan  of  M'Kay." 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  MURKLE. 

The  Sinclairs  of  I.    JAMES  SINCLAIR,  FIRST  OF  MURKLE,  -Was  the  S6COnd 

son  of  John,  Master  of  Caithness,  and  grandson  of 
George,  fourth  Earl  of  Caithness.  He  is  frequently, 
but  erroneously  styled  Sir  James ;  the  only  knight 
of  the  family  having  been  his  son  and  successor,  Sir 
James. 

The  original  estate  of  Murkle,  as  possessed  by  James 
Sinclair,  and  his  wife,  and  their  son  Sir  James,  was 
acquired  at  various  times  between  1586  and  1637, 
chiefly  from  George,  fifth  Earl  of  Caithness,  and  his  son 
William,  Lord  Berriedale  ;  the  Bishops  of  Orkney  and 
Caithness  ;  and  the  Earls  of  Sutherland.  Without 
attempting  to  trace  the  various  changes  of  possession 
which  took  place  from  time  to  time,  it  is  sufficient  to  say 
that  the  family  estate  in  which  Sir  James  Sinclair  was 
infeft  consisted  of  Murkle,  East  and  West,  and  Clairdon ; 
one-half  of  Ormlie,  Thurdistoft,  Acharascal,  and  Carna- 
biud,  Lybster,  and  Borrowstone,  all  held  of  the  Earl  of 
Caithness  ;  one-half  of  Ormlie,  held  of  the  Bishop  of 
Caithness  ;  Downreay,  held  of  the  Bishop  of  Orkney ; 
and  Broynach,  held  of  the  Earl  of  Sutherland,  Subse- 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  MURKLE.  25 

quently  the  following  lands  were  acquired  by  the  family,  The  sinciairs  of 
viz. — Isauld,  in  1723,  by  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Murkle, 
ninth  Earl  of  Caithness  ;    and  Brubster  and  Brims  in 
1726-27,  by  his  brother,  Lord  Murkle,  to  whom  Alexander 
succeeded,  as  heir  of  conquest. 

James  Sinclair,  first  of  Murkle,  married  Elizabeth 
Stewart,  daughter  of  Robert,  Earl  of  Strathearn  and 
Orkney,  a  natural  son  of  King  James  v.,  and  he  had 
two  sons  and  a  daughter — 

1.  James,  his  successor. 

2.  Francis,  who  served  in  the  German  wars,  and  who 

is  stated  by  Gordon  to  have  held  the  rank  of 
serjeant-major.  In  162 11  he  had  returned  to 
Scotland,  and  married  Janet,  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander Sutherland  of  Forse,  by  whom  he  had  a 
son,  James,  who  left  no  issue.  In  a  procuratory 
of  resignation  of  Murkle  by  Sir  James  Sinclair 
in  1644,  James  Sinclair  is  mentioned  as  "  eldest 
lawful  son"  of  Francis,  his  brother,  and  in  the 
Peerage  case  it  was  held  that  there  was  no 
other  son  of  Francis. 

I.  Agnes,  who  married  John  M'Kay  of  Dirlot  and 

Strathy. 

James  Sinclair  had  also  a  natural  son,  John  Sinclair, 
first  of  Assery. — Vide  Assery.2 

II.  SIR  JAMES  SINCLAIR,  KNIGHT,  appears  to  have 

1  Contract  of  Marriage,  19th  July  1621.  2  Peerage  case. 

D 


26  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  MURKLE. 

The  sinciairs  of  been  twice  married.     In  January  1633  a  disposition  was 

Murkle 

granted  by  him,  with  consent  of  Daine  Margaret  Dundas, 
his  spouse,  of  part  of  the  lands  of  Ormlie  ;  and  in  October 
1634  there  is  a  contract  of  marriage  between  him  and 
Jean,  eldest  daughter  of  William  Stewart  of  Burray,  who 
is  therein  designed  of  "  Manur."  By  Jean  Stewart  he 
had  two  sons  and  five  daughters  : — 

1.  John,  afterwards  eighth  Earl  of  Caithness. 

2 .  David  of  Broynach,  who  died  between  1713  and  1716. 
David  Sinclair   of  Broynach  married  a  daughter  of 

William  Sinclair  of  Dun,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  James, 
and  a  daughter,  Elizabeth.1  James  died  about  1754, 
without  issue.  Elizabeth  married  James  Whyte,  in 
Meikle  Clyth,  afterwards  in  Thurso,  and  had  two 
daughters,  Henrietta  and  Jean.  Henrietta  Whyte 
married  William  Miller,  and  had  a  son,  James,  and  a 
daughter,  Isabella.  Jean  Whyte  married  Donald  Oagg, 
weaver  and  merchant  in  Thurso,  and  had  two  sons, 
James  and  Donald,  and  two  daughters,  Janet  and  Anne. 
On  the  death  of  Lady  Fife,  only  daughter  of  Alexander 
Sinclair  of  Murkle,  ninth  Earl  of  Caithness,  James  and 
Isabella  Miller,  and  Donald  and  Anne  Oagg,  claimed  and 
obtained  a  share  of  her  executry,2  as  the  great  grand- 
children of  David  of  Broynach,  Lady  Fife's  grand-uncle. 
David  of  Broynach  had  also,  by  one  Janet  Ewen,3  or 

1  See  proof  in  Peerage  case.  vant,  David  of  Broynach  had  two  sons, 

2  Receipt,  26th  September  1789.  David  and  Donald,  and  two  daughters. 

3  By  Janet  Ewen,  who  was  his  ser-     David,   the  eldest   son,   enlisted   as   a 


THE   SINCLAIRS  OF  MURKLE.  27 

Ewing,  a  son,  David,  who  was  reputed  to  be  illegitimate,  The  smciairs  of 
and  on  his  death  the  Earl  refused  to  permit  him  to  be 
buried  in  his  bury  ing- place.  On  the  death  of  Earl 
Alexander,  James  Sinclair,  in  Reiss,  son  of  the  reputed 
illegitimate  son,  David,  and  grandson  of  David  of  Broy- 
nach,  claimed  the  title,  on  the  allegation  of  his  father's 
legitimacy,  in  opposition  to  William  Sinclair  of  Rattar. 
In  conjoined  claims  to  be  served  heir  before  the  Macers, 
after  proof  by  both  parties,  the  jury,  on  28th  November 
1768,  pronounced  a  verdict  by  a  majority  in  favour  of 
Rattar,  which,  after  various  proceedings  before  the 
Court  of  Session,  was  confirmed.  In  1786  James  Sinclair 
threatened  to  renew  his  claim  to  the  title  ;  but  in  1788  he 
died,  and  the  question  of  his  father's  legitimacy  became 
unimportant,  inasmuch  as  he  had  no  issue,  and  no  other 
heir-male  of  his  grandfather  then  remained  alive. 

1.  Jean,  the  eldest  daughter.1 

2.  Mary,  who  married,  first,  George  Sinclair  of  Forss, 

and,    on    his    death,     William    Sutherland    of 
Geise. 

3.  Anne,  "  Mistress  of  Stemster,"  who  married  Alex- 

ander Sinclair  of  Stemster,  son  of  Alexander  of 
Latheron. 

soldier,    and    married     one    Margaret  1767   except   one    named   Anne,  who 

More  or  M'Kay,   by  whom  he  had  a  married  Alexander  Millis,  merchant  in 

son,  James,  who  resided  in  Reiss,  and  Banff.     Janet  Ewing  was  buried  in  the 

John,  who  was  alive  in  1767.     Donald  Old    Kirk    of    Olrig,    under    Durran's 

Sinclair,   David's  second  son,  went  to  seat. 

sea,  and  married,  and  had  a  son  and  l  Disposition  by  her   mother,    18th 

five  daughters,  who  were  all  dead  in  May  1692. 


28  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  MURKLE. 

The  smciairs  of        4.  Barbara,    who    married    James    Cunningham    of 

Murkle. 

Reaster. 
5.  Katharine,  who  married  Walter  Innes  of  Skaill. 

III.  JOHN  SINCLAIR  OF  MURKLE  succeeded  to  the 
earldom  of  Caithness  in  1698  as  the  eighth  Earl,  and 
died  in  1705.    He  married  Jean  Carmichael  of  the  Hynd- 
ford  family,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Alexander. 

2.  John,  Lord  Murkle,  of  the  Court  of  Session,  who 

married  Jean,  daughter  of  the  first  Earl  of  Cro- 
marty,  and  his  wife,  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  James 
Sinclair  of  Mey.  He  died  in  1755  without  issue. 

3.  Francis,  who  died  without  issue  in  1762.      In  a 

disposition  in  1760  by  him  of  the  lands  of 
Milton  of  Lieurary  and  others,  he  settles  the 
lands  on  the  "  heirs-male  of  the  marriage  then 
subsisting  between  him  and  Mrs.  Janet  Morrison." 

4.  Archibald,  who  also  died  without  issue.1 

1.  Lady  Janet,  who  married  David  Sinclair  of  South 
Dun,  by  whom  she  had  a  daughter,  Janet,  who 
married  Stewart  Threipland  of  Fingask,  and 
other  children. 

IV.  ALEXANDER  SINCLAIR  OF  MURKLE,  NINTH  EARL 
OF  CAITHNESS,  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  the  first 
Earl  of  Rosebery,  by  whom  he  had  an  only  child — 

1  Peerage  case. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  MURKLE.  29 

Lady  Dorothea,  who  married  James,  Earl  of  Fife,  and  The  sinciairs  of 

v     i        •,!          ,    •  Murkle. 

died  without  issue. 

Earl  Alexander  had  two  natural  sons,  George  Sinclair 
in  Geise,  who  died  without  issue,  and  Peter,  who  had  a 
son,  James,  who  died  without  issue,  and  seven  daughters, 
of  whom  six  married  and  had  issue. 

William  Sinclair  of  Rattar  was  the  lawful  heir  of 
Earl  Alexander  on  failure  of  his  own  family,  they  being 
descended  from  two  brothers,  James  Sinclair,  first  of 
Murkle,  and  Sir  John  Sinclair,  first  of  Greenland  and 
Rattar.  But  they  do  not  seem  to  have  been  on  friendly 
terms,  for  in  his  correspondence  with  George  Sinclair  of 
Woodhall,  Lord  of  Session,  in  reference  to  a  settlement 
of  his  estates,  Earl  Alexander  says  :  "  Rattar  is  next 
tho'  very  remote.  Though  he  lives  within  four  miles  of 
me  he  never  comes  to  see  me,  from  which  it  seems  he  is 
disobliged  because  I  did  not  give  him  all  I  had,  and 
depend  for  subsistence  on  his  generosity.  He  cannot  be 
very  wise,  for  he  could  not  have  taken  a  more  effectual 
way  to  disappoint  his  expectations." 

.  Earl  Alexander  died  in  1765.  In  1761  he  executed 
an  entail  of  the  estate  of  Murkle  and  his  other  lands,  by 
which,  on  failure  of  his  own  heirs  therein  mentioned,  the 
property  was  disponed  to  Lord  Woodhall  and  the  heirs- 
male  of  his  body,  and  failing  them  to  his,  Lord  Wood- 
hall's,  nearest  lawful  heirs-male  of  line ;  and  under  this 
destination  the  succession  was  taken  up  on  the  Earl's 
death  by  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Stevenson,  Lord  Woodhall's 


30  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  MURKLE. 

The  sinciairs  of  nephew.  The  Sinclairs  of  Stevenson  are  descended  from 
the  Sinclairs  of  Longformacus,  a  branch  of  the  family  of 
Roslyn.  Sir  Gregory  Sinclair,  third  son  of  Sir  William 
of  Roslyn,  flourished  in  the  reign  of  Robert  the  Bruce, 
and  the  first  Sinclair  of  Stevenson  was  George,  second 
son  of  Matthew,  ninth  Laird  of  Longformacus,  who  died 
about  1620.  His  son,  John,  was  a  merchant  in  Edinburgh, 
and  was  created  a  baronet,  and  purchased  Stevenson  and 
other  lands.  He  is  now  represented  by  Sir  Robert 
Charles  Sinclair  of  Stevenson  and  Murkle,  his  lineal 
descendant,  and  ninth  baronet  of  Stevenson. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  ASSERY. 

I.  JAMES  SINCLAIR,  FIRST  OF  MURKLE,  had  a  son  The  sinciairs  of 
named  John,  who,  in  a  charter  granted  by  his  father  in 
1615,  to  'which  he  was  an  instrumentary  witness,  is 
designed  "filio  naturali  dicti  Jacobi  Sinclair  de  Murkel;" 
and  who,  in  a  bond  dated  28th  January  1619,  also  by 
his  father,  and  in  which  he  was  cautioner,  is  mentioned 
as  "  John  Sinclair,  son  natural"  of  the  granter.  In  1628 
John  Sinclair  obtained  from  William,  Lord  Berriedale,  a 
charter  of  the  lands  of  Assery,  to  himself  in  liferent,  and 
to  his  eldest  son,  James,  in  fee.  In  1631  he  got  a  charter 
of  Brawlbin ;  and  in  1633  a  wadset  of  Forsie ;  and  from 
him  are  descended  the  Sinciairs  of  Assery,  of  Lybster,  of 
Geise,  and  of  Scotscalder. 

John  Sinclair  was  twice  married,  and  had  by  his  first 
wife — 

1.  James,  his  successor. 

2.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Francis  Sinclair,  who,  in  1659, 

married  Anna,  daughter  of  Francis  Sinclair  of 
Stirkoke.  In  1680,  their  daughter,  Margaret, 
married  David  Henderson  of  Gersay,  son  of 
William  Henderson  of  Nottingham  and  his  wife, 


THE   SINCLATRS  OF  ASSERY. 

The  sinciairs  of  Janet   Gordon,   widow   of  James   Sutherland   of 

Assery.  -.-, 

Forse. 

John  Sinclair's  second  wife  was  Margaret  Davidson, 
who  is  traditionally  supposed  to  have  been  of  the  David- 
sons in  Achingills  or  Buckies,  and  by  her  he  had — 

1.  John  Sinclair,  first  of  Lybster. 

2.  William,  who,  in  1670,  held  the  wadset  of  Forsie, 

and  who  was  afterwards  in  Ulgrimbeg  and  Ulgri- 
more.  He  married  Jean,  daughter  of  William 
Sinclair  of  Dun,  and  had  two  daughters,  Mary 
and  Elizabeth.  The  former  married,  in  1705, 
Donald  Gunn  in  Achalibster. 

3.  George,  mentioned  in  1652  and  1660. 

1.  Grizzel,  who   married  John  Doull,   wadsetter   of 

Thuster,  near  Wick. —  Vide  Doulls. 

2.  Isabell,  who  married,  first,  Arthur  Forbes,  mer- 

chant in  Edinburgh,  and,  second,  William  Sinclair 
of  Dun. 

3.  Janet,    who   married,   in    1616,    George   Munro, 

Sheriff- Clerk  of  Caithness. 

In  a  deed  executed  in  1665  by  James,  the  eldest  son 
of  John  Sinclair,  in  which  he  reserves  Margaret  David- 
son's liferent  of  Assery,  she  is  designed  "my  mother," 
but  she  appears  to  have  been  only  his  stepmother,  seeing 
that  John  Sinclair  of  Lybster  is  mentioned  as  the  eldest 
son  of  the  second  marriage. 

II.   JAMES   SINCLAIR,   SECOND   OF   ASSERY,   married 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  ASSERY.  33 

first,  Elizabeth  Balfour ;  and,  second,  Margaret,  daughter  The  sinciairs  of 
of  David   Munro,    commissary   of    Caithness.     He   had 
several  sons  and  daughters  : — 

1 .  George,  eldest  son  of  his  first  marriage. 

2.  John,  in  Ulgrimbeg,  married  Bess  Craigie.     George 

and  John  are  named  as  brothers-german. 

3.  James,  a  merchant  in  Thurso,  who  died  in  1713, 

and  had  several  sons,  of  whom  Daniel  was 
minister  of  Longformacus.  William  was  a  mer- 
ch'ant  in  Thurso,  and  Alexander  was  a  notary- 
public  in  Thurso,  and  married  Jean,  daughter  of 
James  Sinclair  of  Wester-Brims. 

1.   Katharine,    eldest    daughter,   married   Alexander 
Gibson,  Dean  of  Bower  from  1668  to  1682. 

III.  GEORGE  SINCLAIR,  THIRD  OF  ASSERY,  was  twice 
married.  His  second  wife  was  Isabel,  daughter  of 
Patrick  Sinclair  of  Ulbster.  He  had  five  sons  and  a 
daughter : — 

1.  James,  apparent  in  1700. 

2.  John,  called  eldest  lawful  son  in  1691. 

3.  Patrick. 

4.  George,  eldest  son  of  Isabel  Sinclair. 

5.  Francis,  also  of  the  second  marriage. 

1.  Elizabeth,    the    only   daughter,    married   Richard 

Sinclair  of  Thura. 

The  creditors  of  James,  second  of  Assery,  had  led 
apprisings  against  the  estates,  which  were  acquired  by 

E 


34  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  ASSERY. 

The  sinciairs  of  Ulbster  and  Sir  William  Dunbar  of  Hempriggs.  In  1675 
Ulbster  assigned  his  rights  to  John  Sinclair  (2) ;  while, 
in  1682,  Sir  William  Dunbar  conveyed  his  rights  to 
George  Sinclair  (4),  then  of  Assery,  and  his  sons,  John 
and  Patrick. 


IV.  JOHN  SINCLAIR,  FOURTH  OF  ASSERY,  succeeded 
his  father,  George,  and  in  1698  married  Elizabeth  Innes, 
widow  of  Laurence  Calder  of  Lynegar,  by  whom  he  had 
an  only  son,  John,  his  successor.     He  afterwards  married 
Barbara,  daughter  of  Patrick  Murray  of  Pennyland,  by 
whom  he  had  an  only  child,  Isabella,  who  married  John 
Sinclair  of  Scotscalder. 

V.  JOHN  SINCLAIR,  FIFTH  OF  ASSERY,  was  served  heir 
in  general  to  his  father,  John,  in  1728,  and  in  1765  he  was 
infeft  as  eldest  lawful  son.     He  married  Katharine,  eldest 
daughter  of  Eobert  Sinclair  of  Geise,  and  had — 

1.  Eobert. 

2.  John. 

3.  Charles. 

4.  James. 

1.  Isabella,    eldest   daughter,    who    married    Eobert 

Manson  Sinclair  of  Bridgend. 

2.  Katharine. 

3.  Jean,  who  married  Sir  Benjamin  Sinclair  of  Stem- 

ster. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  ASSERY.  35 

VI.  CAPTAIN  EGBERT  SINCLAIR,  SIXTH  OF  ASSERY,  The  smciuirs  of 
was  served  heir  to  his  father  cum  beneficio  inventarii,  in 
1772.     He  married  Katharine  Sinclair,  and  had  no  issue. 

The  estate  was  brought  to  judicial  sale  by  the 
creditors,  and  Captain  Sinclair  having  died  during  the 
proceedings,  they  were  continued  against  his  brother, 
John  ;  and  in  1784  Assery  and  Brawl  bin  were  purchased 
by  Ulbster.  The  trustees  of  Sir  John  Sinclair  sold  the 
lands  to  Mr.  Campbell,  merchant  in  London,  and  from 
him  they  were  purchased  by  the  late  James  Sinclair  of 
Forss,  for  about  £9000. 


THE  SINCLAIRS   OF  LYBSTER 

The  Sinclairs  of  J.    JoHN  SINCLAIR,  FIRST   OF   LYBSTER,  Was  eldest  SOH 

of  John  Sinclair,  first  of  Assery,  and  his  second  wife, 
Margaret  Davidson.  In  1647  he  was  appointed  "  Bailie 
of  Latheron"  by  the  Earl  of  Caithness;  in  1655  he  ob- 
tained a  wadset  of  Lybster  from  the  Earl  of  Caithness ; 
and  in  1692  the  property  was  acquired  by  his  son  and 
successor,  who  obtained  the  right  of  reversion  of  the 
wadset.  He  married  Beatrix  Sinclair,  supposed  to  have 
been  of  the  Thura  family,  and  had — 

1.  James,  his  successor. 

2.  George,   whose    only   daughter,   Beatrix,   married 

Alexander  Sinclair  of  Sixpennyland. 

I.  Elizabeth,    who    married    Alexander    Boynd    in 

Thurso. 

II.  JAMES   SINCLAIR,  SECOND  OF  LYBSTER,  married 
Katharine,  daughter  of  Patrick  Sinclair  of  Ulbster,  and 
had  five  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

2.  Patrick,  in  Northfield  in  1702,  and  who  had  a  son, 

Alexander,  afterwards  of  Lybster. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  LYBSTER,  37 

3.  William  of  Hoy  and  Scotscalder.  The  sinciairs  of 

4.  Robert  of  Geise,  Advocate. 

5.  George  (1731). 

1.  Beatrix,  eldest  daughter,  who  married,  in   1707, 

James  Sutherland  in  Ausdale. 

2.  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  M'Kay  in  Kirtomy, 

third  son  of  John  M'Kay  of  Strathy  and  Dirlot. 

>.  '  '.  "H . 

III.  JpnN  SINCLAIR,  THIRD  OF  LYBSTER,  styled  "  Fiar  " 
in  1694,  and  "of  Lybster"  in  1709,  succeeded  his  father, 
James,  and  died  without  issue. 

IV.  ALEXANDER  SINCLAIR,  FOURTH  OF  LYBSTER,  was 
the  nephew  of  John,  last  of  Lybster,  and  son  of  Patrick 
Sinclair  in  Northfield.     In  1710  he  was  served  heir  to 
his  uncle,  and  to  his  grandfather,  James.     He  married 
^Emilia,  daughter  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Sixpenny,  and 
had  a  son  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  Patrick,  his  successor. 

1.  Katharine,  eldest  daughter,  who  married  James 

Sinclair  of  Harpsdale,  and  was  his  third  wife. 

2.  Margaret,  who  died  unmarried. 

3.  JSmilia,  who  died  unmarried. 

V.  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  PATRICK  SINCLAIR,  FIFTH 
OF  LYBSTER,  married  Catharine  Stewart,  and  had  four 
sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Temple  Frederick,  his  successor. 


38  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF   LYBSTER. 

The  sindairs  of        2.  Jeffrey,  Surgeon-General   in  the   Bombay  Army, 
who  left  two  daughters. 

3.  Thomas  Aubrey,  Stipendiary  Magistrate  at  Granada, 

where  he  died  unmarried. 

4.  Patrick,  who  died  unmarried. 

1.  Susan,  only  daughter,  who  married  David  Laing, 
Surgeon  in  Thurso,  and  died  in  1865,  leaving 
issue. 


VI.  TEMPLE  FREDERICK  SINCLAIR,  THE  SIXTH  AND 
LAST  OF  LYBSTER,  was  a  Captain  in  the  Army,  and  died 
unmarried.  In  1868  the  estate  was  sold  by  his  trustees 
to  the  Duke  of  Portland  for  £24,000. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  SCOTSCALDER. 

I.  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR,  third  son  of  James  Sinclair  of  TI 
Lybster,  had  the  lands  of  Hoy  and  Geise,  and  in  1729, 
he  exchanged  them  with  James  Murray,  son  of  Patrick 
Murray  of  Pennyland,  for  the  estate  of  Scotscalder, 
which  formed  part  of  the  Bishopric  of  Caithness,  and 
was  acquired  in  feu  by  the  Caithness  family,  and  by 
them  wadsetted  to  the  Murrays  of  Pennyland,  who 
afterwards  acquired  the  right  of  reversion.  In  1713 
William  Sinclair  adjudged  Ulgrimbeg  and  Ulgrimore 
from  the  Sinclairs  of  Assery,  and  these  lands  were  also 
originally  church  lands.  He  had  three  sons  and  two 
daughters  :— 

1.  Alexander,  of  whom  there  is  little  further  notice, 

unless  he  is  the  same  person  as  Alexander  Sinclair 
of  Sixpenny. 

2.  John,  afterwards  of  Scotscalder. 

3.  Robert.     In    1734    John   Sinclair    mentions    his 

"  brother  Robert  "  in  a  letter  in  which  he  orders 
him  to  receive  clothing  such  as  would  be  required 
by  a  person  in  the  seafaring  line,  such  as  canvas 
jackets,  etc. 


40  THE   SINCLAIRS   OF   SCOTSCALDER. 

The  sinciairs  of  1.  Janet,  eldest  daughter,  who  married  John  M'Kay, 
third  of  Strathy,  and  received  a  tocher  of  6000 
merks.  The  contract  of  marriage  is  dated  29th 
April  1731,  and  is  witnessed  by  Francis  Sinclair 
of  Milton,  William  Sinclair,  younger  of  Dun, 
Benjamin  Williamson  of  Banniskirk,  and  others. 
She  had  two  daughters,  of  whom  Margaret  married 
Patrick  Honyman  of  Graemsay ;  and  Barbara 
married  Major  John  Scobie  of  Melness. 
2.  Barbara. 


II.  JOHN  SINCLAIR,  THE  SECOND  OF  SCOTSCALDER, 
married  Isabella,  only  daughter  of  John  Sinclair,  fourth  of 
Assery,  by  his  second  wife,  Barbara  Murray,  daughter  of 
Patrick  Murray  of  Penny  land.  On  his  marriage  in  1731 
his  father  conveyed  to  him,  with  consent  of  his  eldest 
son,  Alexander,  the  lands  of  Scotscalder,  Ulgrimbeg,  and 
Ulgrimore.  He  had  two  sons  and  four  daughters  : — 

1.  William. 

2.  Eobert. 

1.  Isabella,  eldest  daughter,  was  second  wife  of  Captain 
Thomas  Dunbar  of  Westfield.  She  died  in  1829, 
and  was  interred  in  the  chapel  at  Pennyland. 
Captain  Dunbar  was  the  second  son  of  Alexander 
Dunbar  of  Grangehill,  and  he  was  the  male 
representative  of  that  family,  which  is  descended 
from  Sir  Alexander  Dunbar  of  Westfield,  son  of 
James,  Earl  of  Moray.  Captain  Dunbar  took 


THE  SINCLAIRS    OF  SCOTSCALDER.  41 

the  designation  "of  Westfield."  He  purchased  The  smciairs  of 
Milton — now  called  Westfield — and  Sibster  (for 
Captain  Dunbar's  first  marriage,  vide  Dunbar  of 
Hempriggs) ;  and  by  his  second  wife,  Isabella 
Sinclair,  he  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters  : — 
James,  who  married  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Cameron,  Halkirk,  and  died  without  issue ;  and 
Alexander,  who  was  tenant  of  Scrabster  and  other 
Crgwn  lands,  and  died  unmarried  in  1859  j1  the 
daughters  were  Isabella,  Mrs.  Robinson,  who 
left  a  daughter;  Barbara,  Mrs.  Guthrie,  who 
had  two  sons,  namely,  the  late  Colonel  Charles 
Seton  Guthrie  of  Scotscalder,  and  James  Baillie 
Guthrie ;  and  Catharine,  Mrs.  M'Gregor,  who 
had  issue. 

2.  Barbara,   the  second   daughter   of  John  Sinclair, 

married  William  Sinclair  of  Rattar,  tenth  Earl 
of  Caithness. 

3.  Margaret. 

4.  Catharine. 

One  of  these  two  ladies  was  second  wife  of  James 
Sinclair  of  Holbornhead. 

III.  ROBERT  SINCLAIR,  THIRD  AND  LAST  OF  SCOTS- 
CALDER, had  an  only  son,  Lieutenant- Colonel  James 
Sinclair  of  the  Royal  Artillery,  and  two  daughters, 
one  of  whom  married  Mr.  Aitken,  and  had  a  son, 

1  10th  March  1859. 
F 


42 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  SCOTSCALDER. 


The  sinciairs  of  who   died  young ;  while   the   other   married   Mr.   Steel, 

Scotscalder.  •  rr»  -iii«  AI  ^  -i  i      i 

an  excise  onicer,  and  had  issue.     About  1812  he  sold  the 
estate.1 

1  The  original  estate  of   Scotscalder     to  the  Hurrays  of  Pennyland,  who  sub- 
appears  to  have  been  at  one  time  church     sequently  acquired   the   reversion,  and 


lands,  and  to  have  been  feued  out  by 
the  Bishop  of  Caithness  to  the  Caithness 
family.  By  them  it  was  first  wadsetted 


from  them  it  came,  as  stated,  into  the 
family  of  Sinclair  of  Hoy. 


EGBERT  SINCLAIR  OF  GEISE. 

ROBERT  SINCLAIR  OF  GEISE,  Advocate,  was  fourth  son  Robert  Sinclair 
of  James  Sinclair  of  Lybster,  and  brother  of  William 
Sinclair  of  Hoy  and  Scotscalder.  He  married  Catharine 
Ross,  daughter  of  William  Ross  of  Kindeace,  and  widow 
of  George  M'Kay  of  Bighouse,  and  had  a  son  and  four 
daughters : — 

1.  Katharine,  who  married  John  Sinclair  of  Assery. 

2.  Jean,  who  married  James  Sinclair  of  Holbornhead 

and  Forss.     Vide  Forss. 

3.  Barbara,  who  married  Dr.  William  Sinclair,  Physi- 

cian in  Thurso.     Vide  Freswick. 

4.  Mary,   who   married   Patrick   Doull   of    Oldfield, 

merchant  in  Thurso.  Their  only  child,  who  was 
alive  in  1780,  was  Alexander,  then  in  the  East 
Indies,  who  died  unmarried.  He  was  an  officer 
in  the  navy  or  marines,  and  his  ship  and  crew 
were  blown  up. 

Robert  Sinclair  died  in  1742,  and  his  wife  about  1757. 
She  retained  the  name  of  "  Lady  Bighouse,"  and  resided 
latterly  in  Trantlemore,  in  Sutherlandshire,  where  she 
died. 


THE    SINCLAIRS    OF    GREENLAND 
AND    RATTAR. 

TheSinclairsof  j      glR    JOHN     SINCLAIR,     KNIGHT,     the    first     of    this 

Greenland  and 

family,  was  third  son  of  John,  Master  of  Caithness,  and 
was  styled  of  Greenland,  but  his  descendants  have  been 
designed  of  Rattar.  He  married  Janet  Sutherland,  who 
was  probably  of  the  Sutherlands  of  Forse,  since  his 
nephew,  Francis,  son  of  his  brother,  James  of  Murkle, 
married  also  a  lady  of  that  family.  From  his  brother 
George,  the  fifth  Earl,  he  obtained,  in  1609,1  the  feu 
farms  of  the  lands  of  Rattar  and  others,  by  charter  to 
himself  in  liferent  and  to  his  son,  William,  in  fee ;  and  in 
1613  he  got  a  disposition  from  the  Earl  of  the  lands 
of  Rattar,  Corsbach,  Lieurary,  Reaster,  Murrsay,  and 
Hailand,  which  are  described  to  be  pertinents  of  the 
Barony  of  Achergill,  sometime  pertaining  to  George, 
Earl  Marischal,  and  William,  Lord  Keith,  his  son,  and 
acquired  by  the  Earl  from  them.  In  1612  he  occupied 
the  Castle  of  Ormlie,  near  Thurso.  He  died  in  1622, 
and  had  five  sons  and  a  daughter.2 

1.  William,  who  died  before  his  father.     Of  him  Sir 

1  26th  January  and  16th  May  1609.  2  Peerage  case. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF   GREENLAND  AND  RATTAR.  45 

Robert  Gordon  writes  :  "  This  year  of  God,  1620,  The  sinciairs  of 
the  eldest  son  of  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Greenland          ™ 
perished  in  the  water  of  Risgill,  as  he  was  riding 
that  river  in  a  great  speat  and  storm  of  weather. 
He  was  a  young  gentleman  of  good  expectation." 
This  event  must  have  occurred  earlier  than  1620, 
for  in  1618  his  immediate  younger  brother,  Alex- 
ander, obtained  a  precept  as  his  heir. 

2.  Alexander,  who  in  1618  obtained  from  his  uncle, 

Earl    George,   a    precept   of   dare    as    heir   to 
William.    He  died  without  issue. 

3.  John,  who  obtained  in  1623  a  precept  of  dare  as 

heir  to  Alexander.    He  also  died  without  issue, 
and  was  succeeded  by — 

4.  James  of  Eeaster,  who  obtained  a  precept  on  16th 

December  1634,  and  was  afterwards  of  Rattar. 

5.  Francis,  who  died  without  issue. 

There  is  mention  of  a  son,  Thomas,  as  alive  about 
1630,  but  there  is  no  trace  of  any  of  his  descendants. 

1.  Elizabeth,  Sir  John's  only  daughter,  married  John 
Cunningham  of  Geise  and  Brownhill.  In  Novem- 
ber 1630,  her  brother,  James,  borrowed  from  Sir 
John  Sinclair  of  Geanies  and  Dunbeath  £3000  "for 
payment  of  his  sister  Elizabeth's  tocher  to  John 
Cunningham  of  Geise,  her  spouse."  In  Douglas's 
accounts  of  the  Cunninghams  there  is  much  con- 
fusion and  error  as  to  this  lady  and  her  marriage. 

Sir  John  had  a  natural  son,  George,  mentioned  in  a 


46  THE   SINCLAIRS  OF  GREENLAND  AND  R ATTAR. 

The  sinciairs  of  sasine  in  favour  of  his  brother,  Alexander,  in  1619,  but 

Greenland  and        /» -,  .  -,  r»      ,  i 

Eattar.  <M  him  we  have  no  further  account. 

II.  JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  EEASTER  AND  OF  EATTAR/ 
married  Janet,  daughter  of  William  Bruce  of  Stanstill, 
and  had  two  sons,  and,  so  far  as  has  been  ascertained,  three 
daughters — 

1.  William,  his  successor. 

2.  John,  who  died  without  issue. 

In  an  assignation  dated  14th  December  1636,  by 
James  Sinclair,  to  his  eldest  son,  William,  whom  failing, 
to  his  second  son,  John,  he  assigns  a  reversion  of  Eattar, 
in  consideration  of  certain  payments  by  "  Janet  Murray, 
Ladie  of  Stanstill,  my  mother-in-law." 

1.  Janet,  eldest  daughter,  who  married  Walter  Bruce 

of  Hain.2 

2.  Margaret,  who  married  in  1655  John  Smith,  son 

of    William    Smith,    Minister   of  Dunnet   from 
1614  to  1652. 

3.  Elizabeth  or  Elspeth,  who   married   about   1652, 

William  Bruce  of  Stanstill.3 

1  1634.  marriage.     William  Smith   of   Dunnet 

2  Contract  of  Marriage,  20th  Decem-  and  William   Smyth  of   Watten  were 
her  1642.  different   persons  ;   and   the  writer  in 

3  In  June  1864,  it  was  stated  in  a  "Notes   and    Queries"   has    probably 
notice  in  "  Notes   and   Queries  "  that  mistaken  the  connection  of  the  Smiths 
William  Smyth,  minister  of  Dunottar,  with  the  family  of   Rattar.      William 
afterwards  of  Bower  and  Watten,  mar-  Smyth  was  a  rather  remarkable  man  in 
ried  a  daughter  of  James   Sinclair  of  his  time,  and  notices  of  him  will  be 
Rattar,  and  had  a  son,  George  ;  but  no  found  in  M 'Kay's  "  History  "  and  in 
evidence  has  been  found  of  any  such  "  Fasti  Eccles.  Scot." 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  GREENLAND  AND  RATTAR.  47 

III.  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR,  THIRD  OF  RATTAR,  acquired  The  sinciairs  of 
the  lands  of  Freswick  in  1661,  from  Mowat  of  Buquhollie  *™ 
and  his  son,  Magnus.1  He  married,  first,  in  1642,  when 
in  apparency  only,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Sinclair, 
first  of  Ulbster;  and,  second,  in  1647,2  Jean,  daughter  of 
John  Cunningham  of  Geise  and  Brownhill,  and  relict  of 
Alexander  Sinclair  of  Latheron.  John  Cunningham,  it 
has  been  seen,  had  for  his  second  wife  Elizabeth,  aunt 
of  Willianj  Sinclair  of  Eattar ;  but  it  is  thought  that  his 
daughter,  Jean,  was  not  Rattar's  cousin-german,  but  was 
the  daughter  of  John  Cunningham  by  his  first  marriage. 
Jean  Cunningham  was  long  famous  in  the  locality  under 
the  name  of  "  Jeanag  of  Rattar." 

By  his  first  marriage  William  Sinclair  had  John,  his 
successor  in  Rattar.3 

By   his   second   wife   he   had  three    sons    and    two 
daughters.4 

1.  James  of  Freswick,  said  to  have  died  in  France, 
having  been  taken  prisoner  when  on  his  way 
to  Edinburgh  to  be  married.  In  Chambers's 
"Domestic  Annals"  (vol.  iii.  p.  25,  anno  1690)  it 
is  stated  that  having  made  his  case  known  to 
the  Scottish  Privy  Council,  he  was  released  in 
exchange  for  Mr.  David  Fairfoul,  a  priest  detained 
in  prison  at  Inverness. 

1  Contract  of  Marriage,  24th  March.         4  Disposition   by  their   father,  30th 

March    1650.      Crown    Charter,    30th 
*  Contract  of  Marriage,  12th  August.     ^  ^  in  fayour  rf  Jean  C 

3  Last  Will,  1663.  ham  and  her  three  sons. 


48  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  GREENLAND  AND  RATTAR. 

The  Sinclairs  of  2.    Robert. 

Rattai-a  3.  David,  who  succeeded  to  Freswick  on  the  death  of 

Robert.1 

1.  Janet,  eldest  daughter,  who  married  John  Sinclair 

of  Ulbster,  son  of  Patrick  Sinclair.2 

2.  Anne,  who  married,  first,  Robert  Sinclair  of  Durran, 

and,  second,  John  Campbell  of  Castlehill,  Com- 
missary and  Sheriff-clerk  of  Caithness.3 

IV.  JOHN  SINCLAIR,  FOURTH  OF  RATTAR,  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Sinclair  of  Mey,  and 
had  two  sons  and  four  daughters  : — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

2.  William,  who,  on  the  death  in  1712  of  his  uncle, 

David  of  Freswick,  succeeded  to  that  estate. 

1.  Barbara,    eldest    daughter,   who    married    John 

Sinclair  of  Forss.  By  their  descendant,  William 
Sinclair  Thomson  Sinclair,  Esq.,  the  estates  of 
Freswick  are  now  possessed  under  an  entail 
executed  in  1775  by  John  Sinclair,  then  of 
Freswick. 

2.  Frances,  who  married  James  Sinclair  of  Latheron. 

3.  Margaret,  who  married,  first,  Alexander  Sinclair  of 

Brabster,  and,  second,  Alexander  Gibson,  Minister 
of  Canisbay.  Vide  Brabster  and  Gibson. 

4.  Katharine,  who  married  George  Mansonof  Bridgend. 

1  Retour,  1696,  of  David  to  James       2  Retour,  June  1712. 
and  Robert.  3  Retour,  20th  January  1713. 


THE  SINCLATRS  OF  GREENLAND  AND  RATTAR.  49 

V.  JOHN  SINCLAIR,  FIFTH  OF  RATTAR,  married  Janet,  The  sinciairs  of 
daughter  of  Patrick  Sinclair  of  Southdun,  and  died  in  Rattar. 
1733.1     He  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  John,  who  died  unmarried  in  minority. 

2.  William,  who  succeeded  his  father. 

William  was  a  minor  at  his  father's  death,  and  the 
estate  was  taken  charge  of  by  his  uncle,  William  of  Fres- 
wick.  His  mother  also  claimed  the  management,  and, 
pending  the  dispute,  "  lodged  in  the  garret  while  Fres- 
wick  occupied  the  other  parts  of  the  house  of  Rattar/' 
The  widow  afterwards  married  one  Dun,  a  stay-maker 
in  Edinburgh. 

VI.  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR,  SIXTH  OF  RATTAR,  married 
Barbara,  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Scotscalder,  and 
died  in  1779.2     In  1772  his  claim  to  the  dignity  of  Earl 
of  Caithness  was  sustained  by  the  Committee  of  Privi- 
leges.    He  had  five  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

2.  William,    an   officer  in   the   army,  who    died   in 

America  unmarried. 

3.  James.  4.  Alexander.  5.  David. 
These  died  young  and  unmarried. 

1.  The    eldest    daughter,    Lady    Isabella,    died    un- 

married. 

2,  Lady  Janet,  married  to  James  Traill  of  Rattar,  and 

had  issue. —  Vide  Traills. 

1  Retour,  1719.  2  Retour,  March  1773. 

G 


50  THE  SINCLAIRS   OF  GREENLAND  AND  RATTAR. 

The  Sinclairs  of          VII.   JOHN    SINCLAIR,  SEVENTH  AND  LAST  OF  RATTAR, 

Rattar.  succeeded  his  father  in  1779,  and  was  the  eleventh  Earl 

of  Caithness. 

In  1772  he  entered  the  army  as  an  Ensign  in  the  17th 
Foot,  and  became  Major  in  the  76th  Foot  in  1777.1  He 
served  for  some  years  in  America,  and  was  wounded  at 
the  siege  of  Charlestown.  In  1783  he  attained  the  rank 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel.  He  died  unmarried  in  1789,  and 
was  at  the  time  of  his  death  the  last  male  representative 
of  the  family  of  Greenland  and  Rattar. 

1  Scottish  Nation. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FRESWICK. 

I.  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR  OF  RATTAR,  grandson 
Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Greenland  and  Rattar,  was  the Fl 
first  "Sinclair  of  Freswick,"  that  estate  having  been 
acquired  by  him,  in  1661,  from  Mowat  of  Buquhollie, 
and  his  son,  Magnus  of  Freswick.  By  his  second 
marriage  (vide  Rattar)  he  had  three  sons  and  two 
daughters : — 

1.  James,  eldest  son. 

2.  Robert. 

3.  David. 

1.  Janet,   the   eldest   daughter,  who   married   John 

Sinclair  of  Ulbster.1 

2.  Anne,   who   married  in   1678   Robert   Sinclair  of 

Durran. 

The  sons  were  all  named  in  the  disposition  to  their 
father  to  the  lands  of  Freswick  dated  10th  and 
20th  July  1661. 

II.  JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  FRESWICK  obtained  a  Crown 
charter,  on  30th  April  1672,  in  favour  of  his  mother  in 

1  Retours  1712-1713. 


52  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FRESWICK. 

The  sinciairs  of  liferent,  and  himself  and  his  brothers  in  succession  in  fee. 
He  died  before  1696  without  issue. 

The  arms  of  the  family,1  as  recorded  by  James  Sinclair 
in  the  Lyon  Register,  are  : — Quarterly  first  azure,  a  ship 
at  anchor,  with  Oars  in  Saltier,  within  a  double  treasure- 
counter-flowered  or;  second  or,  a  lion  rampant  gules; 
third  as  the  second ;  and  the  fourth  azure,  a  ship  under 
sail  or,  and,  over  all,  dividing  the  quarters,  a  cross  en- 
grailed sable,  all  within  a  bordure  cheque  or  and  gules ; 
Crest,  a  cross  pattee,  within  a  circle  of  stars  argent. 
Motto,  Via  crucis  via  lucis. 

III.  ROBERT  SINCLAIR  OF  FRESWICK  succeeded  his 
brother  James,  and,  dying  unmarried,  was  succeeded  by 
his  brother  David. 

IV.  DAVID  SINCLAIR  OF  FRESWICK  was  twice  married, 
first,  to  Barbara,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Sinclair  of  Mey,2 
and  secondly  to  Sophia,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Stewart 
of  Burray.3     He  had  no  issue  by  either  marriage.    In 
April  1712  he  executed  an  entail  or  destination  of  the 
estate  in  favour  of  his  nephew,  William,  second  son  of  his 
half-brother,   John   Sinclair   of  Rattar,  the   destination 
being,  failing  his  own  heirs  male  or  female,  "in  favour 
of  William  Sinclair,  second  son  of  John  Sinclair  of  Rattar, 
and  the  heirs-male  of  his  body,  whom  failing,  to  John 

1  Nisbet.  2  Contract  of  Marriage,  9th  April  1695. 

3  Contract  of  Marriage,  25th  June  1702. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FRESWICK.  53 

Sinclair  of  Durran,  my  sister's  son,  and  the  heirs-male  of  The  sinciairs  of 

his  body ;  whom  failing,  to  return  to  the  heirs-male  of  the 

family  of  Eattar,  my  father's  family."     In  1 7 1 2  and  1 7 1 3 , 

his  sisters,  Janet  and  Anne,  were  served  heirs  to  him,  and 

some  legal  proceedings  touching  the  succession  took  place, 

but   were    ultimately  abandoned.      Mrs.  Janet   Sinclair, 

then  relict  of  John  Sinclair  of  Ulbster,  executed  in  1712 

a  deed  from  which  the  following  is  an  extract : — "  Out 

of  the  respect  I  have  to  the  family  of  Ratter,  being  my 

father's  family,  and  for  supporting  not  only  thereof,  but 

also  of  my  brother's  family  of  Freswick,  and  his  memory, 

condescended  and  agreed  with  the  said  William  Sinclair 

that  I  should  ratify  the  foresaid  disposition  and  right, 

and  denude  myself  of  all  title  and  right  I  have  to  the 

said  estate." 


V.  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR  OF  FRESWICK,  second  son  of 
John  Sinclair  of  Rattar,  and  grandson  of  William  Sinclair 
of  Rattar  by  his  first  marriage,  added  to  the  family  estates 
by  the  purchase  of  the  wadsets  of  Dunnet  and  Greenland, 
held  by  Murray  of  Clairden,  and  of  the  reversion  of  these 
estates  held  by  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,  and  in 
1751  he  purchased  Dunbeath  from  Sir  William  Sinclair 
of  Keiss  and  James  Sinclair  of  Latheron  for  £3000  ster- 
ling, and  the  lands  of  Warse  and  others  in  Canisbay  from 
the  Groat  family.  The  House  of  Freswick  was  built  by 
him  about  middle  of  last  century.  In  1778  James 
Sinclair,  son  of  James  Sinclair  of  Latheron,  who  sold 


54  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FRESWICK. 

The  sinciairs  of  Dunbeath,  attempted  to  set  aside  the  sale,  but  after 
many  years'  litigation  the  action  of  reduction  raised 
against  Fres wick's  son  and  successor  failed. 

William  Sinclair  of  Freswick  was  a  gentleman  of 
ability  and  of  considerable  local  note,  while  his  personal 
appearance  is  stated  to  have  been  dignified  and  imposing. 
As  leader  of  one  of  the  two  political  parties  into  which 
the  county  was  in  his  time  divided  (Sir  William  Dunbar 
of  Hempriggs  leading  the  other),  he  was  an  influential 
county  gentleman.  If  vindictive  and  somewhat  unscrupu- 
lous towards  his  enemies  and  opponents,  as  they  alleged, 
he  was  a  warm,  and,  on  many  occasions,  a  generous  and 
considerate  friend.  He  was  eager  in  the  promotion  of 
his  own  interests,  and  his  acquisition  of  a  considerable 
estate  from  moderate  beginnings,  and  the  political  and 
family  animosities  prevalent  in  the  times  in  which  he 
lived,  account,  to  some  extent,  for  the  rather  unfavour- 
able traditionary  character  he  bears. 

He  married  Katharine,  daughter  of  George  Sutherland 
of  Forse,  and  he  died  in  1769.1  He  had  a  son  and  two 
daughters : — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

1.  Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter,  married,  when  some- 

what advanced  in  life,  George  Bean,  a  Writer 
in  Inverness. 

2.  Jean,  married  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Barrock,  and  was 

grandmother  of  Sir  John  Sinclair,  late  of  Barrock. 

1  Peerage  case,  4th  July  1769. 


THE   SINCLAIRS  OF  FRESWICK.  55 

VI.  JOHN   SINCLAIR  OF   FRESWICK,  Advocate,  was  The  sinciairs  of 
Sheriff  of  the  county,  and  was  twice  married.     His  first Freswick- 
wife  was  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Dalrymple  of 
Cousland,  and  a  lady  to  whom  he  appears  to  have  been 
much  attached,  although  for  some  reason,  now  unknown, 
his   father   was   much  opposed   to   the   marriage.      By 
her  he  had  a  son  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  William,  who  was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  78th 
Regiment,  in  1778.  He  predeceased  his  father 
without  issue,  and  appears  to  have  given  him 
much  trouble  and  distress  from  his  extravagant 
habits. 

1.  Kitty,  who  also  died  before  her  father,  in  her 
fifteenth  year. 

By  his  second  wife,  Margaret,  daughter  of  James 
Moray  of  Abercairney,  who  survived  him,  he  had  no  issue. 

In  the  contested  county  election,  in  1754,  John 
Sinclair  was  invited  by  the  Brodie  party  to  stand  as  a 
candidate,  but  he  declined,  and  supported  General  Scott, 
who  was  returned. 

He  died  and  was  buried  at  Bath,  in  1784,  and  was 
the  last  surviving  collateral  heir-male  of  the  Rattar 
branch  of  the  Caithness  family,  so  that  on  the  death 
of  John,  Earl  of  Caithness,  in  1789,  the  succession  to 
the  earldom  devolved  on  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Mey, 
in  default  of  heirs-male  of  the  Greenland  and  Rattar 
family. 

In  reference  to  the  settlement  of  the  Freswick  estates, 


56  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FRESWICK. 

The  sinciairs  of  he  wrote,  in  1782,  to  his  second  cousin,  Dr.  William 
Sinclair  of  Lochend,  afterwards  of  Freswick  :  "I  look  on 
my  grandfather  (John  Sinclair  of  Rattar)  as  the  head  of 
my  family ;  from  his  descendants  I  never  will  give  away 
what  my  father  left  me,  but  of  these  I  will  choose  him  I 
think  the  most  worthy.  A  cousin  or  a  nephew  are  equal 
with  me  in  the  scale.  Whoever  merits  most  will  be  pre- 
ferable." Accordingly,  on  30th  May  1775,  he  executed  a 
strict  entail  of  the  estates,  in  the  destination  of  which  he 
preferred  the  descendants  of  his  paternal  aunt,  Barbara, 
daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Rattar,  and  two  of  the 
younger  sons  of  William,  tenth  Earl  of  Caithness,  great- 
grandsons  of  John  of  Rattar,  to  the  children  of  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Sinclair  of  Barrock,  his  nephew,  William,  the 
second  son  of  Barrock,  being  the  last  named  substitute  of 
entail.  The  estates  were  settled  (1st),  on  the  heirs-male 
and  female  of  his  own  body  ;  (2d),  on  Robert  Sinclair, 
eldest  grandson  of  his  aunt,  Barbara,  and  her  husband, 
John  Sinclair  of  Forss ;  (3d),  on  Dr.  William  Sinclair, 
another  grandson  of  Barbara  Sinclair  and  John  Sinclair  of 
Forss ;  (4th  and  5th),  on  his  cousins,  William  and  James, 
younger  sons  of  William  Sinclair  of  Rattar,  tenth  Earl  of 
Caithness ;  and  (lastly),  on  his  nephew,  William  Sinclair, 
Writer  to  the  Signet,  the  second  son  of  Alexander  Sin- 
clair of  Barrock,  by  his  sister,  Jean.  This  settlement  of 
the  estates  was  the  cause  of  great  dissatisfaction  to  his 
sisters,  who,  in  a  process  of  reduction  in  1789  for  setting 
it  aside,  complained  of  the  entail  as  "  disinheriting  them 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FRESWICK.  57 

and  preferring  a  person  who,  although  a  relation  of  the  The  Sinclair  of 
family,  was  not  even  the  nearest  heir-male." 

John  Sinclair  is  described  as  a  man  of  quick  parts, 
but  proud  and  extravagant,  and  inattentive  to  his  affairs. 

VII.  EGBERT  SINCLAIR  OF  FRESWICK,  eldest  son  of 
James  Sinclair  of  Holburnhead,  and  afterwards  of  Forss, 
succeeded  in  1784,  and  died  at  Dunbeath  Castle,  without 
issue,  in  November  1794.1    He  married  Esther  Bland,  said 
to  have  been  an  actress,  and  to  have  been  the  sister,  or 
near  relative,  of  the  celebrated  Mrs.  Jordan. 

VIII.  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR  OF  LOCHEND,  which  estate 
he  acquired  by  purchase,  in  1778,  for  £2015,  was  grand- 
son of  John  Sinclair  of  Forss,  and  Barbara  Sinclair,  and 
succeeded  his  cousin-german,  Robert  Sinclair  of  Freswick, 
in  1794.     He  was  a  Doctor  of  Medicine,  and  practised 
for  many  years  in  Thurso,  and  the  county  generally,  before 
succeeding  to  the  estates.     He  acquired  Thura  by  pur- 
chase in  1801.    He  was  twice  married ;  and  died  on  15th 
March  1838,  aged  90. 

By  his  first  wife,  Isabella,  daughter  of  Alexander 
Calder,  last  laird  of  Lynegar,  who  died  in  1812,  he  had — 

1.  John,  who  died  unmarried  in  1832  in  the  twenty- 
second  year  of  his  age. 

1.  Barbara  Madelina  Gordon,  the  late  Mrs.  Thomson 
Sinclair  of  Freswick,  twin  sister  of  John. 

1  Retour  6th  October. 
H 


58  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FRESWICK. 

The  sinciairs  of        2.  Isabella,  who  married  Mr.  Thomas  Cochrane  Hume 

of    Halifax,    North   America,1   and   had   a   son, 

William  Sinclair  Hume,  who  died  9th  October 

1859,  in  early  life,  and  two  daughters;  of  whom 

one  died  young,  and  the  other,  Isabella  Barbara, 

married  Captain  John  Hobhouse  Inglis  Alexander 

of  Southbar,  R.N.,  and  has  issue. 

In  1 8 1 6  William  Sinclair  married,  secondly,  his  cousin, 

Jane,  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Barrock,  by  whom  he 

had  a  son  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  William  James  John  Alexander,  his  successor. 

1.  Williamina,  who  died  young. 

2.  Janet  Sinclair  Traill,  who  died  in  June  1870,  at 

Torquay,  unmarried. 

3.  Jane,  who  married  Major-General  Augustus  Halifax 

Ferryman,  and  died  in  1851,  leaving  one  child, 
Augustus  Hamilton  Ferryman,  now  of  Lochend 
and  Thura. 

IX.  WILLIAM  JAMES  JOHN  ALEXANDER  SINCLAIR 
OF  FRESWICK  succeeded  his  father  in  1838,  while  yet  in 
minority.  He  served  for  a  short  time  in  the  Army,  and 
died  unmarried  at  Nottingham  House,  on  20th  February 
1855,  in  the  thirty-second  year  of  his  age,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  half-sister,  Barbara.  He  possessed  good 
natural  abilities,  and  but  for  his  delicate  health  would, 
had  his  life  been  prolonged,  have  taken  a  lead  in  the 

1  On  28th  January  1840. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FRESWICK.  59 

county.     In  1847  he  issued  an  address  to  the  Electors  The  sinciairs  of 
of  Caithness,  offering  to  represent  the  county  in  Parlia- 
ment  on   Conservative   principles,   but   he   did   not  go 
to  the  poll. 

X.  MRS.  BARBARA  MADELINA  GORDON  THOMSON 
SINCLAIR  OF  FRESWICK  married  William  Thomson,  Esq., 
Deputy  Commissary-General  of  the  Forces,  and  had  an 
only  child,  ^illiam  Sinclair  Thomson  Sinclair. 

XL  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR  THOMSON  SINCLAIR,  NOW  OF 
FRESWICK,  was  born  8th  April  1844,  married  on  18th  June 
1872  Isabella,  eldest  daughter  of  James  Henderson,  Esq. 
of  Bilbster,  and  in  1876  succeeded  to  the  family  estates 
on  the  death  of  his  mother. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  MEY. 

The  sinciairs  of       I.  WILLIAM  SiNCLAiE,  second  son  of  George,  fourth 

Mey. 

Earl  of  Caithness,  obtained  a  charter  in  March  1572  from 
his  father,  of  the  lands  of  Mey,  and  was  thus  the  first 
laird  of  Mej.  He  died  unmarried. 

II.  GEORGE  SINCLAIR,  SECOND  OF  MEY,  succeeded  his 
brother,  William,  and  in  1573  got  a  precept  of  dare 
constat  from  Robert,  Bishop  of  Caithness.  In  1585  and 
1592  he  obtained  Crown  charters.  In  1572  the  Bishop 
appointed  him  Chancellor  of  the  diocese  of  Caithness. 
He  was  a  man  of  ability,  who  lost  no  opportunity  of  pro- 
moting his  family  interests,  and  considerable  additions  to 
the  family  estates  were  made  by  him. 

Before  1583  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
William,  seventh  Lord  Forbes,  and  he  died  in  1616. 
He  had  four  sons  and  five  daughters  : — 

1.  William,  his  heir. 

2.  Sir  John,  of  Geanies  and  Dunbeath. 

3.  James,  who  died  young. 

4.  Alexander  of  Latheron,  ancestor  of  the  Sinciairs  of 

Barrock  and  Brabster. 

1.  Janet,  eldest  daughter,  who  married  Walter  Innes 
of  Inverbrakie. 


THE'SINCLAIRS  OF   MEY.  61 

2.  Margaret,  who  married,  in  1608,  Alexander  Sinclair  The  smciairs  of 

of  Fores.  Mey' 

3.  Barbara,  who  married  Alexander  Keith  of  Pitten- 

drum,  in  1610. 

4.  Elizabeth,  who  married  William  Dunbar,  first  of 

Hempriggs  in  Morayshire,  and  grandfather  of  Sir 
William  Dunbar  of  Hempriggs,  etc.,  in  Caithness. 

5.  Anne. 

III.  SIR  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR  OF  MEY  was  created  a 
knight,1  and  was  styled  Sir  William  of  Cadboll.  In  1600 
he  married  Katharine,  second  daughter  of  George  Boss  of 
Balnagown,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Sir  James. 
It  has  been  supposed  that  Sir  William  was  created  a 
baronet,  but  this  is  doubtful ;  and  in  the  Great  Seal 
charters  of  1623  and  1636  he  is  mentioned  as  "  Miles" 
only. 

In  1595  a  mutiny  broke  out  among  the  scholars  and 
gentlemen's  sons  attending  the  High  School  of  Edin- 
burgh, arising  from  a  dispute  with  the  magistrates  as  to 
.their  vacation.  They  laid  in  provisions  in  the  school- 
room, manned  the  same,  and  took  in  arms  with  powder 
and  bullets  ;  and  refused  all  entrance  to  masters  or 
magistrates  until  their  claims  were  conceded.  After  a 
day  passed  in  this  manner,  the  Council  resolved  on 
strong  measures,  and  a  posse  of  officers,  headed  by  Bailie 
John  Macmoran,  proceeded  to  the  school,  and  failing  to 

1  Charters  1C23,  1636. 


62  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  MEY. 

The  sinciairs  of  persuade  the  scholars  to  surrender,  attempted  to  prize 
open  the  doors.  The  scholars,  finding  no  attention  paid 
to  their  threats,  to  "  put  a  pair  of  bullets  through  the 
best  of  their  cheeks,"  unless  they  desisted,  "  one  Sinclair, 
the  Chancellor  of  Caithness'  son,  presented  a  gun  from  a 
window,  direct  opposite  to  the  bailies'  faces,  boasting  them 
and  calling  them  buttery  carles.  Off  goeth  the  charged 
gun,  pierced  John  Macmoran  through  his  head,  and  pre- 
sently killed  him,  so  that  he  fell  backward  straight  to 
the  ground  without  speech  at  all."  The  culprit  was  Wil- 
liam, afterwards  Sir  William  Sinclair  of  Mey  ;  but  in  the 
end  he  and  seven  other  youths  implicated  got  clear  off.1 

The  following  description  of  Barrogill  Castle,  at  this 
period,  is  taken  from  a  poem  dedicated  to  the  Earl  of 
Caithness  and  Sir  William  St.  Clair  of  Cadboll : — 

"  Sir,  sighting  now  thyself  and  palace  faire, 
I  find  a  novelty,  and  that  most  rare ; 
The  time  though  cold  and  stormie,  sharper  sun, 
And  far  to  summer,  scarce  the  spring  begun, 
Yet  with  good  luck  in  Februar,  Saturn's  prey 
Have  I  not  sought  and  found  out  fruitful  May 
Flank'd  with  the  marine  coast  prospective  stands 
Right  opposit  to  the  Orcade  Isles  and  lands, 
Where  I,  for  flowers,  engorged  strong  grapes  of  Spain, 
And  liquor'd  French,  both  red  and  white  amaine. 
Which  palace  doth  contain,  two  four-squared  courts 
Graft  with  brave  works,  where  th'  art  drawn  pensile  spourts 
On  halls,  high  chambers,  galleries,  office  bowers, 
Cells,  rooms,  and  turrets,  platforms,  stately  towers." 

1  Chambers's  "  Domestic  Annals,"  vol.  i.  pp.  263,  2C2. 


THE    SINCLAIRS  OF  MEY.  63 

•  » 

IV.  SIR  JAMES  SINCLAIR  was  styled,  in  his  father's  The  sinciairs  of 
lifetime,  of  Canisbay,  as  appears  from  a  tack  of  teinds, 
dated  14th  June  1635,  by  Sir  William  and  Sir  James, 
and  from  a  Crown  charter  in  favour  of  both,  dated  17th 
February  1636.  As  before  stated,  it  is  doubtful  whether 
his  father  was  more  than  a  mere  knight,  and  if  Sir  James 
was  so  called  in  his  father's  lifetime  there  must  have  been 
a  separate  creation.  His  uncle,  Sir  John  of  Geanies  and 
Dunbeath,  to  whose  baronetcy  he  is  supposed  to  have 
succeeded,  was  alive  long  after  1636,  but  if  Sir  James 
was  so  styled  in  the  lifetime  of  his  father  and  uncle, 
he  may  have  been  merely  knighted,  and  may  still  have 
afterwards  taken  up  his  uncle's  baronetcy.1  Sir  James 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Patrick,  Lord  Lindores, 
and  died  in  1662.  He  had  five  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  John,2  who  died  young. 

2.  William,  his  successor. 

3.  Robert  of  Durran. — (Vide  Durran.) 

4.  James 2  of  Stangergill,  who  died  without  issue. 

5 .  George  of  Olrig. — ( Vide  Olrig. ) 

1.  Anne,  eldest  daughter,  who  married  George,  first 
Earl  of  CromaTty. 

1  [Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Canisbay  was  Ham  and  Robert :  his  property,  on  his 
created  a  Baronet  June  2,  1631,  with  death   s.p.,  was  inherited  by  Robert, 
remainder  "hseredibus  suis  masculis  et  In  1645  Sir  James  granted  a  bond  over 
assignatis  quibuscunque."    The  precept  Stangergill  to  John,  his  "second  son." 
for  the  patent  is  on  record.]  In  a  discharge,  dated  1667,  Sir  William 

2  [This  John  and  James  seem  to  have  enumerates    his    younger    brothers   as 
been  really  one  person,  namely,  John,  of  John,  Robert,  and  George.] 
Stangergill,  intermediate  between  Wil- 


64  THE   SINCLAIRS   OF   MEY. 

The  sinciairs  of        2.  Elizabeth,  who  married  her  cousin,  William  Sin- 
clair of  Dunbeath. 

• 

V.  SIR  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR  OF  CANISBAY  AND  MEY 
was  infeft  in  Mey  in  1 662  as  heir  to  his  father,  on  a  precept 
of  dare  constat  by  the  Bishop  of  Caithness.     He  married 
Margaret,  second  daughter  of  George,  second   Earl    of 
Seaforth,  and  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  Sir  James,  his  heir. 

2.  George. 

1.  Elizabeth,    eldest    daughter,   who    married   John 

Sinclair  of  Eattar. 

2.  Barbara,  who  married  David  Sinclair  of  Freswick. 

3.  Mary. 

The  estate  was  so  involved  in  debt  by  Sir  William 
that  it  was,  after  his  death,  judicially  sold  by  his  creditors 
in  1694. 

VI.  SIR   JAMES   SINCLAIR    OF   MEY  married — first, 
Frances,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Towers  of  that  Ilk  and 
of  Inverleith ;  1  and,  secondly,  Jean,  daughter  of  Francis 
Sinclair  of  Northfield,  second  son  of  George,  fifth  Earl 
of  Caithness. 

The  estates  having  been  judicially  sold  for  the  debts 
of  Sir  James's  father,  they  were  purchased  by  his  cousin, 
Viscount  Tarbet,  afterwards  Earl  of  Cromarty,  who  had 

1  [This  first  marriage  is  given  on  formacus,  who  married  the  daughter 
Douglas's  authority.  It  was  Sir  James's  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Towers  of  Inver- 
contemporary,  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Long-  leith.] 


THE  SINCLAIRS   OF  MEY.  65 

married  his  aunt,  and  in  1698  Lord  Tarbet  reconveyed  The  smciaiw  of 
them  to  the  family  by  a  disposition  and  deed  of  entail,  Mey' 
"  animo  donandi"  in  favour  of  James,  eldest  son  of  Sir 
James  Sinclair,  and  other  heirs. 

By  his  first  marriage  Sir  James  Sinclair  had  a  son  and 
a  daughter : — 

Sir  James,  his  heir. 

Barbara,  who  married  Francis  Sinclair  of  Stirkoke, 

Sir  James  had  also  a  natural  son,  John,  who  held  a 
wadset  of  Hollandmake,  conveyed  to  him  by  his  father. 

VII.  SIR  JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  MEY,  third  of  the  name, 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  James,  Lord  Duffus,  and  had 
three  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Sir  James.    2.  William.    3.  Kenneth.    1.  Margaret. 

VIII.  SIR  JAMES    SINCLAIR,   fourth    of  the    name, 
obtained  a  Crown  charter  in  17 40, l  and  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Barrock,  by  whom  he  had 
two  sons  : — 

1.  Sir  John. 

2.  William,    who    married    Elizabeth,    daughter    of 

Richard  Sinclair,  merchant  in  Thurso,  second 
son  of  Alexander  Sinclair,  last  laird  of  Dun.  He 
had  a  son,  John,  captain  in  the  79th  Foot,  who 
was  killed  at  Waterloo,  and  a  daughter,  Wil- 
liamina,  who  died  unmarried.  It  is  thought  he 
had  a  second  daughter,  who  was  married. 

1  Retour,  10th  February  1740. 

I 


66  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  MEY. 


The  Sinclairs  of          JX.    SlR  JOHN    SINCLAIR    OF    MEY   was    Served  heir   of 

Mey. 

taillie  and   provision  in   1763,    and   married   Charlotte, 
second  daughter  of  Eric,  Lord  Duffus,  by  whom  he  had  a 
son  and  a  daughter  :  — 
Sir  James. 

Margaret,  who  married  the  Reverend  William  Leslie, 
of  Darkland,  by  whom  she  had  a  son  and  seven 
daughters,  viz.,  Archibald,  who  married,  and  left 
issue  ;  Charlotte,  who  married  Arthur  Geddes, 
and  had  issue  ;  Anne,  who  married  Charles 
Black,  and  had  issue  ;  Elizabeth,  who  married 
Captain  Van  Early,  and  had  issue  ;  Isabella,  who 
married  James  Imlach,  and  had  issue  ;  Jessie  or 
Janet,  who  married  Colonel  Peter  Dunbar,  and 
had  issue  ;  Mary,  who  married  Patrick  Cameron, 
and  had  issue  ;  and  Helen,  who  married  Peter 
Brown  of  Linkwood,  and  had  issue. 

X.  SIR  JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  MEY,  eighth  baronet,  and 
ninth  in  descent  from  George  of  Mey,  Chancellor  of 
Caithness,  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  1785  ;  and  on 
the  death  of  John,  eleventh  Earl  of  Caithness,  he  was 
served  in  May  1790,  as  nearest  and  lawful  heir-male  of 
William  St.  Clair,  second  Earl  of  Caithness  of  the  line 
of  St.  Clair,  and  thereafter  took  the  dignity  of  Earl  of 
Caithness.  Vide  Earls  of  Caithness. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  ULBSTER. 

THE  ancestor  of  this  family  was  William  Sinclair,  first  The  sinciairs  of 
laird  of  Mey,  the  second  son  of  George,  fourth  Earl  of 
Caithness,  who  granted  him  the  lands  of  Mey  in.  1572. 
His  elder  brother,  John,  Master  of  Caithness,  having,  with 
his  connivance,  been  imprisoned  by  his  father  in  Girnigo 
Castle,  he  was,  on  the  occasion  of  a  visit  to  the  dungeon 
of  the  Master,  laid  hold  of  and  strangled  by  him.  This 
event  took  place  in  1572  or  1573,  for  in  the  latter  year 
his  brother,  George,  got  a  precept  of  dare  constat  as  his 
heir.  By  Margaret,  daughter  of  James  Mowat  of  Buchollie 
and  Lucy  Gordon,  daughter  of  Gordon  of  Gight,  he  left 
two  sons,  Patrick  and  John.  In  the  Great  Seal  Record, 
Edinburgh,  Lib.  45,  No.  18,  there  occurs  a  legitimation, 
dated  20th  June  1607,  "  Patricio  et  Magistro  Joanni 
Sinclair  filiis  naturalibus  quondam  Willelmi  Sinclair  de 
Mey."  Further  notices  of  the  family  are  to  be  found  in 
"  Stewartiana,"  1843,  by  Mr.  John  Eiddell,  Advocate  ;  in 
"The  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  vol.  xx.  p.  260;  and  in 
Father  Hay's  account  of  the  St.  Glairs  of  Roslyn,  printed 
in  1845. 


68  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  ULBSTER. 

The  Sinclairs  of          I.    PATRICK    SINCLAIR.  FIRST   OF    ULBSTER,  got  a  dis- 

Ulbster.  . & 

position  of  these  lands  in  1596  from  his  cousin,  George, 
fifth  Earl  of  Caithness,  and,  dying  without  issue,  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  brother,  John. 

II.  JOHN  SINCLAIR  OF  ULBSTER  was  a  man  of  education 
and  ability,  and  as  his  name  is  seldom  mentioned  without 
the  prefix  of  Mr.  or  "  Maister,"  there  is  ground  for  think- 
ing that  he  was  brought  up  as  a  pedagogue  or  teacher, 
although  it  was  not  unusual  to  designate  as  "  Maister " 
gentlemen  of  landed  property,  as  well  as  pedagogues, 
preachers,  notaries,  and  the  like.  In  1601  the  General 
Assembly  arranged  that  certain  ministers  should  plant 
themselves  in  the  families  of  the  Catholic  nobles ;  and 
Lord  Gordon,  eldest  son  of  the  Marquis  of  Huntly,  and 
the  Master  of  Caithness,  eldest  son  of  the  Earl,  "  were 
brought  up  together  under  the  care  of  two  pedagogues, 
Thomas  Gordon  and  John  Sinclair,  who  were  compelled 
to  declare  themselves  adherents  of  the  reformed  faith." 
That  John  Sinclair,  the  pedagogue,  was  John  Sinclair, 
afterwards  Mr.  John  Sinclair  of  Ulbster,  seems  to  admit 
of  no  doubt,  for  we  find  by  a  letter  from  him  to  his  uncle, 
George  of  Mey,  that,  in  1604,  he  and  the  Master  lived 
in  the  family  of  the  Marquis  of  Huntly  at  Bogg  Gight ; 
and  in  regard  to  the  Master  he  writes  :  "  always  the 
Mr.  is  verie  weill,  God  be  praysit,  and  commends  him 
heartily  to  you." l 

1  "Domestic  Annals  of  Scotland." 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  ULBSTER.  69 

John  Sinclair  was  twice  married — first,  to  Jean  The  Smciairs  of 
Chisholm,  who  is  no  doubt  the  "  Kesolme,  daughter  to 
the  laird  of  Stra glass,"  who  is  said  by  Hay  to  have 
married  the  first  laird  of  Ulbster;  and,  secondly,  to 
Katharine  Stewart.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  two  sons 
and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Patrick,  his  successor. 

2.  George,  a  merchant  in  Leith. 

1.  Henrietta,  who  married  William  Abernethy  (son  of 
John,  Bishop  of  Caithness),  who  was  minister  of 
Halkirk  in  1627,  and  of  Thurso  in  1636. 

By  his  second  wife  John  Sinclair  had  a  son  and  two 
daughters  : — 

1.  John  of  Tannach  and  Brims,  who  served  in  the 
German  wars,  and  in  1660  purchased  Brims  from 
the  heirs  of  the  first  Sinclairs  of  Dunbeath.  He 
•  married  Ann  Goldman,  and  had  three  sons  and 
two  daughters  : — John,  afterwards  of  Ulbster ; 
William  of  Thrumster1  (who  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  James  Innes  of  Thursater) ;  and 
Charles ;  Jean,  who  married  Francis  Sinclair  of 
Dun,  and  afterwards  David  Sinclair  of  South- 
dun  ;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  William 
Sinclair  of  Rattar. 

John    Sinclair   of  Tannach   had   two   natural 


1  William  Sinclair  of  Thrumster  their  son,  William,  had  Oust,  which 
seems  also  to  have  had  Oust,  for  his  he  disponed  in  1719  to  John  Sinclair 
wife  had  it  in  liferent,  but  at  all  events  of  Brims. 


70  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  ULBSTER. 

The  sinciairs  of  sons,  one  of  whom  was  James,  probably  James 

Sinclair  "in  Lythmore,"  and  the  same  James 
Sinclair  who,  in  1702,  obtained  from  his  brother, 
John  of  Ulbster  and  Brims,  a  wadset  of  Holborn- 
head,  Uttersquoy,  and  Sandiquoy. 

III.  PATRICK  SINCLAIR  OF  ULBSTER  was  served  heir 
to  his  father,  John,  in  1640,  and  in  1647  he  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  John  M'Kay  of  Strathy  and  Dirlot. 
He  had  two  sons  and  seven  daughters  : — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

2.  Sir  George  of  Bilbster  and  Clyth,  who  married 

Jean,  daughter  of  William  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath, 
and  had  no  issue.  He  had,  however,  three 
natural  daughters  : — Jean,  who  married  William 
Sinclair,  younger  of  Thrumster,  Mary,  and 
Anne. 
Patrick  Sinclair's  daughters  were  : — 

1.  Anne,  who  married  Francis  Sinclair  of  Stirkoke. 

2.  Elizabeth,  who  married,  in  1660,  John  Sinclair  of 

Brabster. 

3.  Mary,  who  married,  in  1675,  Sir  Robert  Dunbar 

ofNorthfield. 

4.  Isabel,  who  married,  in  1673,  George,  eldest  son 

of  James  Sinclair  of  Assery. 

5.  Margaret,  who  married,  in  1679,  her  cousin-german, 

Hugh  M'Kay  of  Cairnloch,  son  of  John  M'Kay 
of  Skerray. 


THE  SINCLAIRS    OF  ULBSTER.  71 

6.  Jean,  who   married   Angus   M'Kay,   apparent   of  The  sinciairs  of 

-P..    -.  Ulbster. 

.Dignouse. 

7.  Katharine,  who  married  James  Sinclair  of  Lyb- 

ster. 

In  1660  Patrick  Sinclair  and  his  son,  John,  purchased 
from  the  Earl  of  Caithness,  for  22,485  merks,  or  little 
more  than  £1200  sterling,  East  and  Mid  Clyth,  Roster, 
and  Tannach.  In  1676  Lord  Glenorchy  granted  a  wadset 
of  West  Clyth,  and  the  rest  of  that  estate,  redeemable 
for  15,465  merks,  and  in  1706  he  disponed  these  lands 
so  wadsetted,  and  Swordale,  Aimster,  Carsgo,  Gerston, 
Achscoraclate,  Stainland  or  Staneland,  and  fishings  of 
Thurso. 

IV.  JOHN  SINCLAIR  OF  ULBSTER,  married  Janet, 
daughter  of  William  Sinclair  of  Rattar  and  his  second 
wife  Jean  Cunningham. 

Having  no  family,  John  Sinclair  settled  the  estates, 
in  1709,  by  an  entail,  the  first  substitute  called  being  his 
cousin,  John  Sinclair  of  Brims,  the  eldest  son  of  John  of 
Tannach  and  Brims,  and  the  subsequent  heirs  being 
Charles  Sinclair  of  Bilbster,  George  M'Kay  of  Bighouse, 
George  Sinclair  of  Brabster,  Patrick,  his  brother,  John 
Sinclair  of  Lybster,  William,  Robert,  and  George,  his 
brothers,  John  Sinclair  of  Assery,  Patrick  Dunbar  of 
Bowermadden,  and  his  brothers,  William,  James,  and 
David,  the  whole  substitutes,  except  John  Sinclair  of 
Brims,  being  the  descendants  of  his  sisters. 


72  THE  SINCLAIRS    OF  ULBSTER. 

The  Sinclairs  of  V.    JOHN  SINCLAIR  OF  BRIMS  AND  ULBSTER  was  twice 

married,  first  to  Jean,  daughter  of  Munro  of  Culrain,  and, 
secondly,  to  Jean  Cores.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had 
four  sons  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

2.  Patrick  of  Brims.     There  is  a  tradition  that  he  had 

an  intrigue  with  a  daughter  of  James  Sinclair 
of  Uttersquoy,  who  was  probably  the  natural 
brother  of  John  Sinclair  of  Brims  and  Ulbster, 
and  that  she  having  mysteriously  disappeared, 
was  supposed  to  have  been  made  away  with  by 
Sinclair,  and  her  body  concealed  in  the  castle, 
which  consequently  had  the  reputation  of  being 
haunted.  Patrick  left  the  county,  and  is  said  to 
have  enlisted  in  the  Guards. 

3.  James   of  Holbornhead.     This   property  was  dis- 

poned  to  him  by  his  father,, and  by  him  sold  to 
Robert  Sinclair  of  Geise. 

4.  Gustavus,-  a  merchant  in  Leith. 

1.  Sidney,  eldest  daughter. 

2.  Jean  or  Janet,  who  married,  first,  Benjamin  D unbar, 

younger  of  Hempriggs ;  and,  secondly,  George, 
third  Lord  Reay. 

3.  Elizabeth,  who  married  John   M'Kay,   second  of 

Strathy. 

VI.  JOHN  SINCLAIR  OF  ULBSTER,  sometime  younger 
of  Brims,  married  Henrietta,  daughter  of  George  Brodie 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  ULBSTER.  73 

of  Brodie,  and  died  in   1736.     He  had  three  sons  and  a  The  smoiairs  of 

-,          -,  ,  Ulbster. 

daughter : — 

1.  George,  his  successor. 

2.  James  of  Harpsdale,  who  married,  first,  Marjory, 

daughter  of  David  Sinclair  of  Southdun,  by  whom 
he  had  two  daughters,  Henrietta  of  Southdun, 
and  Janet,  who  married  Colonel  Williamson  of 
Banniskirk.  His  second  wife  was  Mally  Suther- 
land, Spinningdale,  by  whom  he  had  a  son, 
Alexander,  who  died  young.  His  third  wife 
was  Katharine,  daughter  of  Alexander  Sinclair 
of  Lybster,  by  whom  he  had  two  daughters, 
Katharine,  who  married  Major  George  William- 
son, and  Helen,  who  married  Captain  David 
Brodie  of  Hopeville  (Sibster). 

3.  Captain  John  Sinclair,  in  "  Burke,"  called  Major 

John,  who  married  Elizabeth,  widow  of  John 
Wilmer,  Esquire. 

1.  JEmelia,  only  daughter,  married  John  Sutherland 
of  Forse. 

VII.  GEORGE  SINCLAIR  OF  ULBSTER  married  Janet, 
daughter  of  Lord  Strathnaver.     He  died  in  1776,  and 
left  a  son  and  three  daughters  : — 
1.  John,  his  successor. 

1.  Helen,  eldest  daughter,  who   married  Alexander 
Campbell  of  Barcaldine,  whose  daughter,  Jane, 
married  James,  Earl  of  Caithness,  in  1784. 
K 


74  THE  SINCLAIRS  OP  ULBSTER. 

The  sinciairs  of        2.  Mary,  who  married  James  Homerigg  of  Gamalshiels. 
3.  Janet,  who  married  William  Baillie  of  Polkemmet, 
Lord  Polkemmet  of  the  Court  of  Session. 


VIII.  SIR  JOHN  SINCLAIR  OF  ULBSTER  was  born  in 
1754,  and  was  created  baronet  in  1788,  with  remainder, 
in  default  of  male  issue,  to  the  male  issue  of  his  daughters. 
He  married,  first,  in  1776,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Alexander 
Maitland  of  Stoke  Newington ;  and,  secondly,  in  1788, 
Diana,  daughter  of  Alexander,  first  Lord  Macdonald,  and 
had  issue  by  both  marriages.  He  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  of  his  second  marriage,  Sir  George  Sinclair. 


THE  SINCLAIES  OF  DUEEAN. 

C ALDER  mentions  a  "  Sinclair  of  Durran"  in  1621,  The  sinciairs  of 
who,  having  been  ejected  by  the  Bishop's  Chamberlain 
from  lands  which  he  occupied  as  tenant  under  the  Earl 
of  Caithness,  killed  one  Lindsay,  to  whom  the  lands  had 
been  given.  The  Earl  held  church  lands  in  feu,  but  had 
been  deprived  of  them,  and  as  the  lands  of  Durran  seem, 
in  1657  and  1659,  to  have  belonged  to  the  bishopric,  it 
is  probable  that  they  were  the  lands  from  which  Sinclair 
had  been  ejected ;  and  that  he  was  styled  of  Durran  as 
the  occupier  only,  or  perhaps  the  wadsetter  under  the 
Earl.  Of  what  family  this  Sinclair  of  Durran  was  we 
cannot  say ;  but  he  seems  to  have  been  "  kinsman "  to 
Sir  Andrew  Sinclair,  envoy  for  the  King  of  Denmark,  for 
whose  intervention  he  applied  to  obtain  his  pardon  for 
the  murder  of  Lindsay.  Of  Sir  Andrew's  connection 
with  the  county  we  have  no  account. 

I.  EGBERT  SINCLAIR,  third  son  of  Sir  James  Sinclair 
of  Canisbay,  and  the  great-grandson  of  George,  fourth 
Earl  of  Caithness,  was  styled  of  Durran ;  but  until  1717, 
when  Lord  Glenorchy  granted  a  disposition  to  John 


76  THE  SINCLAIRS   OF   DURRAN. 

The  sirciairs  of  Sinclair  of  Durran,  of  the  lands  of  Durran,  and  of  Stan- 
gergill,  Thurdistoft,  and  others,  which  now  form  part 
of  the  Castlehill  estate,  the  Durran  estate  was  held  in 
wadset  from  the  Earl  of  Caithness,  by  Sir  William 
Sinclair  of  Cadboll  and  Sir  James  of  Canisbay. 

Robert  Sinclair  married,1  in  1678,  Anne,  youngest 
daughter  of  William  Sinclair  of  Rattar,  afterwards 
styled  "  Lady  Harland,"  and  had  a  son  and  two 
daughters : — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

1.  Anne,  who  was  third  wife  of  James  Sutherland  of 

Langwell,  and  on  his  death  married  John  Sinclair 
of  Barrock. 

2.  Janet. 


II.  JOHN  SINCLAIR  or  DURRAN  married  Elizabeth, 
eldest  daughter  of  George  Sinclair  of  Barrock,2  by  his 
second  wife,  Elizabeth  Murray.  He  died  in  1728,  and 
had  four  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Robert,  who  died  in  1725. 

2.  John,  who  died  in  1727. 

3.  James,  afterwards  of  Durran. 

4.  George,  Major  in  the  65th  Regiment,  who  died 

without  issue. 

1.    Jean,   who    married    her    cousin-german,   James 
Sutherland  of  Swinzie.      Vide  Swinzie. 

1  Contract  of  Marriage,  March  1.  2  Douglas. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DURBAN.  77 

III.  JAMES  SINCLAIR  or  DURRAN  married,  first,  Eliza-  The  sinciairs  of 
beth,  daughter  of  Sir  Patrick  Dunbar  of  Northfield,  by  Dumm' 
his  second  wife,  Katharine,  daughter  of  Joseph  Brodie  of 
Milntown.     By  this  marriage  Tister  came  into  the  family,1 
Sir  Robert  Dunbar  having,  in  1758,  given  a  disposition 
in  favour  of  his  daughter  and  husband  in  liferent,  and  to 
the  heirs  of  the  marriage  in  fee.     James  Sinclair  died  in 
1793,  and  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters  : — 

1.  Patrick,  his  successor. 

2.  George,  Writer  to  the   Signet,  who   married   in 

1775  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Sutherland  of 
Forse.  He  died  in  1779,  leaving  a  son,  John 
Sutherland,  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  Royal 
Artillery,  who  was  three  times  married,  and  died 
in  1841.  By  his  first  marriage,  to  Miss  Gamble, 
Colonel  Sinclair  had  two  sons,  George,  W.S.,  who 
died  in  1834,  and  John,  Lieutenant  in  the  Royal 
Artillery,  who  died  in  1828,  and  a  daughter; 
all  of  whom  died  unmarried.  By  his  second 
marriage,  to  Miss  Ramsay,  he  had  two  daughters, 
and  by  his  third  marriage,  to  Euphemia,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Buchan  of  Auchmacoy,2  he  had  several 
children,  of  whom  there  are  surviving  James 
Augustus  and  Charles  Home. 

3.  Major   Robert,3  who   died   at  Bombay,  in    1793, 

unmarried. 

1  "Gentleman's  Magazine."  2  Died  December  1872. 

3  "  Gentleman's  Magazine. " 


78  THE  SINCLAIRS   OF  DURBAN. 

The  smciairs  of        1.    Margaret,    who    married    Patrick    Honyman   of 

Durran.  '  J 

(jrraemsay. 

2.  Katharine,  who  married  Alexander,  son  of  James 

Robertson  of  Bishopmiln. 

3.  Elizabeth,    who    married   William   Eobertson   of 

Auchinroath. 

James  Sinclair  married,  secondly,  Dorothea  Bruce,  by 
whom  he  had  an  only  child — 

John,  who  seems  to  have  died  young  before  1789. 


IV.  PATRICK  SINCLAIR  OF  DURRAN,  Captain  in  Royal 
Navy,  died  at  St.  Domingo  in  1794,  in  command  of  the 
Frigate   "  Iphigenia."    He   married   Anne,   daughter   of 
James  Sinclair  Sutherland  of  Swinzie,  and  had  two  sons 
and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Patrick,  who  died  young  and  unmarried. 

2.  James. 

1.  Katharine. 

» 

V.  JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  DURRAN  was  a  Lieutenant  of 
Marines.     He  was  killed  in  action  in   1801,  at  cutting 
out   the    French    Corvette    "La   Chev&rite,"    and    was 
succeeded  by  his  sister,  Katharine. 

VI.  KATHARINE  SINCLAIR  OF  DURRAN  married  Cap- 
tain John  Worth  of  Oakley,  R.N.,  and  died  in  1849, 
leaving  a  daughter — 


THE  SINCLAIES   OF  DURBAN.  79 

Mary  Katharine,  who  married,  in  1834,  Admiral  Sir  The  Smciairs  of 
Baldwin  Walker,  Bart.,  K.C.B.,  etc.,  etc.,  whoBurran> 
died  in  1876,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest 
son,  Baldwin  Walker,  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Navy. 
The  estate  of  Durran  was  sold  in  1827  by  Mrs.  Worth 
to  the  late  Alexander,  thirteenth  Earl  of  Caithness,  for 
£15,000.     The  nearest  existing  respresentatives  of  the 
family  in  the  male  line  are  the  two  sons  of  Colonel  John 
Sutherland  Sinclair,  namely,  James  Augustus  and  Charles 
Home  Sinclair,  both  of  whom  are  married.     The  family 
of  Sinclair  of  Durran  is  next  in  succession  to  the  earldom 
of  Caithness,  on  failure  of  heirs-male  of  the  present  Earl. 


THE  SINCLAIKS  OF  OLRIG. 

The  Smciairs  of  I.  The  first  of  the  family  of  Sinclairs  of  Olrig  was 
George,  fifth  son  of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Canisbay.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  his  relative,  Alexander 
Sinclair  of  Latheron,  and  widow  of  Walter  Bruce  of 
Ham.  He  had  a  son,  Alexander. 

John,  Master  of  Berriedale,  granted  a  wadset  of  Olrig 
to  Sir  William  Sinclair  of  Mey,  and  his  son,  Sir  James, 
for  8000  merks,  which  the  latter  assigned  as  a  provision 
to  his  son,  George ;  and  in  1708  Lord  Glenorchy  sold  the 
property  to  Alexander  Sinclair,  then  of  Olrig,  for  12,900 
merks,  or  about  £650  sterling,  "reserving  the  swans  and 
swans'  nests  on  the  Loch  of  Durran." 

II.  ALEXANDER  SINCLAIR  OF  OLRIG  married  Katha- 
rine, daughter  of  Donald  Budge  of  Toftingall,  and  was 
killed  in  a  duel,  in  1710,  by  William  Innes  of  Sandside. 
He  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters  :— 

1.  Donald,  his  successor. 

2.  James,   who  was   in   Duncansbay  and  Warse   in 

1739-1747,   and  who  was   also   a   merchant   in 
Freswick. 


THE    SINCLAIRS  OF  OLRIG.  81 

3.  Alexander.  The  Sinclairs  of 

4.  William. 

1.  Elizabeth,  who  married  Charles  Sinclair  of  Bilbster. 

2.  Esther,  who  married  John  Sinclair  of  Forss. 

3.  Katharine,  who  married  William  Budge  of  Toftin- 

gall,  W.S.  William  Budge  married  a  Katharine 
Sinclair,  and  in  1741  James  Sinclair,  Tacksman 
of  Warse,  and  son  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Olrig, 
is  mentioned  as  "brother-in-law"  of  William 
Budge. 

Esther  and  Katharine  Sinclair  were  both  alive  and 
widows  in  1767. — (Proof  in  Rattar's  Peerage  case.) 

III.  DONALD  SINCLAIR  OF  OLRIG  AND  BILBSTER  mar- 
ried Fenella,  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  Charles  Sinclair 
of  Bilbster,  and  had  a  son  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Charles,  his  successor. 

1.  Henrietta,  who  is  mentioned  in  1786  as  relict  of 
Captain  Benjamin  Moodie. 

IV.  CHARLES  SINCLAIR  OF  OLRIG  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Eric,  Lord  Duifus,  and  Elizabeth  Dunbar, 
daughter  of  Sir  James  and  Dame  Elizabeth  Dunbar  of 
Hempriggs.     He  had  a  son  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  Donald,  his  successor. 

1.  Fenella. 

2.  Elizabeth. 

3.  Janet. 

L 


82  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  OLRIG. 

The  Sinclairs  of          V.    DONALD    SINCLAIR    OF    OLRIG    died  without    issue, 

and  was  succeeded  by  his  sister,  Fenella. 

VI.  MRS.  FENELLA  SINCLAIR  OF  OLRIG  married 
Archibald  Cullen,  Barrister-at-Law,  and  had  two  sons 
and  four  daughters  : — 

1.  William,  Major- General  in  the  Madras  army. 

2.  David,  who  died  young. 

1.  Elizabeth. 

2.  Anna. 

3.  Sinclair. 

These  three  daughters  died  young. 

4.  Marion  Robina,  who  married  Edward  Marjoribanks, 

Esquire. 

The  lands  of  Olrig  and  Bilbster  were  sold  by  Mrs. 
Cullen. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUNBEATH 
AND  LATHERON. 

I.  ABOTJT  1624  Dunbeath  was  purchased  by  Sir  John  The  sinciairs  of 
Sinclair  of  Geanies,  second  son  of  George  Sinclair  of  Mey,  Latheron. 
from  Lord  Forbes,  to  whom  it  had  been  disponed  by 
George  Sinclair,  the  last  of  the  first  family  of  the  Sinclairs 
of  Dunbeath.     Sir  John  Sinclair  had  made  a  fortune  as  a 
merchant,  and  he  had  acquired  possessions  in  Ross-shire, 
as  well  as  Dunbeath,  Stemster,  and  Brabster-myre  in 
Caithness. 

In  1631  he  was  created  a  knight  baronet1  by  patent 
to  him  and  the  "  heirs-male  of  his  body,"  according  to 
Douglas,  but  by  Wood's  Peerage  the  title  was  to  his 
"heirs-male  whatsoever."  It  has  been  supposed  that 
this  is  the  original  baronetcy  still  in  the  Mey  family, 
and  which  was  taken  up  by  his  nephew,  Sir  James  Sin- 
clair of  Mey,  the  son  of  his  immediate  elder  brother, 
William.  If  this  has  not  been  the  case,  and  that  the 
baronetcy  was  limited  to  heirs-male  of  his  body,  it  is 
extinct. 

1  [This  Sir  John  was  only  a  knight.     As  to  the  Mey  baronetcy,  see  p.  63, 
note.] 


84        THE  SINCLAIRS  OF    DUNBEATH  AND  LATHERON. 

The  sinciah-s  of        Sir  John  was  twice  married.     His   second  wife,  as 

Dunbeath  and  P  .  .     ,  .        ,   .        , ,         «        .,      ,  .  , 

Latheron.  appears  from  an  inscription  in  the  family  burymg-place 
at  Latheron,  was  Christian,  daughter  of  Magnus  Mowat 
of  Buchollie.  He  had  no  sons,  and  of  his  three  daughters, 
the  second  and  third  were  of  his  second  marriage,  but 
of  which  marriage  the  other  was  is  uncertain.2  The 
daughters  were — 

1.  Margaret,    who   married    Hugh    Rose    of    Kilra- 

vock. 

2.  Gemma,  who  died  young. 

3.  Christian,  who  died  unmarried. 

On  his  daughter,  Margaret,  Sir  John  settled  50,000 
merks  and  lands  in  Ross-shire ;  the  remainder  of  his 
property  he  distributed  among  the  sons  of  his  brother, 
Alexander  Sinclair  of  Latheron. 

Alexander  Sinclair  was  wadsetter  of  Latheron,  of 
which  he  got  a  charter  in  1635,  but  his  descendants 
acquired  the  reversion,  and  held  the  lands  in  fee,  and  he 

1  The  inscription  referred  to  is  much  early  life,  the  other  in  old  age.     Their 

obliterated,  but  the  following  seems  to  mother   was   the   second   wife   of   the 

be  a  probable  rendering  of  the  original  Knight   of   Dunbeath.       There    might 

Latin: — "John  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,  have  been  a  more  abundant  list  of  the 

crowned  knight,  erected  this  monument  innumerable  praises  of   both  had  this 

to  his  dearly  beloved  ones — namely,  to  small     monument     admitted.        Learn 

his  wife,  Christian  Muat,  daughter  of  hence,    O  Mortal,    that   the   divinities 

Magnus,  Lord  of  Bollquholly,  who  died  who  spin  the  fatal  threads  of  life,  spare 

prematurely,  in  the  bloom  of  life,  and  neither  young  nor  old." 
to  his  daughters,  etc.  2  [He  afterwards  married  Catherine, 

THEIR  EPITAPH.  daughter  of  Hugh,  seventh  Lord  Lovat. 

This   monument   covers  ladies   turned  Christian  Mowat  was  mother  of  Mar- 

into  ashes,  whose  names  were  Gemma  garet. — Family  of  Kilravock  (Spalding 

and  Christian  ;  the  one  was  cut  off  in  Club),  p.  339.] 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUNBEATH  AND  LATHERON.         85 

seems  also  to  have  had  some  rights  over  Stemster.     He  The  sinciairs  of 

Dunbeath 
Latheron. 


married,  in   1632,  Jean,  daughter  of  John  Cunningham  Dunbeath  and 


of  Brownhill.     In  1647  he  was  dead.     He  left  four  sons 
and  three  daughters  :  — 

1.  William  of  Dunbeath  and  Geanies. 

2.  John  of  Brabster-myre,  ancestor  of  the  family  of 

Sinclair-Sutherland  of  Brabster. 

3.  Alexander  of  Stemster,  who  married  Anna,  daugh- 

ter ^  of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Murkle,  and  died 
without  issue. 

4.  George   of  Barrock,   ancestor  of  the   Sinciairs  of 

Barrock. 

1.  Elizabeth,  who  married,  in  1657,  Walter  Bruce  of 

Ham,  and  was  afterwards  "Lady  Olrig,"  as  wife 
of  George  Sinclair  of  Olrig. 

2.  Jean,  who  married,  in   1651,  Magnus  Mowat   of 

Buchollie.1 

3.  Margaret,  who   married   Sir  William   Dunbar   of 

Hempriggs. 

II.  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR  OF  DUNBEATH,  LATHERON,  AND 
GEANIES,  sometimes  erroneously  styled  "  Sir  William," 
was  a  gentleman  of  considerable  estate  and  position,  and, 
in  addition  to  his  landed  property,  held  large  apprisings 
affecting  the  earldom,  although  before  his  death  he 
appears  to  have  had  considerable  debts.  In  1661  he  was 
one  of  the  County  Commissioners  in  the  Scottish 

1  Contract  of  Marriage. 


86         THE   SINCLAIRS  OF  DUNBEATH  AND  LATHERON. 

The  sinciairs  of  Parliament.     He  married,  in  1656,  his  cousin,  Elizabeth, 
Latheron.        daughter  of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Mey,  who  survived 

him,  and  died  in  1722.     He  died  in  1690,  and  had  five 

sons  and  six  daughters  : — 

1.  Alexander,  younger  of  Dunbeath,  a  Commissioner 

of  Supply  in  1685.     He  died  without  issue. 

2.  John,  heir  to  his  father. 

3.  William  of  Stemster,  to  which  he  succeeded  on 

the  death  of  his  uncle,  Alexander.     He  married 
Helen  Munro,  and  died  without  issue  in  1699. 

4.  James,  afterwards  Sir  James. 

5.  David,  who  died  without  issue. 

1.  Anne,  eldest  daughter. 

2.  Elizabeth,  who  married,  in  1698,  James  Sutherland 

of  Langwell,  and  died  without  issue. 

3.  Janet,   who   married  Andrew   Bruce   of  Muness, 

Shetland,  and  died  without  issue. 

4.  Jean,  who  married,  in  1682,  Sir  George  Sinclair  of 

Clyth. 

5.  Margaret. 

.'        6.  Katharine,    "Lady   Bowermadden,"  who   married 

Sir  Patrick  Dunbar. 

The  daughters  are  mentioned  in  the  above  order  of 
seniority  in  a  " Memorial"  in  1754  regarding  their 
provisions. 

III.  JOHN  SINCLAIR,  as  the  eldest  surviving  son, 
took  up,  on  the  death  of  his  brother,  Alexander,  the 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUNBEATH  AND  LATHERON.         87 

succession  to  the   estates  of  Dunbeath,  Latheron,   and  The  sinciairs  of 

Dunbeath 
Latheron. 


Geanies,  the  last  named  of  which  he  sold,  in  1703,  to  Dunbeath  and 


JEneas  Macleod  of  Cadboll. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  a  weak  man,  and  to  have 
made  a  marriage  so  displeasing  to  his  father  that  "he 
conceived  a  mortal  hatred  to  him."  Certain  it  is  that 
in  addition  to  his  wife's  liferent  of  Dunbeath,  and  his 
own  debts,  his  father  burdened  him  with  large  provi- 
sions to  his  other  children,  besides  reserving  the  appris- 
ings  against  the  earldom,  amounting  to  14,000  merks. 

John  Sinclair  married  Isabella,  daughter  of  M'Kenzie 
of  Ardloch,  and  had  two  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  James,  his  successor  in  Latheron. 

2.  William,  Colonel  in  the  Bavarian  service,  who  left 

no   issue.     He   is  named   in   a   disposition   and 
settlement  by  his  brother  in  1746. 
1.  Barbara,  who  died  unmarried.1 

IV.  JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  LATHERON,  and  heir-apparent 
of  Dunbeath,  never  got  possession  of  the  latter  estate, 
through  the  machinations  of  his  uncle,  James.  In  1728 
he  married  Frances,  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Rattar, 

by  whom  he  had  an  only  child,  James. 

< 

1  [There  must  have  been  a  married  in  the  Kirktown  of  Latheron ;  on  Sept. 

daughter,  Mrs.  Tyrie:  for  David  Tyrie,  27,    1790,    heir-general   of    his    uncle, 

cabinetmaker,  Edinburgh,  was,  on  Nov.  James  Sinclair   of    Latheron,    and   on 

22,  1790,  served  heir  of  line  and  pro-  Dec.  6,  1792,  heir-general  of  his  cousin, 

vision  special  of  his  great-great-grand-  James  Sinclair  of  Latheron.] 
father,  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Latheron, 


88        THE  SINCLAIRS  OF   DUNBEATH  AND  LATHERON. 

The  sinciairs  of        In  1751  and  1753,  with  consent  of  his  son,  he  sold 

Dunbeath  and    -,.-,.  -1^.1          ^  1-1          i          •  -m-n- 

Latheron.  his  claim  to  Dun beath  to  his  brother-in-law,  William 
Sinclair  of  Freswick.  He  supported  the  Rebellion  in 
1745,  and  although  considered  "a weak  and  timid  man," 
he  collected  one  hundred  men,  and  attended  a  muster  at 
Spittal  Hill.  He  also  fought  a  duel  with  William  Sinclair 
of  Bridgend,  son  of  George  Sinclair  of  Barrock.  He 
died  in  1775. 

V.  JAMES  SINCLAIR,  THE  LAST  OF  LATHERON,  died 
unmarried  in  1788. 

Robert  Manson  Sinclair  of  Bridgend,  as  trustee  for 
James  Sinclair  of  Latheron,  raised  a  reduction  of  the  sale 
of  Dunbeath  to  William  of  Freswick  against  his  son,  John, 
on  various  grounds,  but  after  considerable  litigation  the 
process  ended  unsuccessfully. 

VI.  Reverting   to   the   succession  to   the   estate   of 
Dunbeath,  it   appears   that  on   the   death   of  William 
Sinclair,  his  fourth  son,  James,  got  from  his  mother  a 
renunciation  of  her  liferent  of  Dunbeath,  at  that  time 
worth  £200  per  annum,  and  then  he  ejected  her  from 
possession,    a   step   which  led   to   a   complaint    at   her 
instance  to  the  Privy  Council,     Next  he  bought  up  the 
family  provisions  and  the  debts  due  by  his  brother ;  and 
finally,  in  1720,  he  adjudged  Dunbeath  for  £48,000  Scots, 
and  was  infeft  in  1722.    In  the  same  year  his  mother's 
liferent  ceased  by  her  death,  and  he  entered  on  possession 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUNBEATH    AND  LATHERON.         89 

of  Dunbeath.     In  1704  he  was  created  a  baronet,1  and  he  The  sinciairs  of 


died  in  the  Abbey  in  1742.  and 

Sir  James  Sinclair  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  a 
violent  and  somewhat  unscrupulous  character.  In  1734, 
as  Baron  of  Dunbeath,  he  held  a  Criminal  Court  and 
adjudged  one  William  Sinclair  to  death  for  the  crime  of 
theft.  But  the  proceedings  were  quashed,  and  Sinclair 
having  raised  an  action  against  Sir  James,  obtained  large 
damages.  In  1739  one  George  Sutherland  raised  an 
action  for  wrongous  imprisonment  against  Sir  James, 
in  which  the  latter  was  subjected  to  a  fine  and 
damages,  and  declared  incapable  of  public  trust  in  time 
coming. 

Sir  James  was  twice  married  —  first,  to  Isabel, 
daughter  of  Sir  Archibald  Muir  of  Thornton,  Provost  of 
Edinburgh,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  a  daughter:  — 

1.  William,  afterwards  Sir  William. 

2.  Alexander,  to  whom  his  brother,  Benjamin,  was 

served  heir. 

3.  Benjamin,  afterwards  Sir  Benjamin. 

4.  Archibald,  who  died  in  Jamaica,  unmarried. 

1.  Margaret,  who  married  William  Sinclair  of  Achin- 
gale  and  Newton. 

Sir  James  married,  secondly,  and  shortly  before  his 
death,  Isabel,  daughter  of  John  Lumsden,  shipmaster  in 
Aberdeen,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter  — 

1  [By  patent,  dated  Oct.    12,   1704,  to  him  "ejusque  haeredea  masculos  in 
perpetuum."  —  Register  of  the  Great  Seal.] 

M 


90        THE   SINCLAIRS   OF  DUNBEATH  AND  LATHERON. 

The  sinciairs  of        Jean,  who  married  Robert  Campbell,  linen   draper, 

Dunbefttk  and 

Latheron.  Abbey  hill,  Edinburgh.1 

In  1721  Murdoch  Campbell  in  Brubster  married 
Janet,  a  daughter  of  Sir  James,  and  probably  a  natural 
child,  as  no  mention  of  her  is  found  in  the  family 
pedigree. 

VII.  SIR  WILLIAM    SINCLAIR   OF   DUNBEATH  AND 
KEISS   succeeded    his   father,    Sir    James.       Keiss   was 
acquired  by  the  family  through  a  transaction  with  Lord 
Breadalbane,  embracing  the  discharge  of  the  apprisings 
against   the   earldom.     As  heir-apparent  to   Dunbeath, 
Sir  William  sold  his  interest  therein,  in  1752,  to  William 
Sinclair  of  Freswick,  and,  in  1753-54,  he  made  up  a  title. 
Having  fallen  into  pecuniary  difficulties,  he  sold  Keiss  to 
"  Ulbster  "  for  £7000  sterling. 

He  married  Charlotte,  second  daughter  of  Dame 
Elizabeth  and  Sir  James  Dunbar  of  Hempriggs,  and  had 
two  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Captain  Alexander  Sinclair. 

2.  Kennedy   Muir  Sinclair,    of  whom   there   are  no 

particulars,  but  it  is  presumed  he  died  without 
issue. 

VIII.  CAPTAIN  ALEXANDER  SINCLAIR  married  Eliza- 

1  [As  "  wife  of  Lieutenant  Robert  wife  of  Sir  James  Sinclair,  in  Keiss  and 
Campbell, — Regt./'  she  was  served  heir  other  lands,  on  Dec.  19,  1777.  See 
to  her  mother,  Dame  Isabel  Lumsden,  p.  91.] 


THE   SINCLAIRS  OF  DUNBEATH  AND  LATHERON.         91 


beth,  daughter  of  Eric  Sutherland,  eldest  son  of  Kenneth,  The  sinciairs  of 
third  Lord  Duffus,  a 
only  son,  Alexander. 


third  Lord  Duffus,  and  died  before  his  father,  leaving  an  Latheron. a 


IX.  SIR  ALEXANDER   SINCLAIR  went  to  the  West 
Indies,  and  perished  at  sea  on  his  passage  from  Jamaica 
to  Halifax  in  1786.     He  is  not  known  to  have  left  any 
issue. 

X.  SIR  BENJAMIN  SINCLAIR  OF  STEMSTER,  third  son 
of  Sir  James,  took  up  the  title  on  the  death  of  his  grand- 
nephew,    Sir   Alexander.     He   was  served   heir  to   his 
brother,  Alexander,  and  in  1740  he  had  received  a  dispo- 
sition to  Stemster  from  his  father,  but  he  was  all  his  life 
in  straitened  circumstances.     He  married  Jean,  youngest 
daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Assery,  and  had  a  son  and 
two  daughters : — 

1.  John. 

1.  Isabella,    eldest   daughter,    who   died  unmarried. 

From  Lthe  reduced  circumstances  of  her  father 
she  was  quite  unprovided  for,  and  was  dependent 
on  her  aunts ,  "  Mrs.  Ay  ton  of  Kippo  and  Mrs. 
Captain  Campbell  of  St.  James'  Square."  Who 
Mrs.  Ayton  was  does  not  appear,  but  her  aunt, 
Jean,  having  married  a  Mr.  Campbell,  she  is 
probably  the  Mrs.  Captain  Campbell  mentioned. 

2.  Helen,   who   married  Dr.    Watson,   head   of  the 

Medical  Board  at  Madras,  and  had  a  son. 


92         THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUNBEATH  AND  LATHERON. 

The  Sinclair*  of  XL  SIR  JOHN  SINCLAIR,  only  son  of  Sir  Benjamin, 
Latheron.  took  up  the  style  of  "  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,"  as  heir 
to  the  baronetcy  created  in  1704  in  the  person  of  his 
grandfather,  Sir  James,  then  in  possession  of  that  estate. 
After  serving  as  lieutenant  in  the  Sutherland  Fencibles, 
he  went  to  India,  where  he  attained  the  rank  of  Major- 
General,  and  returning  to  England  he  died  there  in  1842. 
He  married  Miss  Notley  at  Madras  in  1803.  She  died 
in  1806.  By  her  he  had  a  son  and  a  daughter  : — 

John  Notley,  who  died  young. 

Jane,  who  married,  in  1822,  Patrick  Wallace,  of  the 
Honourable  East  India  Company's  Naval  Service, 
and  has  issue. 

Sir  John  married,  secondly,  Sarah  Charlotte  Carter, 
who  died,  in  1867,  without  issue,  at  the  age  of  85. 

Sir  John  was  the  last  heir-male  of  Sir  James  Sinclair 
in  the  direct  line,  and  by  the  death  of  James  Sinclair  of 
Latheron  in  1788,  the  baronetcy  opened  up  to  the 
descendants  of  George  Sinclair,  first  of  Barrock  (Sir 
James  Sinclair's  uncle),  in  the  person  of  John  Sinclair, 
fifth  of  Barrock,  who  was  accordingly  served  heir  in  1842, 
The  heir-male  of  John  Sinclair,  first  of  Brabster,  an  elder 
brother  of  George  Sinclair  of  Barrock,  would  have  been 
prior  in  succession,  but  the  Brabster  male  line  had  failed 
on  the  death  of  the  two  sons  of  George,  third  of  Brabster. 
In  the  event  of  the  failure  of  heirs-male  of  Sinclair  of 
Durran,  the  family  of  Barrock  appears  to  be  next  in 
succession  to  the  earldom  of  Caithness. 


THE  SINCLAIR  SUTHERLANDS  OF  BRABSTER 
OR  BRABSTER-MYRE. 

I.  JOHN  SINCLAIR,  first  of  this  family,  was  second  son  The  Sinclair 
of  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Latheron,  and  his  wife,  Jean  Brabster  or 
Cunningham,  daughter  of  John  Cunningham  of  Brown- 
hill.  On  2d  December  1650  his  uncle,  Sir  John  Sinclair 
of  Geanies  and  Dunbeath,  disponed  to  him  the  lands  of 
Brabster-myre,  which  he  had  acquired  from  the  Mowat 
family.  He  had  probably  been  involved  in  the  political 
troubles  of  the  time,  for  in  1658  John  Murray,  writer  in 
Edinburgh  (son  of  Murray  of  Pennyland),  writing  to 
Walter  Bruce  of  Ham,  who  had  married  Brabster's  sister, 
says — "  If  your  brother-in-law,  John  Sinclair,  be  come 
home,  he  would  doe  weill  to  keep  himself  quiet,  for  this 
day  Ortoun  shews  me  who  has  been  in  Dalkeith,  yet  the 
General  has  sent  ane  ordere  to  Capt.  Pantimane  to 
apprehend  him  when  he  comes  into  the  country."  John 
Sinclair  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Patrick  Sinclair 
of  Ulbster,  and  had  a  son  and  a  daughter  : — 

Alexander,  his  successor. 

Jean,  who  married  Harry  Innes  of  Borlum,  ancestor 
of  the  late  family  of  Innes  of  Sandside. 


'94  THE  SINCLAIR   SUTHERLANDS 

The  Sinclair  From  a  bond  of  annuity  dated  6th  December  1683, 

Sutherlands  ofT10.1.  _ 

Brabsteror      John  buiciair  appears  to  have  had  a  second  wife,  lor  in 

Brabster-myre.    ^    deed    he    provideg    an    animity    Of    500   merks    to    his 

"  beloved  bedfellow  and  spouse,"  Sibella  Halcrow.  This 
lady  may  have  been  of  the  Orkney  family  of  Halcro  of 
that  ilk. 


II.  ALEXANDER    SINCLAIR    OF     BRABSTER    married 
Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Rattar,  and  had 
two  sons : — 

1.  George,  his  successor. 

2.  Patrick. 

After   the  death  of  Alexander   Sinclair,  his  widow 
married  Alexander  Gibson,  minister  of  Canisbay. 

III.  GEORGE  SINCLAIR  OF  BRABSTER  married  Janet, 
second  daughter  of  James  Sutherland  of  Langwell,  and 
his  wife,  Ann,  daughter  of  Patrick  Sinclair  of  Ulbster. 
"  Lady  Brabster  "  lived  to  a  great  age,  and  was  a  shrewd 
active  woman  when  in  her  eighty-first  year.      In  1787 
she  purchased  West  Canisbay.     George  Sinclair  had  two 
sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Captain  Alexander,  who  died  in  1756. 

2.  James,  who  was  drowned  at  Elgin. 
1.  Anne,  his  successor. 

IV.  MRS.  ANNE  SINCLAIR  OF  BRABSTER  married,  in 
1762,  her  cousin,  Robert  Sutherland  of  Langwell,  son  of 


OF   BRABSTER   OR  BRABSTER-MYRE.  95 

James  of  Langwell,  and  his  wife,  Rachel  Dunbar,  daughter  The  Sinclair 
of  Dame  Elizabeth  and  Sir  James  Dunbar  of  Hempriggs,  BrabsterV  ° 
and  had  two  sons  and  a  daughter  :—  Brabster-myre. 

1.  James,  who  died  in  his  nineteenth  year. 

2.  George,  her  successor. 

1.  Alexandrina,  who  married  James  Macbeath,  and 
had  issue. 

V.  GEORGE  SINCLAIR  SUTHERLAND  OF  BRABSTER 
married  his  cousin,  Margaret,  daughter  of  George 
Gibson,  and  grand-daughter  of  Alexander  Gibson, 
minister  of  Canisbay,  and  his  wife,  Margaret,  daughter 
of  John  Sinclair  of  Rattar.  He  died  in  1840,  and  had 
seven  sons  and  five  daughters  : — 

1.  Robert,    Lieutenant- Colonel    in    the    East   India 

Company's  Service,  who  died  in  1863,  without 
surviving  issue.  He  married  his  cousin,  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  Donald  Robeson,  Writer  in 
Thurso,  who  survived  him,  and  died  in  1869. 

2.  James. 

3.  George,  who  died  without  issue  in  1869. 

4.  Alexander,  who  died  without  issue  in  1862. 

5.  John,  Captain  in  the  East  India  Company's  Ser- 

vice, who  died  without  issue  in  1844. 

6.  David,  a  merchant  in  America,  who  has  issue. 

7.  William,  M.D.  in  Australia,  who  has  issue. 

1.  Janet,  who  died  unmarried  in  1865. 

2.  Anne,  who  died  unmarried  in  1824. 


96  THE  SINCLAIR  STJTHERLANDS. 

The  Sinclair  3.  Margaret,  who  died  unmarried  in  1868. 

Sutherlands  of  ~        .,,  ,         ,.     ,  *«-    ,   . 

Brabsteror  4.  Camilla,  who  died  unmarried  in  1849. 

Brabster-myre.         5    Elizabeth,  who  married  the  Rev.   Mr.  M'Gregor, 
and  has  issue,  three  sons. 

VI.  JAMES  SINCLAIR  SUTHERLAND  OF  BRABSTER  suc- 
ceeded in  1863,  when  the  estate  was  conveyed  to  him  by 
his  father's  trustees ;  and  in  1865  he  sold  it  to  the  Earl 
of  Caithness  for  £16,500.  He  left  two  sons. 

Had  George  Sinclair  Sutherland,  fifth  of  Brabster, 
been  an  heir-male  of  this  family,  he,  as  the  descendant 
of  an  elder  son  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Latheron,  would 
have  succeeded  in  1842,  in  preference  to  John  Sinclair  of 
Barrock,  to  the  baronetcy  of  Dunbeath. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  BARROCK. 

I.  GEORGE  SINCLAIR,  FIRST  OF  BARROCK,  was  the  The  sinciairs  of 
fourth  son  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Latheron,  and  wasB! 
grandson  of  George  Sinclair  of  Mey.  From  a  provision 
of  6000  merks  received  from  his  uncle,  Sir  John  Sinclair 
of  Geanies  and  Dunbeath,  he  acquired  the  lands  of  Bar- 
rock,  which  he  held  in  wadset  from  the  family  of  Rattar, 
and  although  the  wadset  was  redeemed  in  1673  by  John 
Sinclair,  then  of  Rattar,  and  though  the  lands  now 
belong  to  Mr.  Traill,  the  family  designation  continues  to 
be  "  Sinclair  of  Barrock."  Between  1681  and  1697  he 
purchased  one-third  of  Lyth,  part  of  Hastigrow,  Fitches, 
and  Sortopt  (all  of  which,  except  Hastigrow,  still  form 
part  of  the  family  estate)  ;  and  in  1698  he  acquired  from 
the  Mowats  the  estate  of  Swinzie,  now  called  Lochend. 

George  Sinclair  was  three  times  married,  and  died  in 
1724,  aged  90  years. 

By  his  first  "wife,  Anne  Dunbar,  daughter  of  John 
Dunbar  of  Hempriggs,  he  had  a  son  and  three  daugh- 
ters : — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

1 .  Jean,  who  married  John  Sinclair  of  Stirkoke. 

N 


98  THE    SINCLALRS  OF   BAKROCK. 

The  sinciairs  of        2.  Katharine,  who  married  Charles  Sinclair  of  Bilb- 

Barrock. 

ster. 

3.  Margaret,  who  married  James  Murray  of  Clairden. 

By  his  second  wife,  Elizabeth  Murray,  daughter  of 
David  Murray  of  Clairden,  and  widow  of  William  Lines 
of  Isauld  and  Sandside,  he  had  three  sons  and  two 
daughters : — 

1.  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Swinzie,  which  he  got  from 

his  father, —  Vide  Sinclair  Sutherland  of  Swinzie. 

2.  William,  who  married  Sidney,  daughter  and  co- 

heiress of  George  Manson  of  Bridge-end. — Vide 
Manson  Sinclair. 

3.  David. 

1.  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Sinclair  of  Durran. 

2.  Anne,  who  died  unmarried. 

His  third  wife  was  Elizabeth  Gumming,  daughter  of 
William  Gumming,  the  last  Episcopal  minister  of  Halkirk, 
and  his  wife  Katharine,  daughter  of  John  Murray  of 
Penny  land.  By  this  marriage  he  had  four  sons  and  a 
daughter : — 

1.  James,  who  died  abroad. 

2.  George. 

3.  Kobert. 

4.  Benjamin,  who  was  sometime  in  Duncansbay. 

I.  Janet,  who  died  unmarried  in  1772. 
None  of  the  sons  left  issue. 

II.  JOHN  SINCLAIK,   eldest  son  of  George,  was  the 


THE   SINCLAIRS  OF  BARBOCK.  99 

second  Sinclair  of  Barrock.  Between  1696  and  1737  he  The  sinciairs  of 
purchased  the  following  lands,  viz.,  from  the  Hansons Barrock* 
part  of  Kirk ;  also  the  remainder  of  Kirk  and  part  of 
Myrelandhorn  and  Bowertower ;  from  James  Calder  the 
lands  of  Sibster  or  Sibsterwick,  Thurster,  Heshwell,  and 
Quoylee,  parts  of  the  Stirkoke  estate;  and  from  Sir  James 
Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,  Howe,  Myreland,  and  Quintfal.  In 
1726  he  excambed  his  part  of  Kirk,  Hastigrow,  and 
Myrelandhorn,  with  David  Sinclair  of  Dun,  for  the  other 
two-thirds  of  Lyth,  Bilster,  Alterwall,  and  Crooks  of 
Howe.  He  died  in  1743. 

He  was  twice  married,1  first  to  Anne,  daughter  of 
Robert  Sinclair  of  Durran,  and  widow  of  James  Suther- 
land of  Langwell.  By  her  he  had  a  son  and  three 
daughters : — 

1.  Alexander,  his  successor,  who  was  born  in  1706. 

1.  Jean,  who  married  George  Murray  of  Clairden. 

2.  Margaret,  who  married  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Mey.2 

3.  Elizabeth. 

His  second  wife  was  his  cousin,  Janet,  daughter  of 
Dame  Elizabeth  and  Sir  James  Dunbar  of  Hempriggs.3 
She  afterwards  married  Harry  Innes  of  Borlum  and 
Sandside.  By  her  John  Sinclair  had  three  sons  and  a 
daughter : — 

1.  George,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  army,  and  who 

1  Contract  of  Marriage,  25th  July  1709. 

2  Contract  of  Marriage,  27th  November  1735. 

3  Contract  of  Marriage,  31st  December  1737. 


100  THE  SINCLAIRS   OF  BARROCK. 

The  sinciairs  of  died  of  a  wound  in  Antigua  in   1759,  while  he 

Barrock. 

was  still  a  minor. 

2.  James,  who  died  young. 

3.  John,  who  succeeded  to  Sibster,  and  who  married 

Helen,  daughter  of  George  Sinclair  of  Stirkoke, 
by  whom  he  had  a  son,  Benjamin.  The  estate 
was  judicially  sold,  and  John  Sinclair  and  his  son 
left  the  county. 


III.  ALEXANDER    SINCLAIR    OF    BARROCK    married 
Jean,  second  daughter  of  William  Sinclair  of  Freswick,1 
and  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters  : — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

2.  William,  W.S.,  who  died  unmarried.     He  was  last 

substitute  in  the  entail  executed  by  his  uncle, 
John  of  Freswick. 

3.  George,  bond  of  provision  dated  in  1764. 

1.  Katherine,  who  died  unmarried. 

2.  Anne,  who  died  unmarried. 

3.  Margaret,  who  married   Colonel  Borthwick,  and 

had  no  issue. 

4.  Jean,  who  married  William  Charles  Eeoch,2  and 

had  no  issue. 

IV.  JOHN  SINCLAIR  OF  BARROCK  married,  first,  Miss 

1  Contract  of  Marriage,  29th  October  1753. 

2  Contract  of  Marriage,  6th  August  1795. 


THE   SINCLAIRS    OF  BARROCK.  101 

Ann  Longmire  of  Penrith,1  and  had  two  sons  and  five  The  sinciairs  of 

i          i  ,  Barrock. 

daughters  : — • 

1.  Alexander,  who  died  young. 

2.  John,  his  successor. 

1.  Maria,  who  died  unmarried,  9th  March  1876,  aged 

87. 

2.  Jane,  who  married  William  Sinclair  of  Freswick. 

3.  Anne,  who  married  William  Smith,  minister   of 

Bower,  and  had  issue. 

4.  Margaret,  who  married  Mr.  Paton,  and  had  issue. 

5.  Elizabeth,  who  married  Allan  Robertson,  a  Lieu- 

tenant in  the  army,  afterwards  Sheriff-clerk  of 
Caithness,  and  had  issue,  a  son  and  several 
daughters. 

John  Sinclair's  second  wife  was  Janet  Miller,  by 
whom  he  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  William,  who  died  young. 

2.  Donald,  M.D.,  who  died  in  1873,  and  left  issue. 

1.  Isabella,  who  married  the  Rev.  Peter  Jolly,  Dun- 

net,  and  had  two  daughters. 

2.  Jessie,  who  married  Mr.  Scarth  of  Binscarth. 

3.  Catherine,  who  married  Mr.  Sime. 

Y.  JOHN  SINCLAIR  OF  BARROCK  succeeded  his  father, 
and  in  1842,  on  the  death  of  General  Sir  John  Sinclair, 
he  took  up  the  baronetcy  of  Dunbeath,  granted  in  1704 
to  James  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,  nephew  of  George  Sin- 

1  Postnuptial  Contract  of  Marriage,  6th  and  10th  February  1796. 


102  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  BARROCK. 

Thesinciairsofclair,  first   of  Barrock.    In  1821  he  married  Margaret, 

Barrock. 

daughter  of  John  Learmonth,  Esq.,  Edinburgh.  Sir  John 
died  21st  April  1873,  and  was  buried  at  Holyrood.  He 
had  three  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  John,  his  eldest  son,  Captain  in  the  39th  Madras 

Native  Infantry,  was  killed  in  action,  at  Jhansi, 
in  the  Indian  Mutiny,  5th  April  1858.  He  was 
unmarried. 

2.  Alexander  Young,  Lieutenant- Colonel  in  the  Bom- 

bay Army,  died  at  Jeypore,  Bombay,  3d  February 
1871.  In  1861  he  married  Margaret  Crichton, 
daughter  of  James  Alston,  Esq.  He  left  two 
sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  John  Eose  George,  who  is  a  minor,  and  who 

has  succeeded  to  the  estate  and  baronetcy. 

2.  Norman  Alexander. 
1.  Margaret. 

3.  George,   retired    Captain   in    the    Bengal   Army, 

married  in  1859  Agnes,  only  daughter  of  John 
Learmonth  of  the  Dean,  and  died  23d  March 
1871,  leaving  three  sons. 
1.  Grace  Elizabeth,   Sir  John's  only  daughter,  died 

young. 

His  three  sons  were  gentlemen  of  high  character  and 
promise,  and  their  death  in  the  prime  of  life  occasioned 
much  general  regret. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  STIRKOKE. 

I.  IN  1507  DAVID  SINCLAIR  obtained  a  Crown  charter  The  sinciairs  of 
of  Stirkoke  and  Alterwall,  in  which  he  is  designed  "  filio 
naturali  quond.   Joannis  Magistri  Cathanensis,"  and  in 

1588  he  obtained  letters  of  legitimation.  He  died  before 
1595,  and  left  a  son,  John,  as  also  a  natural  son,  Colonel 
George  Sinclair,  who  was  slain  in  an  expedition  to  Nor- 
way in  1612. 

II.  JOHN  SINCLAIR  OF  STIRKOKE  was  slain  in  a  fight 
at  Thurso  in  1612.     It  is  uncertain  whether  he  had  any 
issue. 

III.  FRANCIS  SINCLAIR.  LAIRD  or  STIRKOKE,  in  1624, 
was  a  natural  son  of  George,  fifth  Earl  of  Caithness. 

In  Captain  Kennedy's  MS.  relative  to  Caithness 
matters,  he  states  that  Francis  Sinclair's  mother  was  one 
Barbara  Mearns.  In  February  1670  Christian  Mearns, 
daughter  of  William  Mearns  in  Wick,  as  nearest  heir  of 
her  grandfather,  George  Mearns  of  Occumster,  Achavar, 
and  Smerary,1  and  of  her  grand-uncle,  William  Mearns  of 

1  Inventory  of  Caithness  titles. 


104  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  STIRKOKE. 

The  sinciairs  of  Occumster,  granted  a  disposition  to  Francis  Sinclair, 
whose  mother,  if  Captain  Kennedy's  account  is  correct, 
was  perhaps  of  this  family. 

Francis  Sinclair  married  Margaret  Williamson,  and 
had  three  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  Francis,  his  successor. 

2.  John. 

3.  Gustavus. 

1.  Marjory,  who  was  the  fifth  wife  of  Donald,  first 

Lord  Reay,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons,  William 
of  Kinloch,  Charles  of  Sandwood,  and  Rupert ; 
and  two  daughters,  Margaret,  who  died  in  Thurso 
in  1720,  and  Christian,  who  married,  in  1650, 
Alexander  Gunn  of  Killernan  (Clan  Gunn),  and 
was  in  1668  infeft  in  liferent  in  lands  of  Navi- 
dale,  etc.,  on  disposition  by  her  husband. 

2.  Anne,   who   married  Colonel   Francis    Sinclair  in 
•     Scrabster,  a  son  of  John  Sinclair,  first  of  Assery. 

IV.  FRANCIS  SINCLAIR  OF  STIRKOKE  married,  in  1658, 
Anne,  eldest  daughter  of  Patrick  Sinclair  of  Ulbster. 
His  mother,  Margaret  Williamson,  and  his  "uncle," 
Francis  of  Northfield,  second  son  of  George,  fifth  Earl, 
were  parties  to  the  contract  of  marriage,  thus  showing 
that  his  father,  Francis,  must  have  been  one  of  the  two 
natural  sons  of  Earl  George.  Francis  Sinclair  had  four 
sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Patrick,  eldest  son  in  1676. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF   STIRKOKE.  105 

2.  John,  his  SUCCeSSOr.  The  Sinclairs  of 

3.  George,  called  the  second  son,  who  had  a  charter St 

to  Sibster-Wick  in  1673-75. 

4.  Charles  of  Bilbster,  who  married,  first,  Katharine, 

daughter  of  George  Sinclair  of  Barrock,  and, 
secondly,  Mary  Dunbar.  His  only  child,  Fenella, 
married  Donald  Sinclair  of  Olrig.  Charles 
Sinclair  had  the  unenviable  sobriquet  of  "  Earl 
of  Hell." 

1.  Jean,  who  married  John  Gibson,  minister  of  Evie, 
Orkney,  brother  of  Alexander  Gibson,  minister 
of  Canisbay. 

V.  JOHN  SINCLAIR,  OF  STIRKOKE  was  served  heir  to 
his  father  in  1681,  and  died  about  1706.     He  married 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Mey,  and 
had  two  sons  : — 

1.  Francis. 

2.  George. 

VI.  FRANCIS    SINCLAIR   OF    STIRKOKE  had  several 
daughters,  but  no  male  issue  j1  and  in  1710  he  disponed 
the  estate  to  his  brother,  George.     His  daughter,  Frances, 
was  married  to  Bernard  Clunes,  merchant  in  Cromarty, 
by  whom  she  had  a  family.     Some  litigation  took  place 
between  her  and  her  uncle  in  regard  to  the  succession  to 

1  1700. 
o 


106  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  STIRKOKE. 

The  sinciairs  of  the  lands,  which,  under  a  submission,  were  awarded  to 

Stirkoke.  ,  .  ,      .  , 

mm  as  heir-male. 


VII.  GEORGE  SINCLAIR  OF  STIRKOKE  married  Isabella 
Strahan.     He  died  in  1744,  and  had  three  sons  and  two 
daughters  : — 

1.  Charles,  apparent  in  1768. 

2.  Francis,  who  was  a  shipmaster  in  Wick. 

1.  Elizabeth,  who  married  George  Smith  in  Dunnet. 

2.  Helen,  who  married  John  Sinclair  of  Sibster. 

VIII.  CHARLES  SINCLAIR  OF  STIRKOKE  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Olrig,  and  had 
an  only  daughter,  Katharine  Sinclair  of  Stirkoke,  who 
resided  and  died  at  Scorraclett  unmarried. 

The  arms  of  Francis  Sinclair  of  Stirkoke,  as  recorded 
in  the  Lyon  Office,  were  : — "  The  quartered  coat  of 
Caithness,  with  the  cross  ingrailed,  dividing  the  quarters, 
all  within  a  bordure  gobonated  gules  and  or ;  Crest,  a 
naked  arm  issuing  out  of  a  cloud,  grasping  a  small  sword, 
with  another  lying  by,  all  proper  ;  Motto,  Ille  vincit, 
ego  mereo."  The  "  bordure  gobonated"  is  a  distinctive 
mark  of  illegitimacy. 


THE  SINCLAIES  OF  DUN. 

THERE  is  difficulty  in  determining  with  certainty  the  The  sinciairs  of 
origin  of  the  Sinciairs  of  Dun,  but  they  are  believed  to 
be  cadets  of  the  Caithness  family. 

In  a  notice  in  Calder's  "  History  of  Caithness  "  they 
are  said  to  have  settled  in  Caithness  in  1379,  and  to  have 
possessed  the  lands  of  Dun  nearly  a  century  before  any 
others  of  the  name  appear  to  have  acquired  a  footing  in 
the  county.  But  no  evidence  has  been  found  to  support 
this  view ;  and  there  is  no  reason  given  for  fixing  on  so 
early  a  date  as  the  period  of  the  settlement  of  this  branch 
of  the  Sinciairs  in  Caithness ;  nor  indeed  does  it  appear 
"that  the  name  had  any  connection  with  the  county  till 
after  the  grant  of  the  earldom  in  1456,"  as  stated  by  Mr. 
Alexander  Sinclair.1  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  certain 
that  in  1508,  and  even  at  a  much  later  period,  the  lands 
of  Dun  were  possessed  by  the  Caldells  or  Calders,  and 
there  is  no  trace  of  a  "  Sinclair  of  Dun  "  sooner  than  1540. 
In  that  year,  as  appears  from  an  old  inventory  of  title- 
deeds  of  the  Groats,  which  is  given  by  Calder,  one  "  John 
Sinclair  of  Dun  "  was,  along  with  other  "  honest  men/*  a 
witness  to  a  deed  granted  by  the  Earl  of  Caithness.  In 

1  Letter,  March  1867. 


108  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUN. 

1541  " David  Sinclair  of  Dunn"  was  cautioner  in  a 
tack  of  teinds  to  the  Earl  of  Caithness,  and  in  1544 
"  William  Caldall  of  Dunn "  is  witness  to  an  instru- 
ment of  sasine  in  favour  of  Margaret  and  Helen 
Brisbane. 

In  a  MS.  written  about  1770,  by  the  late  William 
Sinclair  of  Freswick,  who  was  himself  a  descendant  of  the 
family  of  Dun,  their  progenitor  is  said  to  have  been  David, 
second  son  of  William,  second  Earl  of  Caithness.  In 
a  charter  granted  in  January  1560,  to  David  Sinclair, 
then  of  Dun,  by  John,  fifth  Earl  of  Sutherland,  and  his 
wife  Eleanor,  they  style  him,  "noster  consanguineus- 
germanus ; "  but  even  on  the  supposition  at  one  time 
generally  entertained  by  genealogists,  though  now  dis- 
carded, that  Lady  Marjorie,  the  mother  of  William, 
second  Earl  of  Caithness,  was  cousin-german,  or,  as  she 
is  called  by  Gordon,  "  near  cousin,"  to  Elizabeth,  Countess 
of  Sutherland  (the  grandmother  of  Earl  John),  David, 
the  supposed  son  of  the  Earl  of  Caithness,  would  only, 
after  all,  stand  to  Earl  John  in  the  degree  of  third  cousin. 
If,  however,  as  stated  in  the  notice  in  Calder's  "  History," 
the  relationship  between  David  Sinclair  of  Dun  and  Earl 
John  was  merely  that  of  "  cousins  by  consanguinity"  that 
requirement  is  no  doubt  met  if  David  Sinclair  really  was 
the  son  of  Earl  William.  But  Earl  William's  only  sons 
of  whom  we  have  certain  mention  are  John,  his  successor, 
Alexander  of  Stemster,  and  William,  a  natural  son,  who 
was  legitimized  in  1542.  How  then  David  of  Dun  and 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUN.  109 

Earl  John  could  have  been  cousins-german,  remains  to  be  The  sinciairs  of 

T    •        i  Dun. 

explained. 

In  a  MS.  on  Caithness  affairs  by  the  late  Captain 
Kennedy  of  Wick,  it  is  said  that  "  George,  fourth  Earl 
of  Caithness,  had  a  son  called  David,  who  begat  John 
Sinclair  of  Dun  and  William  Sinclair  of  Forss-Milns." 
This,  if  true,  might  account  for  the  John  Sinclair  of  1540, 
mentioned  in  Groat's  Inventory ;  but  then  there  is  no 
evidence  that  the  fourth  Earl  had  a  son  named  David, 
although  lie  had  a  natural  brother,  David  Sinclair,  who 
was  Bailie  to  the  Bishop  of  Caithness,  and  who  appears 
in  1541  as  cautioner  for  the  Earl  in  a  tack  of  the  teind 
sheaves  of  Canisbay,  and  who  is  likewise  mentioned  as 
having  been  imprisoned  by  his  brother  in  Girnigo  Castle. 
About  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  and  pro- 
bably not  later  than  1557  or  1558,  George,  the  fourth 
Earl,  arranged  a  marriage  between  Y  M'Kay  of  Farr, 
and  Christian  Sinclair,  who  is  designed  by  Gordon  as 
"daughter  to  the  laird  of  Dun,  and  cousin  to  the  Earl." 
It  is  evident  that,  if  this  lady  was  the  Earl's  cousin  only, 
the  Earl  could  not  have  been  the  father  of  this  laird  of 
Dun.  M'Kay,  referring  to  this  marriage,  says  (p.  152), 
that  Christian  Sinclair  was  the  daughter  of  "  William 
Sinclair,  laird  of  Dun,"  and  that  she  was  the  Earl's  cousin. 
If  Earl  George's  illegitimate  uncle,  William,  the  son  of 
William,  the  second  Earl,  was  laird  of  Dun,  then  Chris- 
tian Sinclair  and  Earl  George  were  certainly  cousins- 
german  ;  but  there  appears  to  be  no  evidence  that 


110  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUN. 

The  sinciairs  of  Christian  Sinclair's  father  was  named  William,  although 
so  stated  by  M'Kay. 

In  the  above-mentioned  charter  granted  to  David 
Sinclair  of  Dun,  in  1560,  the  Earl  of  Sutherland  gives  to 
him  in  liferent,  and  to  "  his  sons,"  William,  Alexander,  and 
Henry,  in  succession,  and  to  the  "  heirs-male  of  their  bodies 
lawfully  'begotten,"  in  fee,  the  lands  of  Forss  and  Baillie. 
It  appears  that  in  1586  a  Henry  Sinclair,  who  unques- 
tionably was  the  brother  of  Christian,  the  laird  of  Dun's 
daughter,  was  killed  in  a  fight  with  the  Clan  Gunn,  then 
under  command  of  Hutcheon  M'Kay,  who  was  a  son  of 
Christian  Sinclair,  and  therefore  Henry's  own  nephew. 
As  no  other  Henry  Sinclair  is  mentioned  about  the  same 
period,  except  Henry,  the  son  of  David  of  Dun,  it  may 
be  that  Christian  Sinclair's  brother  was  the  same  Henry 
Sinclair  who  is  named  in  the  charter,  and  thus  that  she 
was  a  daughter  of  David  Sinclair  of  ,Dun.  If  so,  as  she 
was  "  cousin  to  the  Earl  of  Caithness,"  so  must  her  father 
also  have  been  connected  with  that  family. 

There  is  extant  a  summons  dated  12th  March,  in  the 
20th  year  of  Queen  Mary — that  is  the  year  1562 — at  the 
instance  of  John  Sinclair,  "  eldest  son  and  heir  of  the 
deceased  David  Sinclair  of  Dun"  with  consent  of  his 
curators,  the  Earl  of  Caithness  and  John  Grote,  against 
William  Sinclair  of  Forss,  as  an  intromitter  with  the 
writs  and  evidents  of  David  Sinclair,  immediately  after 
his  decease  in  March  1560.  In  this  action  William 
Sinclair  is  called  upon  to  produce  acquittances  given  to 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUN.  Ill 

v 

David  Sinclair  of  Dun  by  the  Executors  of  James  Brodie,  The  sinciairs  of 

Archdeacon  of  Caithness,  for  rents  due  by  the  tenants 

in  the  temporal  lands  of  the  Arch-deanery,  from  1547  to 

1558  ;   acquittances  from  1528  to  1560,  by  the  Bishop, 

for   the  teind   sheaves  of  Staneland,  Forss,  and  Baillie, 

and  for  the  maiUs  and  duties  of  the  temporal  lands  of 

the  bishopric,  and  fitted   accounts  between  the  Bishop 

and  David  Sinclair  of  Dun,  of  his  intromissions  with  the 

farms  and  duties  of  the  earldom  of  Caithness.     If  David 

Sinclair   had    been   the   Chamberlain   or   Bailie   of    the 

Bishopric,  the  writs  which  William  Sinclair  is  called  upon 

to  produce,  as  taken  by  him  from  the  repositories  of  the 

deceased,  are  just  such  documents  as  David  would  properly 

have  had  in  his  possession ;  and  it  has  been  shown  that 

David,  a  son  of  John,  Earl  of  Caithness,  actually  held  the 

office  of  Bailie  to  the  Bishop.     As  this  Earl  lived  till  1529, 

there  is  no  difficulty  in  supposing  his  son  to  have  lived  till 

1560  ;  and  thus,  the  father  of  John  Sinclair  of  Dun  of  1562, 

may  have  been  David,  the  natural  son  of  Earl  John. 

The  summons  makes  no  reference  to  any  relationship 
between  David  Sinclair  of  Dun  and  William  Sinclair  of 
Forss ;  and  thus,  while  it  is  certain  that  the  latter  was  a 
son  of  the  David  Sinclair  of  Dun  who  got  the  charter  in 
January  1560,  and  that  John  Sinclair  was  the  son  of  a 
David  Sinclair  of  Dun  who  died  in  March  1560,  still  it  is 
not  known  that  the  two  Davids  were  identical,  and  that 
William  Sinclair  of  Forss  and  John  Sinclair  of  Dun  were 
brothers. 


112  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF   DUN. 

The  sinciairs  of        If  the  circumstance  that  John  Sinclair  sues,  in  1562, 

Dun. 

^  with  consent  of  curators,  is  to  be  taken  as  proof  that  he 
was  then  a  minor,  it  is  difficult  to  reconcile  the  fact  of 
his  having  been  the  eldest  son  and  heir  of  his  father,  with 
his  being  brother  to  William  Sinclair  of  Forss,  for  the 
latter  in  1561  had  been  admitted  as  vassal  in  Forss  to 
the  Earl  of  Sutherland ;  had  granted  deeds  as  owner  in 
possession  of  these  lands  ;  had  been  witness  to  the  execu- 
tion of  important  deeds,  and  had  thus  conducted  himself 
as  a  man  of  full  age.  But  if  the  David  Sinclair  who  got 
the  charter  in  January  1560,  and  the  David  Sinclair  who 
died  in  March  of  the  same  year,  were  the  same,  then 
William  of  Forss  and  John  of  Dun  must  have  been 
brothers,  and  William  Sinclair  and  his  brothers,  Alex- 
ander and  Henry,  may  have  been  sons  by  a  previous 
marriage,  and  John  may  have  been  made  the  heir  to  the 
Dun  estate  under  some  family  arrangement  similar  to 
that  by  which  William  was  provided  with  Forss  and 
Baillie.  Or,  lastly,  David  Sinclair  may  have  had  an 
elder  son,  David,  who,  after  succeeding  to  Dun,  had  died 
young  and  left  his  son  and  heir,  John,  a  minor,  who  would 
thus  be  the  nephew  of  William  Sinclair,  and  not  his 
brother.  Among  the  writs  taken  possession  of  by 
William  Sinclair,  the  summons  of  exhibition  includes  a 
contract  between  David  Sinclair  of  Dun  and  the  Master 
of  Oliphant,  in  regard  to  these  lands,  by  which  the 
Master,  who  had  in  1549  obtained  a  grant  of  the  non- 
entry  dues  of  Dun,  obliged  himself  to  give  a  new  infeft- 


THE  SINCLAIRS   OF  DUN.  113 

ment   thereof.       This   deed,  if  it  be  still  in  existence,  The  sinciairs  of 
would  no  doubt  throw  some  light  on  the  history  of  the  Dun' 
family. 

Finally,  there  is  an  account  of  this  family  in  Father 
Hays  "St.  Glairs  of  Roslyn."  It  is  there  said  :  "  St.  Glair 
of  Doun  is  a  great-grand-child  of  John,  Lord  Beridall. 
The  first  of  this  surname  who  obtained  these  lands  was 
one  David,  who  married  one  Marie,  heretrix  of  Doun, 
daughter  to  William  Gaidar,  and  begot  John,  who 
espoused  Agatha,  daughter  of  Heugh  Grant  or  Grott 
of  Souldon,  upon  whom  he  begott  William,  who  espoused 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Keith  of  Loutquarne, 
by  whom  he  had  several  childering :  they  all  dieing, 
their  uncle,  William,  second  sone  to  the  foresaid  John 
and  Agatha,  succeeded,  and  married  Marjorie,  daughter 
to  Saul  Bruce,  LaircJ  of  Leith  (Lyth),  who  bore  to  him 
David,  his  successor,  married  upon  Janet,  daughter 
of  John  Saintclare  of  Olbstar.  This  David  was  laird 
of  Doun." 

It  is  noticeable  that  these  various  accounts  of  the 
origin  of  the  family,  with  the  exception  of  the  incidental 
reference  to  John  of  1540,  all  point  to  a  David  Sinclair 
as  the  first  laird  of  Dun,  although  they  differ  as  to  his 
paternity.  But  if  Hay's  "  David,  laird  of  Dun,"  who 
married  Ulbster's  daughter,  was  the  son,  as  he  is 
supposed  to  have  been,  and  not  the  grandson  of  John 
Sinclair,  as  his  pedigree  of  the  family  makes  him  to  be, 
then  this  David  Sinclair  might  have  been  "the  great- 

p 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUN. 

The  Sinclair.-?  of  grand-child  of  John,  Lord  Beridall"  (afterwards  third 
Earl  of  Caithness),  and  the  grandson  of  the  Earl's  natural 
son,  David,  the  Bishop's  Bailie.  Mr.  Alexander  Sinclair 
(Ulbster),  who  has  given  much  attention  to  genealogical 
subjects,  writes  in  March  1867,  "I  always  thought  that 
Dun  came  from  David,  son  of  John,  third  Earl  of  Caith- 


ness." 


JOHN  SINCLAIR,  eldest  son  and  heir  of  David,  suc- 
ceeded him  in  these  lands.  In  1591  he  was  infeft  on  a 
charter  by  the  Earl  of  Caithness,  and  in  1592  he  got  a 
Crown  charter  of  confirmation.  He  was  twice  married, 
and  had  by  his  first  wife,  whose  name  is  unknown,  three 
sons : — 

1.  David,  his  successor,  who  makes  reference  to  his 

father's  second  wife  as  his  "mother-in-law,"  or 
step-mother. 

2.  James,    who    is    mentioned    by   Gordon   as   that 

"  brother  of  the  laird  of  Dun,"  who  was  wounded 
in  a  fight  in  Thurso,  in  1612. 

3.  George,  designed,  in  1616,  as  son  of  "  Umquhile 

John  Sinclair  of  Dun." 

John  Sinclair's  second  wife  was  Agatha  Grote,  no 
doubt  the  lady  who  is  mentioned  by  Hay  as  the 
daughter  of  Hugh  Grote  of  "  Souldon."  She  was  life- 
rented  in  Dun,  and  her  name  occurs  in  connection  with 
it  from  1628  to  1642.  By  her  John  Sinclair  had  a 
son — 


THE  SINCLAIBS  OF  DUN.  115 

William,  ancestor   of  the   Southdun   branch  of  the  The  sindairs  of 
family. 

David  Sinclair  of  Dun,  son  and  heir  of  John,1  suc- 
ceeded his  father,  and  was  twice  married.  He  is  the 
same  David  Sinclair  who,  in  Hay's  account  of  the  family, 
is  said  to  have  married  "  Janet"  daughter  of  John  Sinclair 
of  Ulbster ;  but  it  is  certain,  from  a  charter  granted  to 
him  and  his  first  wife  in  1606,  by  the  Earl  of  Caithness, 
of  the  tenpenny  lands  of  Dun,  that  the  lady's  name  was 
Elizabeth. 

His  second  wife  was  Margaret,  daughter  of  Donald 
Sutherland  of  Forss,  who  was  styled  "  Lady  Dun."  She 
survived  her  husband  and  afterwards  married  Charles 
Calder  of  Lynegar. 

By  his  first  marriage  David  Sinclair  had  three  sons ; 
and  by  his  second  marriage,  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Francis,  his  successor. 

2.  William,  afterwards  of  Dun. 

3.  James. 

1.  Jean,  who  married  George  Sinclair  of  Forss,  in 
1695. 

Francis  Sinclair  of  Dun  was  served  heir  to  his  father, 
David,  in  1650,  and  married  Jean,  daughter  of  John 
Sinclair  of  Ulbster,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter — 

Katharine. 

William  Sinclair  of  Dun  was  served  heir  of  provision 
to  his  brother,  Francis,  and  in  1663  he  got  a  charter  from 

1  Sasine,  1609. 


116  THE  SINCLAIKS  OF  DUN. 

The  sinciairs  of  the  Archdean  of  Caithness  of  Scarmclett,  Larrel,  Galsh- 
field,  Clayock,  and  Campster.  He  was  three  times 
married,  first  in  1643,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander Sutherland  of  Forse ;  secondly,  to  Isabel,  daughter 
of  John  Sinclair  of  Assery ;  and  thirdly,  to  Katharine 
Sinclair,  "  Lady  Dun,"  daughter  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of 
Telstane.  He  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  Alexander,  his  successor. 

2.  David. 

1.  Jean,  who  married,  in  1670,  William,  son  of  John 

Sinclair  of  Assery. 

2.  ,  who  married  David  Sinclair  of  Broyriach  (see 

Murkle),  and  had  a  son  and  daughter. 

By  which  of  his  three  wives  William  Sinclair  had 
these  children  does  not  appear,  but  his  daughter,  Jean, 
could  not  have  been  of  the  second  marriage,  as  her  own 
husband  and  her  father's  second  wife  were  brother  and 
sister. 

Alexander  Sinclair  of  Dun  received  a  disposition  from 
his  father  in  1680.  He  was  twice  married.  The  name 
of  his  first  wife  has  not  been  ascertained.  His  second 
wife  was  Barbara,  youngest  daughter  of  Alexander 
Henderson  in  Gerston,  whom  he  married  in  1751,  but 
he  had  no  issue  by  her.  He  died  in  1754.  He  had  four 
sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  William,  mentioned  in  1731,  as  younger  of  Dun. 

2.  Henry,  who  resided  in  Achavrole  in  1769,  and  who 

is  mentioned  as  eldest  son. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUN.  117 

3.  Richard,  a  merchant  in  Thurso,  who  was  drowned  The  sinciairs  of 
in  crossing  the  river  at  Thurso  in  1755.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  sister  of  John  M'Kay  of 
Strathy,  and  left  two  infant  daughters,  Elizabeth 
and  Janet.  The  former  married  William,  second 
son  of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Mey,  better  remem- 
bered as  "  Willie  of  Mey."  Janet  married  John 
Mathers,  Surveyor  of  Customs  in  Thurso.  Both 
daughters  had  issue,  but  their  families  are 
extinct. 

Richard  Sinclair  has  not  only  given  name  to  "  Sin- 
clair's Pool "  in  Thurso  river,  but  has  also  given  occasion 
to  a  tale  of  "  second  sight,"  which,  although  it  may  have 
appeared  in  print,  is  here  recorded.  At  the  time  of  this 
accident  there  was  no  bridge  across  the  river,  and  it  was 
crossed  at  a  ford,  or  by  a  ferry-boat  lower  down.  Mr. 
Sinclair  had  crossed  to  the  east  side  by  the  ford  in  the 
morning,  and  gone  to  the  country  on  business.  His  wife 
had  some  female  friends  with  her  in  the  evening,  which 
was  dark  and  rainy ;  and  having  occasion  to  leave  the 
room  where  her  guests  were,  she  observed,  as  she  believed, 
her  husband  pass  up-stairs  to  his  room,  and  she  desired 
the  servant  to  carry  up  some  fire,  as  he  appeared  to  be 
very  wet.  The  servant  not  finding  her  master  in  the 
room,  a  search  was  made,  with  the  result  that  he  was  not 
to  be  found  within  the  house.  The  appearance  seen  by 
Mrs.  Sinclair  was  held  to  portend  coming  evil,  and 
accordingly  her  husband  was  found  drowned  in  the  pool 


118  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  DUN. 

The  sinciairs  of  which  still  bears  his  name,  man  and  horse  having  been 
carried  off  from  the  ford  by  a  sudden  spate  in  the  water. 
4.  David,  the  youngest  son,  who  had  a  provision  of 
3500  merks. 

1.  Elizabeth,  designed  in   1755  as  widow  of  Patrick 

Forbes.     In  1737  she  had  a  bond  of  provision 
from  her  father. 

2.  Katharine,  who  had  a  provision  of  3000  merks. 
The  family  estate  had  become  involved  in  debt,  and 

what  remained  of  it  appears  to  have  been  sold  in  1751  to 
David  Sinclair  of  Southdun. 

The  story  in  Calder's  " History  of  Caithness"  (p.  259) 
that  the  possessor  of  Dun  in  1745  shot  himself,  because 
balked  by  his  mother  in  keeping  an  engagement  to  join 
the  Stewart  party,  is  certainly  without  foundation,  but 
whether  William,  the  eldest  son  and  apparent  heir  in 
1731,  was  alive  in  1745  is  uncertain. 

Nisbet,  whose  work  on  Heraldry  was  written  early  in 
last  century,  mentions  from  the  Lyon  Register  the  Arms 
of  a  "  Thomas *  Sinclair,  descended  from  the  family  of  Dun 
in  Caithness,"  but  of  him  there  is  no  trace.  The  crest  was 
"  a  demi-man  holding  in  one  hand  a  sea-cat,  and  in  the 
other  a  pair  of  pencils,  all  proper,"  and  the  Motto,  "  Sic 
rectius  progredior."  He  also  mentions  the  Arms  of  a 
"  Thomas  Sinclair,  son  of  William  Sinclair,  merchant  in 
Thurso,  descended  of  the  family  of  Caithness  : "  Motto, 

1  In  the  Register  the  name  is  Laivrence,  [and  Nisbet's  "  sea-cat"  is  "  a  sea- 
cart,"  i.e.  sea- chart]. 


THE  SINCLAIRS   OF  DUN.  119 

"  Fear  God  and  Live ; "  but  whether  this  is  the  same  or  The  sinciairs  of 
a  different  Thomas  Sinclair,  does  not  appear. 

The  Arms  of  William  Sinclair  of  Dun  were  argent, 
a  cross  ingrailed  sable  within  a  bordure  of  the  second, 
charged  with  eight  plates  argent :  Crest,  a  man  on  horse- 
back proper.  Motto,  "  Promptus  ad  certamen." 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  SOUTHDUN. 

The  sinciairs  of  THE  Sinclairs  of  Southdun  are  cadets  of  the  family  of 
Dun,  and  are  descended  from  John  Sinclair  of  Dun,  in 
1560,  and  his  second  wife,  Agatha  Grote,  who,  according 
to  Father  Hay's  account  of  the  family  of  Dun,  was  a 
daughter  of  Hugh  Grote  of  "  Souldon."  There  is  no 
place  in  the  county  now  known  as  Souldon,  and  it  is 
probable  that  the  word  is  a  misnomer  for  Southdun, 
although  no  mention  is  found  of  that  name  until  the  time 
of  John  Sinclair's  grandson,  David,  first  styled  of  South- 
dun.  From  1545  till  about  1630  there  was  a  family 
of  Grote  of  Brabsterdorran,  one  of  whom  was  named 
Hugh,  the  father,  probably,  of  Agatha  Grote;  and 
a  connection  between  the  Grotes  and  the  Sinclairs 
is  shown  by  the  circumstance  of  a  John  Grote  hav- 
ing been  one  of  John  Sinclair  of  Dun's  curators  in 
1562.  John  Sinclair  and  Agatha  Grote  had  a  son, 
William. 

William  Sinclair  is  occasionally  styled  of  Dun,  and 
also  in  Dun.  He  married  Marjory,  daughter  of  Saul 
Bruce  of  Lyth,  and  in  this  particular  Hay's  account  of 
the  family  is  confirmed,  as  will  be  seen  by  referring  to 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  SOUTHDUN.  121 

the  "  Notes  "  on  Bruce  of  Lyth.     He  had  two  sons  and  a  The  sinciairs  of 

i          -I   ,  Southdun. 

daughter : — 

1.  David. 

2.  Francis,  portioner  of  Brabsterdorran,  styled  "  law- 

ful brother  of  David  Sinclair  of  Southdun,"  in 
1657. 

1.  Isobel,  who  married  in  1652  Thomas  Grote,  son  of 
Malcolm  Grote  of  Warse.  Malcolm  Grote  mar- 
ried Margaret,  daughter  of  George  Sinclair  of 
Forss,  and  his  wife,  Jean,  only  daughter  of  David 
Sinclair  of  Dun,  thus  showing  the  continued 
connection  between  the  Grotes  and  the  several 
branches  of  the  Sinciairs  of  Dun. 


I.  DAVID  SINCLAIR  OF  Southdun  is  the  first  Sinclair 
who  is  so  styled,  and  he  is  repeatedly  mentioned  in 
writings  by  Agatha  Grote,  the  second  wife  of  John 
Sinclair  of  Dun,  as  her  "  Oy,"  or  grandchild.  He  mar- 
ried Jean,  widow  of  his  cousin,  Francis  Sinclair  of  Dun, 
and  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Ulbster.  He  had  four 
sons  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  Patrick,  his  successor. 

2.  James  of  Lyth.     In  1707  James  Sinclair  acquired 

from   Lord    Glenorchy   Alterwall    and   part    of 
Brabsterdorran. 

3.  David,  in  Brabsterdorran,  who  had  a  son,  David 

of  Whitegar.     He  fought  at  Sheriffmuir  in  1715 
on  the  Stewart  side. 


122  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  SOUTHDUN. 

The  sinciairs  of        4.  Alexander. 

1.  Margaret,  who  married  William  Bruce  of  Stanstill. 

2.  Elizabeth,  who  married  in  1672  Donald  Budge  of 

Toftingall. 

3.  Isobell,  who  married,  in  1653,  Lawrence  Calder  of 

Lynegar. 

II.  PATRICK  SINCLAIR  OF  SOUTHDUN  married  Janet, 
daughter  of  James  Murray  of  Pennyland,  and  had  three 
sons  and  four  daughters  : — 

1.  James. 

2.  David. 

3.  Patrick. 

1.  Marjory,  who  married  William  Calder  of  Lynegar. 

2.  Jean. 

3.  Janet,  who  married  John  Sinclair  of  Rattar. 

4.  Elizabeth    married   Henry   Budge,    probably   her 

cousin,  son  of  Alexander  Budge  in  Harpsdale,  and 
grandson  of  Donald  Budge,  sixth  of  Toftingall. 
Vide  Budge. 

$  j 

III.  JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  SOUTHDUN  died  in  minority, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  David. 

IV.  DAVID  SINCLAIR  OF  SOUTHDUN  executed  an  en- 
tail of  the  estate  in  1747  ;  and  considerable  exchanges  of 
property  took  place  between  him  and  Sinclair  of  Barrock. 
He  was  three  times  married,  first  in  1714  to  Lady  Janet, 


THE   SINCLAIRS  OF  SOUTHDtJN.  123 

daughter  of  John,  eighth  Earl  of  Caithness,  who  died  in  The  sinciairs  of 
1720;   secondly,    to   Marjory,    daughter   of   Sir   Eobert  SoutMun- 
Dunbar  of  Northfield,  in  1748  ;  and  thirdly,  to  Margaret, 
daughter   of  James   Murray  of  Clairden.     By  his   first 
marriage  he  had  a  son  and  three  daughters  : — 
1.  Patrick,  who  died  about  1724. 

1.  Jean,  who  died  young. 

2.  Jean,  second  of  the  name,  who  married  Sir  William 

Dunbar  of  Hempriggs,  and  died  without  issue. 

3.  Janet,    who    married   Dr.    Stuart   Threipland    of 

Fingask,  and  had  a  son,  David  Sinclair,  a  young 
gentlemen  of  much  promise,  who  died  in  1778, 
and  a  daughter,  Janet. 
By  his  second  marriage  he  had  two  daughters  : — 

1.  Marjory,   who  married  John,  son  of  Sir  Patrick 

Dunbar  of  Northfield,  her  cousin-german,  and 
had  no  issue.  She  married  thereafter  James 
Sinclair  of  Harpsdale,  and  had  a  son,  George, 
who  died  young,  and  four  daughters,  Henrietta  of 
Southdun,  who  was  married  to  Colonel  Wemyss, 
and  Janet,  who  married  Colonel  Williamson  of 
Banniskirk,  and  Emilia  and  Margaret,  who  died 
unmarried. 

2.  Miss    Katharine    of    Southdun,    who    died    un- 

married. 

By  his  third  marriage  David  Sinclair  had  a  daugh- 
ter :- 

Margaret,  who  died  at  Lyons  in  1774,  unmarried. 


124  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  SOUTHDUN. 

The  Sinclairs  of  V.    MRS.  HENRIETTA  SINCLAIR  OF  SOUTHDUN,  married 

Colonel  Wemyss,  and  had  an  only  child,  William. 

VI.  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR  WEMYSS  OF  SOUTHDUN  mar- 
ried  Henrietta,  daughter  of  Sir   Benjamin   Dunbar   of 
Hempriggs,  Lord  Duffus.     He  died  in  1831,  and  left  two 
sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  David  Sinclair. 

2.  Benjamin,  who  died  in  1878,  leaving  an  only  child, 

a  daughter. 

1.  Janet  or  Jessie,  who  married  James   Sinclair  of 

Forss,  and  has  issue. 

2.  Henrietta,  who  married  Robert  Innes  of  Thrumster, 

and   left   an   only   child,    Henrietta,   now   Mrs. 
Bentley-Innes  of  Thrumster. 

VII.  DAVID  SINCLAIR  WEMYSS  OF  SOUTHDUN  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  George  Sackville  Sutherland 
of  Aberarder,  Inverness-shire,  and  died  10th  December 
1877,  aged  64.     He  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  William,  R.N.,  who  died  young  and  unmarried. 

2.  George  Sackville. 

3.  Robert  Dunbar  Sinclair. 

4.  Evan. 

1.  Henrietta  Elizabeth,  who  married  James  Smith  of 

Olrig. 

2.  Mary. 

3.  Janet. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  BRABSTERDORRAN. 

IN  the  seventeenth  century  this  property  seems  to  The  smciairs  of 
have  been  held  in  four  different  portions ;  one  by  John 
Henderson,  "another   by   Henry   Dundas,    and    two    by 
families  of  Hansons.     In  1798  the  whole  was  united  in 
the  family  of  the  Sinclairs  of  Southdun. 

FRANCIS  SINCLAIR,  son  of  William  in  Dun,  and 
grandson  of  John  Sinclair  of  Dun  and  Agatha  Grote, 
held  a  portion  of  Brabsterdorran  in  1683.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Sinclair  (of  what  family  she  was  is  now 
unknown),  and  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  Patrick. 

2.  George,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Alex- 

ander Gibson,  Dean  of  Bower,  and  had  an  only 
child,  Jean,  who  married  her  cousin,  David 
Sinclair,  in  Whitegar,  son  of  David  Sinclair  of 
Whitegar,  the  grandson  of  David  Sinclair  of 
Southdun.  They  had  a  son,  Alexander,  who  was 
portioner  of  Brabsterdorran,  as  in  right  of  his 
mother.  He  sold  his  interest,  in  1780,  to  Miss 
Katharine  Sinclair  of  Southdun.  Jean  Sinclair's 


126  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF   BRABSTERDORRAN. 

The  smciairs  of  grandfather,  Francis,  had  a  wadset  for  2000  merks 

on  Brabsterdorran,  to  which  she  as  his  heir  had 
right,  and  about  1738  and  subsequent  years 
there  was  litigation  in  regard  to  the  claims  of 
Francis  Sinclair's  heir  to  the  lands,  it  being  con- 
tended that  James  Sinclair  of  Ly th  had  purchased 
the  reversion  of  the  wadset  for  Francis,  and  that 
the  latter  having  died  in  the  interim,  and  his 
grandchild  being  young,  James  had  kept  the 
reversion  to  himself,  and  had  thus  acquired  the 
heritable  right  to  Brabsterdorran. 

PATRICK  SINCLAIR,  a  portioner  of  Brabsterdorran, 
married,  in  1703,  Barbara,  second  daughter  of  William 
Gumming,  Minister  of  Halkirk,  and  his  wife,  Katharine, 
daughter  of  John  Murray  of  Pennyland.  Patrick  is  said 
to  have  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  William,  nicknamed  "La  Mode."     He  had  been  a 

midshipman  in  the  navy,  and  was  thereafter  in  the 
Customs  at  Thurso.  He  married  Rachel,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Gumming  of  Craigmiln,  in  Morayshire, 
and  among  other  children  had  Katharine,  who 
married  Alexander  Gumming,  tacksman  of  Eattar. 

2.  James,  who  was  tide-waiter  in  the  Customs  at 

Thurso. 

In  1670  Henry  Dundas,  then  one  of  the  portioners 
of  Brabsterdorran,  granted  a  wadset  to  John  Sinclair 


THE  SINCLAIES  OF  BRABSTERDORRAN.  127 

in  Brabsterdorran  and  Margaret,  his  wife,  and  William,  The  sinciairs  of 
their  eldest  son.     In  1693  Margaret  Sinclair,  then  relict Brabsterdorran- 
of  John,  assigned   the  wadset   to   her   son,  Alexander. 
Whether  these  Sinciairs  were  connected  with  the  Brab- 
sterdorran, or  Dun  and  Southdun  families,  has  not  been 
ascertained. 


THE  SINCLAIKS  OF  FOESS. 
PREVIOUS  to  1557  the  lands  of  Forss  and  Baillie 

Forss. 

belonged  to  the  Bishopric,  but  in  that  year  they  were 
feued  out  to  John,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  and  Eleanor,  his 
wife ;  and  in  January  1560  they  were  granted  in  feu  by 
the  Earl  and  his  Lady  to  David  Sinclair  of  Dun,  in  life- 
rent,  and  to  his  three  sons,  William,  Alexander,  and 
Henry,  and  to  the  heirs- male  of  their  bodies  lawfully 
begotten,  in  succession,  in  fee.  Who  David  Sinclair  of 
Dun  was  is  uncertain,  further  than  that  he  was  in  all 
probability  of  the  Caithness  family.  It  is  understood 
that  in  the  charter  of  1560  he  is  styled  by  the  Earl  and 
Countess  "nostrum  consanguineum  germanum,"  but  no 
such  near  connection  as  cousins -german  can  be  traced ; 
and  it  is  stated,  on  the  authority  of  a  gentleman  who  has 
given  much  attention  to  the  subject,  that  only  in  modern 
times  does  such  a  phrase  mean  more  than  "  of  the  same 
blood."  For  particulars  regarding  the  origin  of  the 
family  of  Dun  reference  is  made  to  the  "  Notes"  on  the 
Sinclairs  of  Dun  and  Southdun. 

The   considerations  in  respect  of  which  the  above- 
mentioned  charter  was  granted  are  set  forth  therein  at 


THE  SINCLAIRS   OF  FORSS.  129 

some  length,  such  as  services  rendered,  improvements  to  The  sinciairs  of 

be  effected  on  the  lands,  etc.     They  are  much  the  same 

as  those  contained  in  the  charter  granted  in  1557  by  the 

Bishop  and  Chapter  to  the  Earl  of  Sutherland,  and  are 

generally  in  the  style  not  unusual  at  the  time.     The 

services  alluded  to  as  having  been  rendered  by  Sinclair 

of  Dun  to  the  Earl  cannot  have  reference,  as  supposed  by 

the  late  Mr.  Sinclair  of  Forss,1  to  his  having  rescued  the 

Earl,  when,  a  minor,  from  the  Earl  of  Caithness ;  for  it 

was  not  Earl  John,  but  his  son,  Earl  Alexander,  who, 

after  his  father's  death,  fell  into  the  Earl  of  Caithness's 

hands. 

I.  DAVID  SINCLAIR  OF  DUN,  AND  FIRST  SINCLAIR  OF 
FORSS,  seems  to  have  died  in  March  1560.  In  May  1561 
his  son,  William,  fiar  of  Forss,  was  admitted  vassal  in 
Forss  by  the  Earl  of  Sutherland ;  and  at  the  same  date 
he  gave  a  liferent  right  in  Forss  to  one  Mary  Stirling, 
transactions  not  likely  to  have  taken  place  had  his  father, 
who  had  Forss  in  liferent,  been  then  still  alive.  This 
David  Sinclair  had  certainly  four  sons  : — 

1.  William,  fiar  of  Forss. 

2.  Alexander,  of  whom  there  is  no  mention,  except 

in  the  charter  of  1560. 

3.  Henry^  conceived  to  be  the  same  Henry  Sinclair 

who,  as  narrated  by  Gordon,  was  slain  in  1586 

1  See  his  letter,  dated  November  1860,  regarding  the  family  of  Dun,  inserted 
in  Calder's  "  History." 

R 


130  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF   FORSS. 

The  sinciairs  of  by  the  Clan  Guim,  under  the  command  of  his 

nephew,  Hutcheon  M'Kay  of  Fair. 

4.  George,  who  is  designed  as  "brother  of  William 
Sinclair  of  Forss,"  and  who  was  a  witness  along 
with  him  to  the  contract  of  marriage,  signed  at 
Girnigo  Castle  on  22d  November  1563,  between 
Munro  of  Fowlis  and  Katharine  Ross  of  Balna- 
gown,  afterwards  notorious  for  her  trial  for 
witchcraft  and  poisoning. 

If  the  supposition  be  correct  that  Henry  Sinclair, 
who  was  killed  in  1586,  was  the  son  of  David  Sinclair  of 
Dun,  then  David  Sinclair  had  also  a  daughter — 

Christian  Sinclair,  who  is  described  by  Gordon  as  a 
cousin  of  the  Earl  of  Caithness.  She  was  mar- 
ried about  1557  or  1558  to  Y  M'Kay  of  Farr, 
by  whom  she  had  two  sons,  Hutcheon  and  Wil- 
liam. Hutcheon  M'Kay  married,  first,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  George,  fourth  Earl  of  Caithness, 
and,  secondly,  Lady  Jane  Gordon,  daughter  of 
Alexander,  Earl  of  Sutherland. 

II.  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR  "  OF  FORSS"  is  so  styled  in 
1561-62-63  and  subsequent  years,  and  in  1567  he  was  a 
witness,  along  with  John  Sinclair  of  Dun,  to  a  notarial 
instrument  in  favour  of  Alexander,  Earl  of  Sutherland. 
He  married  Janet  Urquhart,  who  may  have  been  a 
daughter  of  the  ancient  family  of  Urquhart  of  Cromarty, 
knights,  who  held  that  estate  until  it  was  acquired  by 
the  Mackenzies.  He  had  two  sons  : — 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FOKSS.  131 

1.  David,  who  married   Janet  Murray,   daughter  of  The  sinciairs  of 

Murray  of  Pulrossie,  or,  as  he  is  styled  in  a 
sasine  in  1598,  of  Spanziedale,  both  in  Suther- 
land. He  died  in  apparency,  and  without  issue. 

2.  Alexander,  successor  to  his  father. 

III.  ALEXANDER  SINCLAIR  OF  FORSS  married,  in  1608, 
Margaret,  daughter  of  George  Sinclair  of  Mey.      She  is 
mentioned  as  "  Gude  Wyff  of  Forss."     They  had  two 
sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  David. 

2.  George. 

1.  Katharine,  who  married  George  Innes  of  Oust. 

IV.  DAVID  SINCLAIR  OF  FORSS  died  without  issue, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  George. 

V.  GEORGE  SINCLAIR  OF  FORSS  married,  first,  Jean, 
daughter  of  David  Sinclair  of  Dun,  and,  secondly,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Murkle.     By  his  first 
marriage  he  had  a  daughter — 

Margaret,  who  married  Malcolm  Grote  of  Warse. 

By  his  second  marriage  he  had  a  son — 
John,  his  successor. 

VI.  JOHN  SINCLAIR  OF  FORSS  was  three  times  mar- 
ried ;  first,  to  Janet,  daughter  of  William  Sutherland  of 
Geise,  of  the  family  of  Sutherland  of  Forse ;   secondly, 


132  THE   SINCLAIRS   OF  FOKSS. 

The  sinciairs  of  to  Barbara,  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Rattar ;   and, 
thirdly,    to   Elizabeth,   daughter  of  Richard  Murray  of 
Pennyland.      By  his  first  marriage  he  had  a  son — 
George,  his  successor. 

By  his  second   marriage  he  had  three  sons  and   a 
daughter : — 

1.  John,  afterwards  of  Forss. 

2.  James,  of  Holbornhead  and  Forss. 

3.  William,    physician   in   Thurso,    who  married,    in 

1742,  Barbara,  daughter  of  Robert  Sinclair  of 
Geise,  and  died  in  1767.  He  had  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  all  of  whom  died  young  except, 
first,  Dr.  William,  afterwards  of  Freswick ; 
second,  Janet,  who  married  James  Mackie,  an 
officer  of  Excise,  and  had  two  sons,  William  and 
George,  and  several  daughters.  George  attained 
the  rank  of  Major- General  in  the  Army,  and  had 
a  large  family  of  sons  and  daughters,  and  in 
1826  resided  in  Caen,  in  Normandy.  One  of 
his  sisters  married  John  M'Kay,  merchant  in 
Thurso,  and  had  issue.  Third,  Jane,  the  other 
surviving  daughter  of  Dr.  William  Sinclair, 
married  Allan  Robertson  of  Tarrel,  Captain 
in  the  42d  Regiment.  He  was  afterwards  in 
Wares,  and  had  several  sons  and  daughters. 
1.  Elizabeth. 

By    his    third    marriage    John    Sinclair    had    three 
daughters  : — 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FORSS.  133 

1.  Mary,  who  married  James  Campbell  of  Lochend,  The  Sinclair*  of 

Sheriff-clerk  of  Caithness.     She  died  in  1771.        Forss' 

2.  Jean,  who  married  Hugo  Campbell,  joint-Sheriff- 

clerk  with  his  brother,  John. 

3.  Margaret,  who  died  unmarried  in  1771. 

VII.  GEORGE  SINCLAIR  OF  FORSS  seems  to  have  led 
a  reckless  life,  and  in  1728  he  is  strongly  recommended 
by  his  brother  and  successor,  John,  to  renew  his  addresses 
to  a  young  lady  with  money,  "  and  never  to  give  over 
till  you  have  obtained  your  wishes,"  and  thus  to  pay  his 
debts,  "  which  you  11  never  pay  but  by  marrying  a  person 
with  money."     This  advice  the  laird  did  not  take,  and  he 
died  unmarried. 

VIII.  JOHN    SINCLAIR    OF    FORSS,    half-brother    of 
George,  was  minister  of  Watt  en  in  1733,  and  died  in 
1753.       He    married    Esther,    daughter    of    Alexander 
Sinclair  of  Olrig,  and  had  a  son,  Alexander. 

IX.  ALEXANDER  SINCLAIR  OF  FORSS  died  unmarried, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  uncle,  James  Sinclair  of  Hol- 
bornhead.     He  seems  to  have  been  somewhat  eccentric 
in  his  habits. 

X.  JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  FORSS  AND  HOLBORNHEAD 
married,  in  1737,  Jean,  daughter  of  Robert  Sinclair  of 
Geise,  Advocate,  son  of  James  Sinclair  of  Lybster,  and 


THE  SINCLAIRS   OF  FORSS. 

The  Smciairs  of  great-grandson  of  John  of  Assery,  natural  son  of  James 
Sinclair  of  Murkle.  James  Sinclair  of  Holbornhead  mar- 
ried, apparently  after  1775,  a  daughter  of  John  Sinclair 
of  Scotscalder,  but  had  no  issue  by  this  his  second  wife. 

The  social  habits  of  the  county  in  the  early  part  of 
last  century  (1737)  are  illustrated  in  an  account  of  Hol- 
bornhead's  marriage,  given  by  a  gentleman  who  was 
present:  "We  had  a  rantin  bridal  and  a  brave  jolly 
company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen;  your  sisters  and  the 
ladies  of  the  familie;  Freswick,  Brabster,  Scotscalder, 
Assery,  Thura,  Lybster,  Mass  John  Sinclair  [Eev.  John 
Sinclair,  minister  of  Watt  en],  the  Frenchman  [it  does 
not  appear  who  he  was],  Mr.  Harry  Innes,  John  of 
Bower,  Toftkemp,  etc.  We  danced  four  days  out,  and 
drank  heartily,  and  thereafter  went  home  with  the  young 
wife,  where  we  renewed  our  mirth  to  a  height." 

James  Sinclair  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  Robert,   a  Captain  in  the  Army ;    afterwards  of 

Freswick. 

2.  William,  an  Army  Surgeon,  who  died  at  St.  Dom- 

ingo, in  1794,  unmarried. 

3.  James,  afterwards  of  Forss. 

1.  Catharine,  Mrs.  Campbell. 

2.  Elizabeth,  who  married  Mr.  John  Bain,  who  was 

Tacksman  of  Dale  in  1782. 

XI.  JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  FORSS,  third  son  of  James 
Sinclair  of  Holbornhead,  succeeded  his  father.     He  served 


THE   SINCLAIRS  OF  FORSS.  135 

as  Lieutenant  in  the  Army  ;  married  Johanna,  daughter  The  smciairs  of 
of  George  M'Kay  of  Bighouse,  and  had  four  sons  : — 

1.  James. 

2.  George  Lewis,  W.S.,  of  Dalveoch,  died  1878,  with- 

out issue,  aged  75. 

3.  William,  Captain  in  the  Army,  died  unmarried. 

4.  Hugh,  died  unmarried  in  Australia. 
And  five  daughters  : — 

1.  Jean^  died  unmarried. 

2.  ^Eneasina,  married  Mr.  Stevenson,  and  had  issue. 

3.  Louisa,  married  Captain  Hector  Macneill,  and  has 

issue. 

4.  Elizabeth. 

5.  Janet. 

He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  James. 

XII.  JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  FORSS,  TWELFTH  LAIRD, 
married  his  cousin,  Jessie,  daughter  of  William  Sinclair 
Wemyss  of  Southdun,  and  had  issue,  thirteen  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  eight  sons  and  three  daughters  sur- 
vived him.  He  died  at  Forss,  1st  March  1876,  aged  73. 

His  children  were — 

1.  James,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  B.A.,  died,  unmarried 

in-1873. 

2.  Henry,  died  in  India,  unmarried. 

3.  George  William,  died  in  Australia  in   1876,  and 

left  two  sons  and  several  daughters. 

4.  Robert. 


136  THE  SINCLAIKS   OF  FORSS. 


TheSinclairsof  5.    Charles. 

Forss. 


6.  Ramsay,  left  no  issue. 

7.  Edward. 

8.  Garden  Octavius,  died  1883,  and  left  a  son. 

9.  William,  died  1878,  left  no  issue. 

10.  Albert,  died  young. 

11.  John,  died  1876,  unmarried. 

12.  Frederick,  died  1879,  unmarried. 

13.  Wellesley,  died  young. 

1.  Joanna. 

2.  Janet,  died  young. 

3.  Henrietta. 

4.  Louisa,  died  1883. 

The  following  account  of  the  Sinclairs  of  Forss  is 
taken  from  a  MS.  of  the  late  William  Sinclair  of 
Freswick,  written  apparently  about  1770. 

Many  pretend  just  now  to  call  the  legitimacy  of  this 
family  (of  Forss)  in  question  :  Who  do  it  now  but  such 
whose  family's  ly  under  an  imputation  of  spuriousness 
not  easily  to  be  wipt  out,  with  the  most  of  which  I  'd 
hold  no  argument,  as  being  bastards  of  yesterday.  Such 
circumstances  as  they  think  seem  to  favor  their  assertion 
are  easily  acounted,  from  the  method  of  their  first  outset, 
a  manner  that  they  despise,  but  which  in  the  opinion  of 
those  who  will  judge  with  candour  and  propriety,  adds  a 
lustre  to  them  not  here  to  be  paraleled,  as  it  is  evident 
that  even  in  that  unpolished  time,  when  nothing  but  the 


THE  SINCLALRS  OF  FORSS.  137 

tyes  of  blood  were  regarded  by  others,  our  progenitor  The  Smciairs  of 
bravely  stood  forth  in  support  of  his  friend's  family, 
neither  valuing  the  connexion  he  had  with  Lord  C. 
(Caithness),  or  the  effects  of  the  fury  of  his  followers.  At 
a  time  when  from  Lord  S.'s  (Sutherland's)  minority  he 
had  little  hopes  of  assistance,  and  reward  far  distant,  he 
could  have  no  other  motive  than  that  of  a  generous 
friendship  for  Lord  S.  and  an  indignation  at  G.  E.  of  C. 
(George,  Earl  of  Caithness)  devilish  intentions  against 
Lord  S.'s  family.  But  to  proceed  to  our  intended  narra- 
tive, 'tis  not  to  be  wondered  at  if  we  consider  family 
accidents,  that  they  had  no  patrimony.  William  (the 
second  Earl  of  Caithness)  died  fighting  for  his  country ; 
his  son  John  might  have  done  something  *for  David,  but 
as  they  both  fell  together  in  Orkney,  where  his  interest 
or  love  for  his  brother  led  him  (we  are  not  to  enter  on 
the  merits  of  the  expedition) ;  the  tye  of  cousin-german 
was  not  strong  enough,  thought  young  William  and 
George;  he  accordingly  offered  his  service  to  Lord  S.,  who 
accepted  of  them. 

1.  DAVID  SINCLAIR,  second  son  of  William,  Earl  of 
Caithness,    married    a    daughter    of   Sir    Urquhart    of 
Cromarty.     He  fell  with  his  brother,  Earl  John,  in  an 
insurrection  in  Orkney,  and  left  a  son — 

2.  WILLIAM,  who  inheriting  the  active  spirit  of  his 
father,  on  Earl  C.  denying  him  his  friendship,  appealed 


138  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FORSS. 

The  sinciairs  of  to  Earl  Sutherland,  who  gave  him  a  tack  on  his  estate  in 
Caithness,  and  made  him  his  overseer   oy   chamberlain. 
After  Lord  S.'s  death,  Lord  C.  intended  attacking  his 
lady  at  Dunrobin.     William  got   account   of  this,    and 
posted  thither  with  intelligence.    The  lady  only  asked  him 
not  to  follow  his  chief;  he  promised  he  would  not,  and  after-* 
wards  raised  and  headed  the  men  on  her  estates  in  Caith- 
ness, gave  battle  to  Lord  C.,  and  routed  him.     After  the 
expiration  of  her  son's  minority,  he  had  a  charter,  dated 
Scrabster  Castle   1560,  signed  by  Lord  S.,  Countess  of 
Errol,  his   lady,   and   Robert,  Bishop  of  Caithness,  for 
sundrie  lands  therein  particularly  mentioned ;  and  he  is 
therein  designed  after  the  preamble  of  the  charter,  "  viro 
honorabili  Gulielmo  St.    Clair  propter  fidelitatem,"  etc. 
'Tis  to  be  imagined  that  such  people  as  Lord  S.  and  R.  S. 
(Robert  Stuart),  the  king's  brother,  would  know  what  he 
had  a  right  to.     He  married  a  daughter  of  Murray  of 
Pulrossie,  a  then  flourishing  family  in   Sutherlandshire, 
and  by  her  left  issue — 

3.  DAVID,  who  had  lands  in  Thurso  East,  and  died 
there  without  succession.     Forss  was  possest  after  by  his 
brother — 

4.  ALEXANDER,  who  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Sir  Sinclair  of  Mey.      He  was  one  of  the   lairds  from 
Caithness  brought  up  a  surety  for  Lord  Caithness  after 
his  burning  Sandside's  corn-yard ;  he  insisted  for  a  back- 
bond  from  the  Earl,  which  he  would  not  give,  and  which 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FORSS.  139 

led  the  others  into  a  belief  of  there  being  no  necessity  for  The  sinciairs  of 
it ;  he  told  them  when  he  was  turned  out  as  insane,  "  I  'm 
the  fuil  the  day  ;  mony  o'  ye  w'd  wish  y'ed  been  so  or  this 
day  yomon  ; "  this  happened  literally,  for  the  others  paid 
the  forfeiture  of  their  obligations  which  Lord  C.  did  not 
relieve  them  of.  Among  many  who  suffered  was  Bruce  of 
Stanstill.  He,  A.  S.,  had  two  sons,  David,  who  died  in 
A.S.'s  lifetime,  and — 

5.  GEORGE,  who  carried  on  the  line  of  his  family. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  Sinclair  of  Dun,  by  whom  he 
had  a  daughter,  married  to  Grote  of  Warse,  of  whom 
Malcolm  Grote,  Esq.,  is  descended.  In  his  time  the 
Mercat  of  Dun  was  transferred  from  Cross-Kirk  to  Dun  ; 
he  next  married  a  daughter  of  James  Sinclair  of  Murkle, 
by  whom  he  had  issue,  one  son,  John  ;  he  was  a  very- 
weak  man,  and  she  very  vain  and  designing  ;  she  gave  off 
all  the  thirlages,  and  'tis  said  got  a  head-dress  for  allow- 
ance to  build  a  miln  at  Brims  :  she  married  Sutherland  of 
Giese,  and  did  everything  against  her  son ;  and  to  hide 
her  and  her  husband's  iniquity  forced  the  son  to  marry  a 
daughter  of  Giese's,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  George,  who 
succeeded ;  and  George  was  succeeded  by  John,  eldest  son 
of  John  by  a  second  marriage  with  Barbara,  daughter  of 
Sinclair  of  Rattar.  By  John's  third  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
Murray,  daughter  of  Pennyland,  there  remains  no  issue- 
male.  This  John  married  a  daughter  of  Sinclair  of  Olrig, 
and  left  one  son,  Alexander,  now  of  Forss. 


140  THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FORSS. 

The  sinciairs  of  JOHN  SINCLAIR  OF  FORSS  above  mentioned  as  married 
to  Barbara,  daughter  of  Sinclair  of  Rattar,  left  two  other 
sons,  James  and  William. 

James  of  Holbornhead  married  Jean,  second  daughter 
of  Robert  Sinclair  of  Giese,  Advocate,  and  has  issue  : — 
Lieutenant  Robert  Sinclair,  63d  Regiment  of  Foot. 
William  Sinclair,  Surgeon  34th  Eegiment  of  Foot. 
James  Sinclair. 

William    Sinclair,     M.D.,     married    Barbara,    third 
daughter  of  the  above  Robert  Sinclair  of  Giese,  Advo- 
cate.   He  died  27th  July  1767,  leaving  issue  one  son- 
William  St.   Glair,  Senior  of  King's   College,  Edin- 
burgh, and  late  of  King's  and  Marischal's  College 
of  Aberdeen. 

Note. — On  this  Pedigree  it  is  to  be  observed  : — 
Firstly.  That,  while  there  is  a  general  concurrence  in 
the  fact  that  the   ancestor  of  the  family  was  a  David 
Sinclair,  there  is  no  evidence  that  William,  second  Earl 
of  Caithness,  had  a  son  of  this  name. 

Secondly.  The  charter  of  Forss  in  1560  was  granted 
by  John,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  and  his  wife,  Eleanor,  to 
David  Sinclair  of  Dun,  his  son,  William,  and  other  sons 
in  succession.  This  David  Sinclair  died  in  1560,  and 
Earl  John  lived  till  1567,  when  he  left  his  eldest  son  a 
minor,  no  doubt;  but  the  charter  of  1560  could  not 
have  been  for  services  rendered  to  him.  Earl  John  him- 
self was  also  a  minor  in  1529  when  his  father  died,  and 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  FOKSS.  141 

possibly  the  charter  of  1560  might  have  been  granted  to  The  sinciairs  of 
David  Sinclair  for  services  rendered  to  him.  But,  on  the 
other  hand,  according  to  the  pedigree,  David  Sinclair,  the 
alleged  son  of  Earl  William,  was  killed  in  Orkney  in  1529. 
In  1561  Earl  John  granted  to  William  Sinclair  a  precept 
admitting  him  a  vassal  in  Forss. 

Thirdly.  William  Sinclair's  wife  was  certainly  Janet 
Urquhart,  and  not  Janet  Murray,  as  appears  from  a 
sasine  in  their  favour.  David  Sinclair,  son  of  William, 
married  Janet  Murray  of  Pulrossie. 


THE   SINCLAIES    OF    ACHINGALE 
AND    NEWTON. 

The  Sinclairs  of          I.    WlLLIAM  SINCLAIR,  FIRST  SINCLAIR  OF  ACHINGALE 

AND  NEWTON,  was  the  son  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of 
Sixpenny  or  Sixpennyland.  Of  what  family  Alexander 
Sinclair  was  is  somewhat  uncertain.  He  has  been  sup- 
posed to  have  been  of  the  Sinclairs  of  Dun,  but  it  is  more 
probable  that  he  was  of  the  Sinclairs  of  Assery  and 
Lybster,  and  that  he  was  a  son  of  William  Sinclair  of 
Hoy,  whose  eldest  son  was  named  Alexander,  and  of 
whom  there  is,  otherwise,  no  particular  account.  Alex- 
ander Sinclair  married,  in  1697,  Beatrice,  only  daughter 
of  George  Sinclair,  second  son  of  James  Sinclair,  first  of 
Lybster,  and  she  and  her  husband,  on  the  supposition 
that  the  latter  was  the  son  of  William  of  Hoy,  stood  in 
the  relation  of  cousins.  By  this  marriage  Alexander  Sin- 
clair had  several  sons  and  daughters,  among  whom  were  :— 

William,  mentioned  in  1733,  as  second  son. 

Francis. 

Sidney. 

Margaret,  eldest  daughter,  who  married  in  1722 
Alexander  Calder  of  Achingale. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  ACHINGALE  AND  NEWTON.  143 

II.  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR  OF  ACHINGALE,  married  in  The  sinciairs  of 
1738  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Dun- 
beath.  Sir  James  had  acquired  the  right  of  reversion  of  the 
wadsets  of  Achingale,  held  by  the  Calders ;  and  about  1738 
or  1740,  he  had  redeemed  the  lands,  which  he  thereafter 
sold  to  William  Sinclair,  by  whom  a  Crown  charter  was 
expede  in  1752.  William  Sinclair  had  a  son  and  two 
daughters  : — 

1.  Alexander. 

1.  Janet. 

2.  Margaret. 

III.  ALEXANDER  SINCLAIR  OF  ACHINGALE,  who  was 
a  merchant  in  Jamaica,  succeeded  his  father,  and  was 
infeft  in  1768.     He  died  without  issue. 

IV.  JANET  SINCLAIR  OF  ACHINGALE  succeeded  her 
brother,  and  died  unmarried  in  1783,  and  was  succeeded 
by  her  sister,  Margaret. 

V.  MARGARET  SINCLAIR  OF  ACHINGALE  married,  in 
1798,  Alexander  Sinclair,  a  son  of  Alexander  Sinclair, 
tenant  in  Houstry,  Halkirk,  who  had  been  for  some  time  in 
Jamaica.     In  1804  they  sold  the  lands  to  William  Sinclair 
of  Freswick  for  £7000.     There  was  no  issue  of  the  mar- 
riage, and,  so  far  as   known,  the  family  of  Sinclair  of 
Achingale  is  extinct. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  LYBSTER,  REAY. 

The  sinciairs  of        BEFORE   the   rise   of  the   Sinciairs    of   Lybster,    in 

Lybster,  Reay.    T       _ 

Latneron,  there  were  ISinclairs  of  Lybster,  in  Reay, 
dating  from  at  least  1636.  Their  origin  is  uncertain, 
but  it  is  conjectured  that  they  may  have  been  the 
.descendants  of  Henry  Sinclair,  who  died  about  1614,  a 
natural  son  of  John,  Master  of  Caithness,  and  who  got 
from  his  brother,  the  Earl  of  Caithness,  a  wadset  of 
Downreay  and  part  of  Lybster.  Or  possibly  this  family 
may  have  been  of  the  Sinciairs  of  Dunbeath,  who  held 
Downreay  and  other  lands  in  Reay. 

In  1636  there  is  mention  of  DAVID  SINCLAIR  OF  LYB- 
STER and,  in  1638,  of  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR  OF  LYBSTER,  who 
then  appears  as  witness  to  a  deed  by  Oliver  Sinclair  of 
Spittal,  son  of  Richard  of  Brims,  and  grandson  of  William 
Sinclair  of  Dunbeath.  David  and  William  were  probably 
brothers,  each  inheriting  a  portion  of  Lybster.  William 
had  a  daughter,  Margaret,  who,  as  heir  to  her  father, 
executed  a  renunciation,  in  1648,  in  favour  of  her  cousin, 
James  Sinclair  of  Lybster. 

David  Sinclair  of  Lybster  had  two  lawful  sons  : — 

1.  James,  fiar  of  Lybster  in  1637,  who  died  between 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  LYBSTER,  RE  AY.  145 

1648  and  1661.     He  married  Margaret  Macleod,  The  smciairs  of 
and  had  a  son  and  a  daughter :  David,  who  is  y  s 
mentioned   down   to    1670;   and   Barbara,  who 
married  Donald  Campbell,  Elder  in  Thurso. 
2.  Robert,  who  with  consent  of  his  brother,  James, 
married,  in  1640,  Barbara,  daughter  of  George 
Sinclair   in  Downreay,  the  brother  of  Richard 
Sinclair  of  Brims,  and  the  son  of  William  Sinclair 
of  Dunbeath. 


THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  HOY  AND  OLDFIELD. 


>  Master  of  Berriedale,  granted,  in  1630,  a  wadset 
field.  of  Hoy  to  one  WILLIAM  SINCLAIR,  who  held  also  the 

lands  of  Cairdscroft,  Oldfield,  and  Hallo  wtoft,  near 
Thurso.  This  William  Sinclair  is  a  different  person  from 
William  Sinclair  of  Hoy  and  Scotscalder,  and  is  probably 
"  William  Sinclair  in  Thurso  East,"  who  is  mentioned  in 
the  proceedings  against  the  Earl  of  Caithness  and  others 
for  the  forcible  abduction,  in  1668,  of  William  M'Kay 
of  Scourie.1  By  his  wife,  Katharine  Anguson,  William 
Sinclair  had  two  sons  :  — 

1.  James,  fiar  of  Hoy  in  1676,  and  in  Hoy  in  1700. 

He  married  Elizabeth  Sinclair,  who,  in  1730,  is 
described  as  relict  of  James  Sinclair  of  Oldfield. 

2.  William,   Commissary  of  Caithness,  who  married 

Elizabeth,   eldest   daughter  of  James   Innes  of 

Sandside.     He  had  two  sons  :  — 

1.  William,  who  got  from  his  grandfather,  in 
1690,  a  disposition  to  Oldfield,  Cairdscroft, 
and  Hallowtoft,  which  he  disponed  to  his 
brother  in  1729. 

1  M'Kay,  p.  366. 


THE    SINCLAIKS  OF  HOY  AND  OLDFIELD.  147 

2.  Robert,  Hector  of  Bulfen,  in  Essex,  who,  in  The  sinciairs  of 
1731,  disponed  Oldfield,  Cairdscroft,  and  field. &n' 
Hallowtoft  to  William  Innes  of  Sandside. 
James  Sinclair  of  Hoy  and   his   wife  disponed  the 
wadset  of  these  lands  to  Sir  George  Sinclair  of  Clyth, 
through  whom  it  came  into  the  hands  of  his  nephew, 
William  Sinclair  of  Hoy  and  Scotscalder. 


THE  MANSON-SINCLAIRS  OF  BRIDGEND. 

I.  THE  ancestor  of  the  Hansons  of  Bridgend  was 
Alexander  Manson,  merchant  in  Wick,  who,  in  1681  and 
1685,  sat  for  that  burgh  in  the  Scottish  Parliament ;  and 
in  1693  was  Commissioner  for  the  county.  In  1690  he 
purchased  the  estate  of  Watten  from  Lord  Breadalbane 
for  about  £1952  sterling.  He  acquired  Flex  from  the 
Baynes;  and  in  1698  he  purchased  from  Coghill  of 
that  Ilk  the  lands  of  Coghill,  which  he  had  previously 
held  in  wadset.  He  married  Isabel  Hay,  and  appears  to 
have  had  several  children.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
George. 

II.  GEOKGE  MANSON  OF  BRIDGEND  married,  first, 
Katharine,  daughter  (it  is  supposed)  of  John  Sinclair  of 
Rattar,  and,  secondly,  a  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Dunbar  of 
Northfield.  He  died  in  1 749,  and  had  three  daughters  :— 

1.  Isabel,  who  died  unmarried. 

2.  Margaret,  who  was  served  heir  to  Isabel  in  1742. 

3.  Sidney. 

Reference  is  made  to  the  "  Notes  "  on  the  Dunbars  of 
Northfield,  as  to  George  Manson's  marriage  to  Miss 


THE  MANSON-SINCLAIRS  OF  BRIDGEND.  149 

Dunbar.       If   any   such    marriage    took   place,    George  The  Manson- 

J  Sinclairsof 

Manson  was  twice  married,  as  there  is  no  doubt  that  he 
married  Katharine,  fourth  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of 
Rattar,  and  "sister  of  Freswick,"  that  is,  of  William 
Sinclair.1 

In  October  1702  George  Manson  settled  his  estate  on 
his  daughters,  Isabel  and  Margaret,  who  seem  to  have 
been  then  his  only  children  born,  and  it  is  thought  that 
their  mother  was  Katharine  Sinclair,  and  their  father's 
first  wife,  as  his  marriage  to  Sir  .Robert  D  unbar' s  daughter 
does  not  appear  to  have  taken  place  earlier  than  1728, 
and  was  probably  considerably  later.2 

III.  SIDNEY  MANSON  OF  BRIDGEND  married  William, 
son  of  George  Sinclair  of  Barrock,  and  had  a  son  and  a 
daughter : — 

1.  Robert  Manson  Sinclair. 

1.  ,  who   married   Mr.   Bogie,  and  whose   only 

daughter,  Catharine,  married  John  Rose,  Sheriff- 
Substitute  of  Caithness,  on  the  death  of  her 
cousin-german,  Elizabeth,  Mr.  Rose's  first  wife. 

IV.  ROBERT  MANSON  OF  BRIDGEND  married  Isabel, 
daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Assery.  She  died  in  1779, 
and  he  died  about  1790.  He  was  of  very  convivial 

1   Vide  William  Sutherland  of  Forse's         2  Vide  Answers  for  Miss  Sinclair  of 

evidence  in  Dunbeath  Reduction  case,  Southdun  to  Petition  of  .Robert  Manson  - 

and  statement  by  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Sinclair,  1781. 
Barrock. 


150  THE  MANSON-SINCLAIRS  OF  BKIDGEND. 

The  Hanson-  habits,  and  "  Brigend's  Bowl/'  famed  in  his  own  time  as 
ever  in  need  of  sugar,  whisky,  or  water,  thereby  calling 
for  constant  additions,  is  still  locally  "  a  Bowl  of  renown." 
In  1788  the  estate  was  judicially  sold,  and  was  purchased 
by  Sir  Robert  Anstruther  for  £12,450.  Robert  Manson 
Sinclair  had  three  sons  alive  in  1772,  and  five  daughters : — 

1.  William. 

2.  George,  a  Lieutenant  in  the  army,  who  was  served 

heir  in  1782,  cum  beneficio. 

3.  Robert,  who  was  a  writer  in  Edinburgh. 

Of  the  daughters  there  is  no  information  except  as 
regards  two : — 

1.  Catharine,  who  died  unmarried. 

2.  Elizabeth,1  the  second  daughter,  who  was  the  first 

wife  of  John  Rose,  Sheriff- Substitute  of  Caithness, 
and  Collector  of  Customs  at  Thurso,  and  had 
issue. 

1  Contract  of  Marriage,  October  1772. 


THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  FORSE. 

I.  THE  descent  of  this  family  from  that  of  WILLIAM, 
EARL  OF  SUTHERLAND,  who  died  in  1370,  is  unquestioned, lands  of  Forse- 
although  there  are  conflicting  statements  among  genealo- 
gists as  to  the  immediate  descendants  of  that  Earl.  On 
10th  November  1345  he  obtained  a  charter  from  King 
David  ii.,  "  Willelmo  comiti  de  Sutherland  et  Margaretse 
sponsae  suas  sorori  nostrae  carissimse."  According  to 
Douglas,  who  follows  Sir  Robert  Gordon,  he  was  the 
great-grandfather  of  Robert,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  and  of 
his  brother,  Kenneth,  ancestor  of  the  Sutherlands  of  Forse. 
In  the  Sutherland  Peerage  case,  1771,  Captain  George 
Sutherland  of  Forse,  a  claimant  to  the  dignity,  averred 
his  ancestor,  Kenneth,  to  have  been  the  son  of  this  Earl 
William,  founding  on  a  charter,  in  1408,  of  the  three 
davoch  lands  of  Nottingham,  granted  by  Mariot,  daughter 
and  co-heiress  of  Ranald,  Lord  Cheyne,  with  consent  of 
Andrew  of  Keith,  her  son,  "  Kenatho  de  Sutherlandia 
filio  quondam  Willelmi  comitis  Sutherlandise."  It  is 
certain  that  Kenneth  Sutherland  was  brother  of  Earl 
Robert,  and  that  he  received  from  him,  in  1400, 
Drummuy,  Backies,  and  Torish,  in  Sutherland. 


152  THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  FORSE. 

The  Slither-  Nottinghame,    Nothingham,    or   Noddingham,   as   it 

lands  of  Forse.    .  .         i  ...  .  , 

is  variously  written,  is  mentioned  as  early  as  1272, 
when  there  was  a  Canon  of  Caithness  styled  "  Henry  of 
Nothingham." 

Kenneth  Sutherland  married  the  daughter  and  heiress 
of  Keith  of  Forse,  and  the  family  style  then  became 
"  Sutherland  of  Forse."  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
John. 

II.  JOHN  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE. 

III.  EICHARD  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  was  served  heir 
to  his  father,  John,  in  1441,  and  was  infeft  in  the  lands 
in  Sutherland,  granted  to  his  grandfather,  as  appears  by 
an  inquest  held  in  1471,  at  the  Head  Court  of  John,  Earl 
of  Sutherland. 

On  24th  October  1451,  Richard  Sutherland  granted 
a  bond  to  the  Chaplain  of  St.  Andrew's  Chapel  in  Golspie, 
in  the  following  terms  : — 

x, 

"  Be  it  made  kend  to  all  men  be  yer  present  Letters  Me 
Richard  of  Sutherland  of  Forse  to  half  giffen  and  grantyt  and  be 
yer  present  Letters  giffis  and  grantis  fourtie  shilling  of  silver  of 
usual!  monie  of  Scotland  zherly  of  annual  rent  of  the  mealis  of  the 
Toune  of  Drommy  in  Sutherland  fra  me  and  myn  ayris  for  ever- 
more to  ye  perpetuall  Chaplane  of  Saint  Andrewis  Chapell  of 
Golspy  als  frely  quietly  peaceably  and  honorably  as  ony  annual- 
rent  is  giffyn  to  ony  Kirk  or  Chappell  within  the  Kynryk  of 
Scotland  for  and  to  pray  for  me  and  the  soulis  of  my  forbearis 


THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  FORSE.  153 

and  successouris  forontyn  ony  agane  callyng  or  revocatioune  of  The  Suther- 
me  or  myn  ayris  and  that  attour  giff  it  hapnys  me  or  rnyn lands  of  Forse* 
ayris  to  cum  to  the  contrar  of  ye  foresaid  gyfft  as  God  forbyde  we 
do  I  charge  ye  bishop  of  Cathness  as  he  wyl  answer  to  Almighty 
God  to  curse  and  to  enterdyt  me  and  myn  ayris  till  we  cum  to  full 
satisfaction  and  amendyng  to  Saint  Andrew  and  to  the  Chaplane 
perpetuale  of  Golspy.  In  Wytness  of  ye  quhilk  thyngis  becaus 
I  had  no  Sele  proper  of  myn  awyn  I  haff  procuryt  with  instaens 
the  Sele  of  an  honorable  man  Wyllam  of  Sutherland  of  Berry- 
dale  sone  and  apparand  ayr  to  Alexander  of  Sutherland  of  Duffhous 
to  be  set  and  appendyt  to  thir  letters  at  Dunrobyn  the  twenty 
four  day  of  October  the  zheir  of  our  Lorde  a  thousande  four 
hundreth  fyfftie  and  one  zheiris  befor  yir  witness  John  Eiil  of 
Sutherland  Marg*  Baize  his  Spous  Sir  Donald  Cormackson,  Kobert 

Henryson  of  Innerboll  Thomas  Eobertson  of John  Park 

Gillane,  Henry  of  Hillam,  John  Androwson  mare  of  fier  of  the 
Erll  of  Sutherland  and  dievress  others." 

In  the  "  Origines  Parochiales  "  this  bond  is  erroneously 
stated  to  have  been  granted  by  Robert  Sutherland  of 
Forse. 

IV.  JOHN  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  succeeded  his  father, 
Eichard.      In    1505    King    James   iv.1   granted   him   a 
charter  of  the  farm  and  teinds  of  Backies. 

He  had  a  son,  Eobert,  who  died  before  him,  leaving 
three  sons,  Richard,  William,  and  Alexander. 

V.  RICHARD  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  made  up  a  title 

1  18th  May  1471,  Inquisition. 
TJ 


154  THE   SUTHERLANDS  OF   FORSE. 

The  Suther-      to  his  grandfather,  John,1  and,  dying  without  issue,  was 
succeeded  by  his  brother,  William. 

VI.  WILLIAM   SUTHERLAND  OF   FORSE  married,  in 
1558,  Janet,  daughter  of  William  Sinclair  of  Olrig,  and 
died  without  issue  in  May  1564.      In  September  1563 
Queen  Mary  granted  to  him  and  his  wife,  Janet  Sinclair, 
a  charter  of  lands  in  the  Glen  of  Dunrobin. 

Of  William  Sinclair  of  Olrig  no  other  notice  is  found. 
The  Sinclairs  of  Olrig,  who  flourished  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  were  of  the  Mey  family,  the  first  of  the  name 
having  been  George,  fifth  son  of  Sir  James  of  Canisbay. 
In  1540,2  and  down  to  1564,  we  find  William  Sinclair, 
Chaplain,  Rector  of  Olrig,  and  latterly  Vicar  of  Latheron, 
a  son  of  Henry  Lord  Sinclare.  There  was  also,  in  1542,3 
a  William  Sinclair,  son  of  William,  second  Earl  of  Caith- 
ness, but  concerning  him  there  are  no  particulars. 

VII.  ALEXANDER  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  4  made  up 
a  title  to  his  brother,  William,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  Donald. 

VIII.  DONALD  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  had  a  son  and 
a  daughter : — 

1.  Alexander,  his  successor. 

1.  Margaret,  "Lady  Dun,"  wife  of  David  Sinclair  of 

1  P.  of  C.,  10th  November  1546.  3  Legitimation,  1542. 

2  Legitimation,  1540.  4  P.  of  C.,  24th  January  1574. 


THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  FORSE.  155 

Dun.      After  his   death    she    married    Charles 
CaldeU  of  Lynegar.    By  her  first  marriage  she lands  of  Forse* 
had  a   daughter,    Jean    Sinclair,    who    married 
George  Sinclair  of  Forss. 

IX.  ALEXANDER   SUTHERLAND    OF    FORSE  was,   in 
March  1602,1  served  heir-male  and  of  entail  to  his  grand- 
uncle,  William,  in  the  lands  of  Drummuy,  Backies,  and 
Torish,  and  he  seems  to  have  died  before  1 645.2    He  had — 

1.  James,  fiar  of  Forse,  his  successor. 

2.  John,  in  Rangag,  ancestor  of  the  Sutherlands  of 

Langwell. 

3.  Adam,  who  is  mentioned  in  a  charter  to  James  by 

his  father  as  "  meo  filio  legitimo." 

1.  Janet,  who  married,  in  1621,  Francis,  second  son 

of  James  Sinclair,  first  of  Murkle,  by  whom  she 
had  a  son,  James,  who  died  without  issue. 

2.  Elizabeth,  who  married,  in  1643,  William  Sinclair 

of  Dun,  and  had  no  issue. 

X.  JAMES  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  got  a  charter  from 
his  father   in   1633,  and  in  the  same  year  he  married 
Janet,3  eldest  daughter  of  Hugh  Gordon  of  Ballone,  in 
the  parish  of  Dornoch.      Janet  Gordon4  was  the  great- 
grand-daughter  of  Adam  Gordon,  Dean  of  Caithness,  son 

1  Retour,  1602.  3  Contract  of  Marriage.     Died  1612, 

2  P.  of  C.,  by  Earl  Marischal,  of  Forse,     set.  82. 

8th  November  1594.  4  Died  1529. 


156  THE  SUTHEKLANDS  OF  FORSE. 

TheSuther-  of  Alexander,  first  Earl  of  Huntly.  Her  grandfather 
was  John  Gordon  of  Drummuy,1  which  had  formerly 
belonged  to  the  Forse  family.  James  Sutherland  died 
before  1655,  and  in  that  year  his  widow,  "  Lady  Notting- 
ham," married  William  Rorison  or  Henderson,  wadsetter 
of  Wester  Nottingham,  by  whom  she  had  issue. —  Vide 
Henderson  of  Gersay. 

James  Sutherland  had  several  sons  and  five  daughters— 

1.  George,  his  successor. 

2.  Adam,  "  brother-german  of  George." 

3.  Robert. 

4.  Hugh. 

In  a  sasine,  dated  27th  September  1661,  mention  is 
made  of  Hugh  and  Robert,  as  "brothers"  of  George  of 
Forse. 

5.  Major  Alexander,  who,  according  to  a  MS.  pedigree 

in  the  possession  of  General  Pope,  is  mentioned 
as  of  Earnside  in  1641,  as  having  sold  it  in  1643, 
and  as  having  married  Jean  Campbell.  In  this 
pedigree  Robert  is  stated  as  third  son,  and  Hugh 
is  not  named. 

1.  Jean.2 

2.  Margaret. 

3.  Elspeth  or  Elizabeth,  who  married,  in  1663,  John 

Sutherland    of    Ausdale,3   with   consent   of  her 

1  Gordon's  History. 

2  Bond  of  Provision,  23d  January  1652. 

3  Contract  of  Marriage,  28th  November  1663. 


THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  FORSE.  157 

brothers,    George    and    Robert.       In    1669    she  The  suther- 
niarried  James  Sutherland  of  Langwell. 

4.  Katharine. 

5.  Esther. 


XI.  GEORGE  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  made  up  a  title 
to  his  grandfather,  Alexander,  as  his  father  had  been 
infeft  on  a  disposition  in  his  favour,  to  be  hold  en  of  his 
father,  Alexander  Sutherland.1  He  married  Jean,  eldest 
daughter  of  Robert  Gray  of  Skibo,  the  cousin  of  his 
grandmother,  Janet  Gordon.  The  Grays  of  Skibo  are 
said  to  be  descended  from  Andrew,  Lord  Gray,  who  died 
in  1514,  and  whose  great-grandson,  George  Gray  of 
Skibo  and  Sordell  (who  died  in  1629),  married  Janet, 
daughter  of  John  More  Gordon  of  Embo,  and  niece  of 
Hugh  Gordon  of  Ballone.  Of  this  marriage  there  was  a 
son,  Robert  Gray  of  Skibo,  who  was  father  of  Jean  Gray. 
Her  provision,  in  security  of  which  she  was  infeft  in 
Forse,  in  1660  and  1661,  was  200  merks  and  8  chalders 
of  victual. 

George  Sutherland  of  Forse  had  four  sons  : — 

1.  George,  his  successor. 

2.  Robert,  his   immediate   younger  brother,  who  is 

mentioned  as  in  Wester  Nottingham  and 
Achastle.  He  is  afterwards  styled  of  Achin- 
arras,  on  his  marriage,  in  1696,  to  Esther 
Sutherland,  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Langwell, 

1  Pr.  of  Cl.  by  Earl  of  Caithness,  20th  February  1660. 


158          THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  FORSE. 

The  suther-  who,  as  widow  of  William  Budge  of  Toftingall, 

lands  of  Forse. 

liter ented  these  lands. 

3.  William,  also  styled  of  Wester  Nottingham,  and 

of  Giese,  which  he  purchased  in  1691  from  Lord 
Breadalbane.  He  appears  to  have  been  twice 
married — first,  to  Katharine  Sinclair  ;  and, 
secondly,  about  1684,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir 
James  Sinclair  of  Murkle,  and  widow  of  George 
Sinclair  of  Forss.  After  his  second  marriage, 
his  wife  being  liferented  in  Forss,  he  was  styled 
"  of  Forss." 

By  his  first  marriage  he  had  two  sons  and  a  daughter, 
viz.  William,  fiar  of  Giese,  Adam,  and  Jane  or  Janet, 
who,  in  1695,  married  John  Sinclair  of  Forss. 

4.  Captain  Alexander  Sutherland,  who  was  styled  of 

Burrigill,  and  who  appears  from  1687  to  1693. 
In  1728-30  there  resided  at  Breckachy,  on  Dunbeath 
estate,  a  Hugh  Sutherland,  who  appears  to  have  been 
factor  for  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,  and  who  is  mentioned  in 
1721  as  "  brother-german  to  the  laird  of  Forse."  It  is 
improbable  that  he  can  have  been  the  same  Hugh  who 
is  mentioned  in  1661,  as  brother  of  George  of  Forse,  and 
it  is  concluded  that  he  was  a  son  of  this  George  Suther- 
land, eleventh  of  Forse,  and  the  brother  of  the  succeeding 
George,  the  laird  of  Forse  in  1721,  who  succeeded  to  the 
lands  in  1706.  Hugh  Sutherland,  in  Breckachy,  had  a 
son,  John.  There  is  no  further  account  of  this  branch  of 
the  family. 


THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  FOBSE.  159 

XII.  GEORGE  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  succeeded  his  The  suther- 

lands  of  Forse. 

father,  and  had — 

1.  Francis,  fiar  of  Forse,  in  1720,  who  died  without 

issue.1 

2.  John,  afterwards  of  Forse. 

3.  Katharine,  who  married  William  Sinclair  of  Fres- 

wick,2  with  consent  of  her  mother,  Elizabeth 
Sinclair.  In  a  pedigree  of  the  family  by  Mr. 
Hughes,  George  Sutherland's  wife  is  named 
Jean,  of  the  family  of  Dun,  but  in  the  original 
contract  of  marriage  of  her  daughter  Katharine, 
it  is  certain  that  her  name  was  Elizabeth.3 


XIII.  JOHN  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  married  ^Emilia, 
daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Ulbster.4  She  survived 
him,  and  died  in  1789.  John  Sutherland  is  described 
by  a  contemporary  as  having  been  a  gentleman  of  very 
universal  knowledge,  who  employed  himself  much  hi 
reading  and  epistolary  correspondence,  drank  a  moderate 
glass  of  wine  with  his  friends,  and  seldom  exceeded  the 
bounds  of  discretion  in  drinking.  He  was  of  a  sedate 
rather  than  a  jocular  turn  of  mind.  He  had  two  sons 
and  four  daughters  : — 

1.  George,  his  successor. 

2.  John  Campbell,  afterwards  of  Forse. 

1.  Harriet,  who  married  Colonel  Sutherland  of  the 

1  P.  of  C.,  27th  July  1706.  «  Barrock  Charter-chest. 

2  Contract  of  Marriage,  26th  October  1724.         4  Crown  charter,  1740, 


160  THE   SUTHERLANDS  OF  FORSE. 

The  suther-  Scotch  Brigade,  Dutch  Service,  and  died  without 

lands  of  Forse.' 

issue. 

2.  Elizabeth,    who    married    George  Sinclair,    W.S., 

second  son  of  James  Sinclair  of  Durran,  and  had 
a  son,  Lieutenant- Colonel  John  Sutherland  Sin- 
clair, Royal  Artillery,  who  had  issue. 

3.  Mary,  who  married  Captain  William  Maclean  of 

the  40th  Regiment,  and  had  three  sons  and 
four  daughters.  One  of  the  daughters,  Jane, 
married  Captain  John  Henderson  of  Aimster 
and  Castlegreen,  and  had  issue  one  son,  Major- 
General  William  Henderson  of  the  Royal 
Artillery,  who  is  unmarried,  and  four  daughters, 
who  all  died  unmarried. 

4.  Katharine,  who  married  Professor  Williamson  of 

Glasgow  University,  and  had  issue. 

XIV.  CAPTAIN  GEORGE  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  was 
served  heir  to  his  father  in  1765,  and  died  unmarried  in 
1773.1  In  1760  he  was  Lieutenant  in  the  87th  Regi- 
ment, and  in  the  same  year  he  was  appointed  Captain  in 
the  Earl  of  Sutherland's  Highlanders,  in  which  he  served 
until  1763. 

Captain  Sutherland  was  a  claimant  for  the  dignity  of 
Earl  of  Sutherland,  as  the  nearest  collateral  heir-male  of 
the  ancient  Earls  of  Sutherland,  preferably  to  Sir  Robert 
Gordon,  and  to  Elizabeth  (afterwards  Duchess  Countess 

1  Retour,  5th  August. 


THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  FORSE.  161 

of  Sutherland),  all  the  collateral  branches,  who,  in  1514,  TheSuther- 
or   subsequently,  were   nearer  to   him   and   his   family, la 
being  extinct. 

XV.  JOHN  CAMPBELL  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  was 
retoured  heir  to  his  brother  in  1776.     He  married  Mar- 
garet Munro,  and  died  in  1828,  leaving  three  sons — 

1.  John. 

2.  George. 

3.  Captain  Francis,  who  is  married,  and  has  issue. 

XVI.  JOHN  SUTHERLAND  OF  FORSE  died  unmarried, 
on  28th  February  1846,  in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  his 
age.1     He  served  for  some  time  as  Cornet  in  the  9th 
Lancers,  and  afterwards  in  the  56th  Foot  as  Lieutenant. 

XVII.  GEORGE  SUTHERLAND,  NOW  OF  FORSE,  mar- 
ried Miss  Sheppard,  and  has  issue.2 

In  the  London  Times,  in  1871,  there  appeared  a 
notice  of  the  death,  on  13th  May,  at  Bernard  Street, 
Russell  Square,  of  Charlotte  Mary,  wife  of  James  Robert 
Judge,  daughter  of  the  late  Captain  Norman  Campbell 
of  the  71st  Regiment,  and  "  great-grand-daughter  of 
George  Sutherland  of  Forse."  On  17th  June  Mr.  Judge, 
on  being  written  to  by  General  Henderson,  replied,  "  My 
wife  always  told  me  that  her  father's  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  the  George  Sutherland  of  Forse  who  con- 

1  Retour,  16th  May  1832.  2  Retour,  26th  January  1848. 

X 


162  THE  SUTHERLANDS   OF  FORSE. 

The  suther-  tested  the  Sutherland  peerage,  and  who  was  declared  by 
Lord  Mansfield,  delivering  the  judgment  of  the  House 
of  Lords,  to  have  proved  his  pedigree  as  heir-male ;  but 
the  peerage  being  a  female  fief,  went  to  his  niece,  the 
daughter  of  the  then  late  Earl.  Of  the  truth  of  this 
my  wife  had  no  doubt,  or  she  would  have  said  so. 
I  received  your  note  last  Monday,  and  should  have 
answered  it  at  once  had  I  not  hoped,  by  waiting  a  few 
days,  to  be  in  possession  of  my  wife's  pedigree,  for  which 
I  had  written  to  Mrs.  Sharpe,  my  wife's  cousin,  who  is 
the  daughter  of  Captain  Donald  Campbell,  and  of  one  of 
the  Digby  family.  Upon  receipt  of  the  pedigree,  should 
I  obtain  further  information,  I  shall  do  myself  the 
pleasure  of  communicating  it  to  you."  No  further  com- 
munication was  received  from  Mr.  Judge.  Captain 
Sutherland  had  certainly  no  legitimate  issue,  nor,  in  so 
far  as  known,  had  he  any  family. 


THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  LANGWELL. 

THE  modern  estate  of  Langwell  was  formerly  known 
as  "  Berriedale,"  and  was  possessed  by  two  families  ofweii. 
Sutherlands.  Those  of  the  first  family,  descended  from 
John  Begg,  son  of  Nicolas,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  were 
styled  "  Sutherlands  of  Berriedale,"  and  the  other  family, 
whose  immediate  progenitors  were  the  Sutherlands  of 
Forse,  descended  from  Kenneth,  a  younger  brother  of 
John  Begg,  were  known  as  the  "  Sutherlands  of  Lang- 
well."  Berriedale  originally  belonged  to  the  Cheynes, 
and  it,  together  with  Duffus  (Dove  House),  in  Morayshire, 
was  acquired  by  the  Sutherlands  through  the  marriage  of 
one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heiresses  of  Ranald,  "  Lord 
Cheyne,"  to  Nicolas  Sutherland,  brother  to  William,  Earl 
of  Sutherland.  From  the  Sutherlands  the  lands  came, 
also  by  marriage,  into  the  family  of  Oliphant ;  and  they 
were  thereafter  acquired  by  the  Caithness  family  of 
Sutherlands.  In  the  seventeenth  century  the  estate  then 
known  as  Langwell  was  acquired  from  Lord  Breadalbane 
by  William  M'lan  or  Sutherland,  grandson  of  Alexander 
Sutherland  of  Forse. 

Mr.  Calder  has  a  story  of  a  "  William  Sutherland  of 


164  THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  LANGWELL. 

The  suther-      Berrieda]e,    a   young    man    of    gigantic    stature,"   who 
well!*0  accompanied  John,  Earl  of  Caithness,  in  his  disastrous 

expedition  to  Orkney,  in  1529,  and  who,  he  says,  was 
proprietor  of  Berriedale,  and  ancestor  of  the  Brabster 
family.  In  1451  there  was  a  William  Sutherland  of 
Berriedale,  the  son  and  apparent  heir  of  Alexander 
Sutherland  of  I)uffus,  and  whose  second  son,  William,  was 
laird  of  Quarrelwood.  Quarrelwood  had  also  a  son, 
William,  who  was  fifth  Baron  of  Duffus,  and  his  son  and 
heir,  William,  was  killed  at  Thurso  in  1529,  that  being 
the  same  year  in  which,  according  to  Calder,  William 
Sutherland  of  Berriedale  was  slain  in  Orkney.  But  even 
if  there  really  had  been  a  William  Sutherland  of  Berrie- 
dale in  the  Orkney  expedition,  he  was  not  an  ancestor  of 
the  Sinclair-Sutherlands  of  Brabster,  for,  beyond  ques- 
tion, their  Sutherland  connection  is  derived  from  the 
Forse  branch  of  the  Sutherlands  of  Langwell. 

ALEXANDER  SUTHERLAND,  ninth  laird  of  Forse, 
who  succeeded  his  father  in  1602,  had  a  son,  John,  in 
Rangag,  a  township  on  the  estate  of  Forse.  John  Suther- 
land had  at  least  two  sons,  William  and  David,  of  whom 
the  elder  seems  to  have  been  William,  commonly  called 
"M'lan"  (son  of  John),  and  in  1660  he  and  his  father 
were  joint  tacksmen  of  Langwell.  In  1664  William 
Sutherland  obtained  a  wadset  on  Langwell  from  the  Earl 
of  Caithness;  in  1691  he  got  further  wadset  rights,  in- 
cluding therein  the  lands  of  Eisgill,  in  favour  of  himself 


THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  LANG  WELL.  165 

and  his  son,  James,  from  Lord  Breadalbane ;  and  in  the  The  Suther- 
same  year  they  acquired  an  absolute  heritable  right  to  well!  ° 
these   lands.      Thus  William  M'lan  or  Sutherland  was 
the  first  Sutherland  of  Langwell. 

David,  the  second  son  of  John  Sutherland  in  Rangag, 
is  designed  "of  Langwell,"  and  he  may  have  been  a 
wadsetter  of  these  lands.  He  seems  to  have  had  several 
children,  but  we  find  notice  only  of  his  "  eldest  son,"  John, 
who  was  his  executor,  and  who  in  1678  granted  an  as- 
signation in  favour  of  James  Sutherland  of  Ausdale,  his 
cousin-german,  of  a  bond  for  600  merks  which  had  been 
granted  by  his  grand-uncle,  James  of  Forse,  to  his  "  good 
sir,"  John  in  Rangag,  and  by  him  assigned  to  his  son, 
David,  the  father  of  John  Sutherland. 

I.  WILLIAM  SUTHERLAND  or  M'!AN  had  several 
children : — 

1.  James,  his  eldest  son  and  successor. 

2.  Adam,  in  Langwell,  who  married  Janet,  daughter 

of  Donald  Henderson,  sometime  in  Sibster,  there- 
after in  Achalibster,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth 
Sinclair,  the  grand-daughter  of  James  Sinclair  of 
Borlum  and  Thura.  His  eldest  son,  James,  mar- 
ried, in  1703,  Beatrice,  daughter  of  James  Sinclair 
of  Lybster.  His  second  son  was  John ;  and  he 
had  a  daughter,  Esther,  who  married,  in  1716, 
Benjamin  Henderson  in  Achalibster. 

3.  David,  in  Ausdale,  the  third  son  of  William  Suther- 


166  THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  LANGWELL. 

The  suther-  land,  married  twice.     By  Catharine  Poison,  his 

lands  of  Lang-  * 

wel1-  first  wife,  he  had  two  sons,  William,  wadsetter  of 

Westerloch,  and  first  of  that  family,  and  Angus. 
These  two  sons  are  described  as  his  eldest  and 
second  sons  by  Catharine  Poison,  in  a  bond  of 
provision  by  their  father,  dated  in  1697,  by  which 
he  assigns  to  them  2000  merks,  part  of  4000 
merks  due  to  him  by  his  elder  brother,  James  of 
Langwell.  David  Sutherland's  second  wife  was 
Mary  Sutherland,  of  a  family  of  Sutherlands, 
tacksmen  of  Latheron.  By  her  he  had  a  daughter, 
Elizabeth,  who  married,  in  1720,  Donald  Calder 
of  Strath.  One  of  the  witnesses  to  her  contract 
of  marriage  was  her  relative,  "  Francis  Suther- 
land, fiar  of  Forse." 

4.  George  Sutherland,  in  Ausdale  and  in  Braehig- 

lish,  is  mentioned  as  the  brother  of  David  in 
Ausdale. 

5.  Anne,  the  only  daughter  of  William  Sutherland, 

in  so  far  as  is  known,  married,  first,  John  Innes  of 
Oust,  and,  secondly,  Alexander  Calder  of  Achin- 
gale.  She  had  a  son,  John  Innes,  to  whom  his 
uncle,  James  Sutherland  of  Langwell,  was  tutor- 
dative,  and  a  daughter,  Marion  Innes,  who  was 
married  in  1703,  with  consent  of  her  mother  and 
her  mother's  then  second  husband,  to  John  Cal- 
der, son  of  Alexander  Calder  in  Winlass.  For  her 
tocher  she  had  2800  merks  liferented  by  her 


THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  LANGWELL.  167 

mother,  and  which  was  in  the  hands  of  James  The  suther- 
Sutherland  of  Langwell.  ^eii.S  C 

II.  JAMES  SUTHERLAND  OF  LANGWELLS,  alias  "  Meikle 
James,"  had  no  less  than  four  wives. 

In  1669  he  married  his  cousin,  Elspeth,  daughter  of 
James  Sutherland  of  Forse,  and  widow  of  John  Suther- 
land of  Ausdale,  and  she  having  had  the  liferent  of  this 
place,  Jame^s  Sutherland  was  after  his  marriage  designed 
"  of  Ausdale."  By  this  marriage  he  does  not  seem  to 
have  had  any  issue. 

His  second  wife  was  Anne,  daughter  of  Patrick 
Sinclair  of  Ulbster,  and  widow  of  Francis  Sinclair  of 
Stirkoke.  By  her  he  had  a  daughter  : — 

Esther,  afterwards  of  Langwell. 

His  third  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William 
Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,  by  whom  he  had  no  family. 

He  married,  lastly,  Anne,  daughter  of  Robert  Sinclair 
of  Durran,  and  had  by  her  two  daughters  :— 

1.  Anne,  afterwards  of  Risgill  or  Swiney. 

2.  Janet,  who  married  George  Sinclair  of  Brabster. 

This  marriage  was  the  first  connection  between 
the  Sinclairs  of  Brabster  and  the  Sutherlands. 
James  Sutherland  died  in  1708,  and  was  succeeded  in 

Langwell  by  his  daughter,  Esther ;  and  in  Risgill  by  her 

sister  Anne. 

III.  ESTHER  SUTHERLAND  OF  LANGWELL  was  twice 


168  THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  LANG  WELL. 

The  suther-      married.1     Her  first  husband  was  William,  son  of  Donald 
wen.  Budge  of  Toftingall,   by  whom  she  had  a  son,  James. 

She  married  thereafter,  in  1708,  Robert  Sutherland  of 
Achastle,  immediate  younger  brother  of  George,  twelfth 
laird  of  Forse  ;  and  he  was  after  his  marriage  styled  "  of 
Achinarras,"  in  which  lands  his  wife  was  liferented  as  the 
widow  of  William  Budge.  She  had  two  sons  and  two 
daughters : — 

1.  James,  her  successor. 

2.  Major  George  Sutherland,  Midgarty,  Sutherland- 

shire,  who  had  two  sons  and  eight  daughters ; 
Lieutenant- Colonel  George,  15th  Regiment  of 
Foot ;  Robert ;  Esther,  who  married  Captain 
William  Sutherland,  Shibbercross ;  Janet,  who 
married  John  Gray  of  Jamaica ;  Jane,  who  mar- 
ried the  Reverend  Alexander  Sage,  Kildonan ; 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Joseph  Gordon,  Navi- 
dale ;  Charlotte,  who  married  Mr.  M'Farquhar 
of  Jamaica ;  Williamina,  who  married  Robert 
Baigrie,  Midgarty ;  Roberta,  who  married  Robert 
Pope,  Navidale ;  and  by  a  second  marriage, 
Janet,  who  married  Kenneth  M'Kay,  Torball. 

1.  Margaret,  married  in  1732  to  Alexander  M'Kenzie, 

younger  of  Ardloch,  whose  father,  John,  second 
of  Ardloch,  was  cousin-german  of  John,  second 
Earl  of  Cromarty. 

2.  Elizabeth,    who    married    Benjamin    Williamson, 

second  of  Banniskirk. 

1  Ccmtract  of  Marriage,  1696. 


THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  LANGWELL.  169 

IV.  JAMES   SUTHERLAND  or  LANGWELL,   "a  jovial,  The 


hearty  man,  who  liked  a  glass  of  good  claret  at  home  and  ^"n.8  ° 
abroad,  and  was   exceedingly  merry  over   it,"  married, 
in    1738,    Rachel,    daughter   of    Sir   James    and   Dame 
Elizabeth  Dunbar  of  Hempriggs,  and  had  a  son  and  a 
daughter : — 

1.  Robert  of  Langwell. 

1.  Elizabeth,  who  married,  in  1761,  Walter  Gray,  son 
of  Patrick  Gray  of  Easter  Lairg. 

William  Sinclair  of  Freswick,  writing  to  Budge  ^f 
Toftingall  in  1741,  mentions  that  Lord  Duifus,  Sir 
William  Dunbar,  Durran,  and  Scotscalder,  had  gone  to 
Thurso  East,  and  that  Lady  Janet,  believing  that  they 
had  done  so,  not  so  much  out  of  kindness  "  as  to  get  a 
sett  of  drink  "  and  to  see  how  political  matters  were  going, 
made  Langwell — who  had  also  arrived  at  the  castle — 
landlord  at  dinner  (Ulbster  being  from  home),  "with 
orders  to  make  an  example  of  them."  These  he  obeyed 
punctually,  so  that  some  of  the  party  had  to  be  "  oxter- 
handed,"  or  supported  from  the  boat  by  which  they 
crossed  the  Thurso  river  to  Bowermadden's  house  in 
Thurso,  where  they  lodged. 

Y.  ROBERT  SUTHERLAND,  LAST  OF  LANGWELL,  mar- 
ried, in  1762,  his  cousin,  Anne  Sinclair,  heiress  of 
Brabster.  For  the  issue  of  this  marriage  vide  Brabster. 

In  1775  Langwell  was  sold  to  William  Gray,  Iter 
Boreale,  Jamaica,  Provost-Marshal  of  that  Island. 

Y 


170  THE  SUTHERLANDS  OF  LANGWELL. 

The  suther-  It  is  believed  that  Robert  Sutherland  had  a  brother 

lands  of  Lang-         ,  .  ..  _  . 

Weii.  who  resided  in  Brecnm,  but  his  name  and  history  are  not 

known. 

In  the  following  description  of  this  last  laird  of  Lang- 
well,  written  in  1769,  will  be  recognised  the  hand  of  the 
late  William  Sinclair  of  Freswick  : — 

"Langwell  was  in  town  at  our  market,  or,  as  he 
designs  himself,  Captain  Robert  Sutherland  of  Langwell 
and  Brabster,  Esq.  His  inconsistencies  you  have  heard 
on  several  occasions  long  ere  now :  I  shall  therefore  give 
you  an  account  of  his  procession  at  Fres wick's  burial. 
First  comes  himsell,  mounted  on  a  gray  nag  so  and  so 
shaped,  low-sized  crape  hat-band,  and  a  streamer  from 
each  cock  of  the  back  part,  red  coat  and  vest,  white 
breeches,  mounted  with  black,  lappels  and  cuffs  to  the 
coat  of  that  color ;  on  the  right  and  left  about  a  yard 
behind  him,  and  as  much  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  line 
in  which  he  rode,  two  gilly-weet-feet,  each  with  a  leashed 
grayhound ;  then  followed  three  old-looking  footmen  in 
abrest  of  the  line  in  which  the  first  three  stood.  Captain 
John  Sinclair  told  me  that  he  saw  him  at  Wick,  his 
machine  drawn  by  four  horses  of  different  sizes  and  colors, 
each  of  his  postillions  in  long  black  cloaks,  hats  with 
cockades  to  'em,  hunters'  whips,  a  sword  on  one  side  and 
a  pistol  on  the  other  ;  furnish  me  with  such  an  equipage 
galloping  thro'  a  street.  I  had  forgot  to  say,  in  his  proces- 
sion at  the  burial,  in  a  cold  rainy  day,  he  had  his  horse 
covered  with  a  net  made  of  white,  red,  and  green  silk." 


THE  SINCLAIR  SUTHERLANDS  OF  RISGILL 
OR  SWINZIE. 


ON  the  death  of  James  Sutherland  of  Langwell,  in  The  Sinclair 
1708,  his  second  daughter,  Anne,  succeeded  to  the  estate 


of  RisgiU.  In  1717  she  married  Alexander  Sinclair  ofSwinzie' 
Swinzie,  now  called  Lochend,  a  property  which  he  got 
from  his  father,  George  Sinclair  of  Barrock,  he  being  the 
eldest  son  of  Barrock'  s  second  marriage  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  David  Murray  of  Clairden.  After  Anne 
Sutherland's  marriage,  the  estate  of  Risgill  was  called 
Swinzie,  and  the  family  took  the  name  of  Sutherland, 
or  Sinclair  Sutherland.  Alexander  Sutherland  died  in 
1738;  leaving  a  son,  James. 

JAMES  SUTHERLAND  OF  SWINZIE  is  mentioned  as 
being  a  "  very  facetious,  entertaining  man,  who  loved  to 
pass  his  jokes."  In  1739  his  mother  disponed  the  estate 
to  him,  and  in  1743  he  married  his  cousin-german,  Jean, 
daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Durran.  She  was  known 
as  "  Lady  Swinzie,"  and  resided  during  the  latter 
part  of  her  life  in  Thurso,  where  she  died,  a  very  old 


172    THE  SINCLAIR  SUTHERLANDS  OF  RISGILL  OR  SWINZIE. 

The  Sinclair      woman,  in    1819.      James   Sutherland  had   a  son   and 

Sutherland^  of     .  -.  ,          ,   ,  , 

Kisgiii  or         three  daughters  :  — 

Swinzie. 


1.  Anne,  who   married   Captain   Patrick    Sinclair   of 

Durran,  E.N. 

2.  Janet. 

3.  Elizabeth,    who    married    Benjamin    Henderson, 

tacksman  of  Clyth.  The  late  Dr.  James  Hender- 
son, Clyth,  and  several  other  sons  and  daughters, 
were  the  issue  of  this  marriage.  Mrs.  Henderson 
and  one  of  her  sons  perished  by  shipwreck  in 
Wick  Bay. 

JOHN  SUTHERLAND  OF  SWINZIE  was  served  heir  to  his 
father  in  1777  ;  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Donald 
Williamson  of  Banniskirk,  and  died  without  issue  in  1789. 

PATRICK  SINCLAIR  SUTHERLAND  OF  SWINZIE  was 
eldest  son  of  Captain  Patrick  Sinclair  of  Durran,  and 
was  served  heir  to  his  uncle  in  1789.  In  the  same  year 
Swinzie,  Bisgill,  and  Munsary  were  sold  for  £5500  to 
Lieutenant  John  Gordon,  Sutherlandshire,  who  was  the 
first  of  the  Gordons  of  Swinzie. 

1  James  Sutherland  built  the  present  house  of  Swiney  about  1750. 


THE  MO  WATS  OF  BUCHOLLIE  AND 
FKESWICK. 

THE  family  of  Muat  or  Mowat  is  said  to  have  origin-  The  Mowats  of 
ally  borne  the  name  of  Montealt,  from  lands  so  designated  Freswick. an 
in  Flint,  North  Wales ;  and  the  name  occurs  in  the  Rag- 
man Roll   and   other   documents   as   "de   Monte  alto." 
They  are  supposed  to  have  settled  in  Scotland  in  the 
reign  of  David  L,  the  principal  family  having  been  that 
of  Buchollie,  now. called  Hatton,  near  TurrifF,  in  Aber- 
deenshire. 

The  date  of  the  Mowats'  first  connection  with  Caith- 
ness is  uncertain.  The  earliest  writ  extant  concerning 
the  lands  of  Freswick  is  a  charter  granted  by  King 
Robert  Bruce  to  one  of  this  family;  and  between  1406 
and  1413  the  Duke  of  Albany,  as  Regent  of  Scotland, 
confirmed  a  wadset  of  Freswick  and  Aukingill,  granted 
by  William  Mowat  of  Loscraggy  to  his  son  John — the 
same  person  who,  in  1419,  was  killed  at  the  chapel  of 
St.  Duthus,  at  Tain,  by  Thomas  M'Kay  of  Strathmore. 
Loscraggy  was  in  the  barony  of  Buchollie,  in  Aberdeen. 
There  is  an  indenture,  dated  in  1495,  between  Alexander 
Mowat  of  Loscraggy,  as  nearest  and  lawful  heir  of 


174       THE  MO  WATS  OF  BUCHOLLIE  AND  FRESWICK. 

The  Mowats  of  William  of  Clyne,  his  cousin,  and  William  of  Clyne,  son 
Freswick.  of  the  said  William,  whereby  Alexander  Mowat  confirms 
to  William,  the  son,  a  right  granted  to  him  by  his  father 
of  Knock-clyne,  Clyne-leish,  etc.,  in  Sutherland;  and 
William  confirms  to  Alexander  the  lands  of  Cultalord, 
Drynie,  and  others  in  Ross,  now  the  estate  of  Cadboll. 

Buchollie  Castle,  a  short  distance  from  the  house  of 
Freswick,  of  which  there  still  exist  considerable  and 
picturesque  ruins,  was  the  ancient  residence  of  the 
Caithness  Mowats,  and  it  is  supposed  to  occupy  the 
same  site  as  Lambaburgh,  which  was  a  fort  and  strong- 
hold in  1142.  The  name  of  the  castle  and  the  family 
title  were,  no  doubt,  derived  from  the  Aberdeenshire 
property  of  the  Mowats,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  their 
lands  in  Caithness,  which  form  the  modern  estate  of 
Freswick,  went  by  the  name  of  Buchollie. 

From  the  time  of  William  Mowat,  in  1413  to  1522, 
there  is  an  interval  during  which  no  mention  is  found  of 
the  Laird  of  Buchollie.  In  the  latter  year,  however, 
Magnus  Mowat  of  Loscraggy  and  Freswick  was  infeft  in 
Harpsdale. 

In  1548  Patrick  Mowat  of  Buchollie  entered  into  a 
contract  with  Malcolm  Halcro  of  that  Ilk,  in  Orkney,  for 
the  marriage  of  their  son  and  daughter. 

In  1549  Patrick  Mowat  sold,  under  reversion,  the 
lands  of  Tofts,  Overtyre,  and  Aukingill,  in  the  barony 
of  Freswick,  to  Alexander  Mowat  in  Tofts ;  and  in 
1554  Patrick  is  mentioned  as  "Lord  of  Buchollie  and 


THE  MO  WATS  OF  BUCHOLLIE  AND  FRESWICK.        175 

Freswick."       Whether    this    Patrick   was    the    son    ofTheMowatsof 
Magnus    Mowat   of    1522   does   not    appear.       Patrick 
Mowat  had  a  son,  Patrick,  and  probably  a  daughter. 

In  Hay's  "  Sinclairs  of  Roslyn,"  John  and  Patrick 
Sinclair  of  Ulbster  are  said  to  have  been  sons  of  "  Mar- 
garet Mowat,  daughter  of  James  Mowat  of  Buchollie  and 
Lucy  Gordon,  daughter  of  the  Laird  of  Gight."  William 
Sinclair,  their  father,  died  in  1573,  and  if  Margaret 
Mowat's  father  was  James,  he  may  have  been  also  the 
predecessor  and  father  of  Patrick  Mowat  of  1549  and  1554. 

PATRICK  MOWAT  OF  FRESWICK  AND  HARPSDALE  was 
served  heir  to  his  father  in  these  lands  in  1565,  and 
appears  on  record  until  1593.  He  is,  no  doubt,  the 
Patrick  Mowat  of  Buchollie  who  is  mentioned  in  the 
Spalding  Papers,  referred  to  by  Calder,  as  witness  to  a 
testamentary  deed  by  Andrew,  Earl  of  Errol,  dated  at 
Slains  Castle,  3d  October  1585. 

Patrick  Mowat  married  Christian  Ogilvie,  and  had 
two  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Magnus. 

2.  James. 

1.  Isabella,  who  was  the  first  wife  of  William  Bruce 
of  Stanstill,  and  died  in  1601,  as  appears  from 
the  inscription  on  a  gravestone,  originally  placed 
inside  the  kirk  of  Canisbay,  and  now  standing  in 
the  kirkyard,  wherein  she  is  named  as  "Lady 
Stanstill,  daughter  of  the  Laird  of  Buchollie." 


176      THE  MO  WATS  OF  BUCKOLLIE  AND   FRESWICK. 

TheMowatsof        MAGNUS   MOWAT  OF  FEES  WICK   obtained   a  charter 

Bucnollie  and     .,  _  . 

from  his  father  in  1602.  He  married  Isabella  Cheyne, 
relict  of  John  Kennedy  of  Kermuick,  Aberdeenshire,  a 
family  which  held  possessions  for  some  time  in  the  island 
of  Stroma.  In  1605  Magnus  sold  his  lands  of  Harpsdale 
to  the  Earl  of  Caithness.  He  died  in  1 634,  and  appointed 
his  son-in-law,  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,  to  be  his 
executor.  He  left  2000  merks  to  Thomas  Mowat,  son  of 
James  of  Ardo  ;  and  he  directed  Eoger  Mowat,  advocate, 
to  give  titles  to  his  brother  and  successor,  James.  He 
had  two  daughters  : — 

1.  Elizabeth. 

2.  Christian,  who  was,  in  1601,  infeft  in  Loscraggy 

and  other  lands.     She  married  Sir  John  Sinclair 
of  Geanies  and  Dunbeath. 

JAMES  MOWAT  OF  FKESWICK  obtained  a  precept  of 
clare-constat  in  1634  as  heir  to  his  brother,  Magnus. 

In  1634  there  was  an  agreement  between  Patrick 
Mowat  of  Buchollie  and  James  Mowat  of  Freswick,  by 
which  the  latter  became  bound  to  dispone  Freswick  to 
his  grandson,  Magnus. 

KOGER  MOWAT  OF  BUCHOLLIE,  Advocate,  obtained  a 
Crown  charter  in  1635;  and  in  1644  a  charter  of  novo- 
damus,  on  which  he  was  infeft  in  1645.  Probably  these 
charters  relate  only  to  the  Aberdeenshire  estate,  and  it 
is  thought  that  this  Koger  Mowat  of  Buchollie  was  the 


THE  MOW  ATS  OP  BUCHOLLIE    AND   FRESW1CK.       177 

same  who  ioined  Montrose  as  a  Royalist,  and  who  was  The  Mowats  of 

Buchollie  and 

slain  at  the  battle  of  Alford  in  1645.  In  1629  he  had 
apprized  Swinzie  and  Brabstermyre  from  the  Mowats, 
who  were  then  the  owners  of  these  properties,  and  in 
1644  he  is  designed  as  heritable  proprietor  of  these  lands. 

SLR  GEORGE  Mo  WAT  OF  BUCHOLLIE  was,  in  1653, 
served  heir-male  to  his  father,  Roger,  in  the  lands  of 
Freswick,  Burnside,  Harlie,  Middletown,  Oakengill, 
Strupster/and  others,  in  the  parish  of  Canisbay,  with  the 
patronage  of  the  kirk  of  Canisbay,  which  belonged  to  the 
family  in  1610,  and  which  had  all  been  united  with  the 
Aberdeenshire  estate  into  the  barony  of  Buchollie. 

Although  it  is  presumed  that  Roger  Mowat  and  his 
son,  Sir  George,  were  descended  from  Patrick  Mowat  of 
Buchollie,  it  is  not  known  that  Patrick  was  the  son  of 
James  Mowat  of  Freswick,  and  it  is  probable  that  the 
estate  of  Freswick  had  come  to  be  possessed  by  a  branch 
of  the  family  separately  from  Buchollie.  It  may  thus 
have  been  only  the  superiority  of  the  Freswick  estate 
which  was  included  in  the  titles  made  up  by  Roger 
Mowat  and  his  son,  Sir  George. 

MAGNUS  MOWAT  OF  BUCHOLLIE,  the  grandson  of 
James  Mowat,  was  the  last  Mowat  of  Freswick.  In 
1651  he  married  Jean,  daughter  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of 
Latheron.  In  1661  Freswick  was  sold  to  William  Sin- 
clair of  Rattar,  grandson  of  Sir  John  of  Greenland,  and 
it  has  ever  since  belonged  to  the  Sinclair  family. 

z 


THE  MO  WATS  OF  BRABSTERMYRE  AND 
SWINZIE. 

The  Mowats  of  BRANCHES  of  the  family  of  Mowat  possessed  Brabster- 
niyre  early  in  the  sixteenth  century  ;  and  Swinzie  in  the 
seventeenth  century. 

I.  The  first  MOWAT  OF  BRABSTERMYRE  seems  to  have 
been  GILBERT  MOWAT,  who  in  1517  obtained  a  charter 
from  Keith  of  Inveruggie.     No  doubt  Brabstermyre  had 
formed  part  of  the  estates  of  the  Cheynes,  which  were 
acquired  by  the  Keiths,  through  their  alliance  by  mar- 
riage with  the  Cheynes.     Gilbert  Mowat  was  succeeded 
by  his  son,  Malcolm. 

II.  MALCOLM  MOWAT  OF  BRABSTERMYRE  got  a  pre- 
cept in  1541-42  from  William  Keith,  Earl  Marischal,  and 
his  spouse.     He  had  a  son,  John. 

III.  JOHN    MOWAT   OF  BRABSTERMYRE    got  a  pre- 
cept in  1583  from  George,  Earl  Marischal.     He  had  a  son, 
Andrew. 


THE  MOWATS  OF   BRABSTERMYRE  AND   SWINZIE.      179 

IV.  ANDREW  Mo  WAT  or  BRABSTERMYRE  got  a  pre-  The  Mowats  of 
cept  as  heir  to  his  father,  in  1595,  from  George,  Earl 
Marischal.  He  was  twice  married ;  first  to  Elizabeth 
Sinclair ;  and,  secondly,  to  Elizabeth  Knowles,  who  sur- 
vived him,  and  who,  in  1637,  is  designed  as  his  relict.  He 
had  three  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  George,  who  appears  to  have  died  before  his  father. 

2.  Patrick,  who  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1634. 

3.  William. 

1.  Elizabeth. 

2.  Jean. 

In  1627  Andrew  Mowat  and  his  son,  George,  sold 
Brabstermyre  and  Slicklie  to  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Geanies 
and  Dunbeath.  By  Sir  John  the  estates  were  settled  on 
his  nephew,  John  Sinclair,  first  of  Brabstermyre.  Andrew 
Mowat  died,  it  is  supposed,  about  1634. 

I.  The  Mowats  of  Swinzie  appear  about  1638,  when 
we   find  PATRICK    MOWAT   OF   SWINZIE,   who   married 
Elizabeth  Leask,  and  was  succeeded  by — 

II.  ALEXANDER  MOWAT  OF   SWINZIE,  who  married 
Jean,  daughter  of  Hugh  Halcro  of  that  Ilk. 

In  1644  Roger  Mowat,  Advocate,  appears  as  "  heri- 
table proprietor  "  of  Swinzie,  but  he  was  only  an  adjudg- 
ing creditor.  Alexander  Mowat  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  Patrick. 

2.  Hugh. 


180       THE  MOW  ATS  OF  BRABSTERMYRE  AND  SWINZIE. 

The  Mowats  of        HI.  PATRICK  MOWAT  or  SWINZIE  was  succeeded,  in 

Brabstermyre  . 

1679,  by  his  brother,  Hugh. 

IV.  HUGH  MOWAT  OF  SWINZIE  is  mentioned  as  late 
as  1687  and  1698.  In  the  latter  year  he  sold  the  lands 
to  George  Sinclair  of  Barrock,  and  they  are  now  known  as 
Lochend. 


THE  BUDGES  OF  TOFTINGALL. 

IN  a  manuscript  "Genealogie  of  the  Lairds  of  Tofting-  The  Budges  of 
gall,"  in  the  possession  of  Sir  Patrick  Murray  Threipland 
of  Fingask,  'much  information  is  contained  respecting  the 
earlier  history  of  the  family  of  Budge.  In  this  manuscript 
it  is  stated,  that,  "  Whence  they  came  or  took  their  name 
is  unknown  for  the  most  part,  but  by  common  tradition 
it  is  affirmed,  by  all  that  know  the  family,  that  they  are 
descended  of  the  family  of  Macdonald,  and  that  the  first 
of  this  family  that  came  to  Caithness  fled  thither  for 
slaughter,  and  changed  his  name  from  Macdonald  to 
Budge.  The  late  Sir  Donald  Macdonald  of  Sleat,  chief 
of  that  name,  affirmed  that  Budge  of  Tofbingall  are  of  his 
family,  as  he  pleaded  the  same  with  Donald  Budge,  then 
of  Tofbingall,  in  the  year  1685,  at  the  general  convention 
of  gentlemen  and  others  for  apprehending  the  Earl  of 
Argyle,  and  offered  to  prove  the  time  of  their  cadency  by 
authentick  writs  in  his  charter-chest."  This  Sir  Donald 
Macdonald  was  the  third  baronet  of  the  old  Macdonalds 
of  Sleat,  now  represented  by  Lord  Macdonald. 

Hugh  Macdonald  of  Sleat,  who  was   third   son   of 
Alexander,  tenth  "  Lord  of  the  Isles,"  is  said  to  have  had 


182  THE  BUDGES  OF  TOFTINGALL. 

The  Budges  of  a  son,  Donald,  who  was  called  "  Gallach,"  from  his  having 
been  fostered  in  Caithness,  by  his  mother's  relations  of 
the  Clan  Gunn,  to  which  she  belonged.  Donald  Gallach's 
grandfather,  Alexander,  died  in  1449,  and  as  the  Budges 
had  certainly  settled  in  Caithness  towards  the  end  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  their  descent  from  the  Macdonalds,  and 
their  connection  with  the  county,  through  Donald  Gallach, 
are  not  improbable. 

The  "  Genealogie  "  appears  to  have  been  written  about 
the  end  of  the  seventeenth  or  beginning  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  consists  principally  of  an  inventory  of  the 
older  family  writs,  several  of  which  are  stated  to  be 
"  not  legible  by  reason  of  the  badness  of  the  write, 
length  of  time,  and  ill-keeping."  On  the  margin  is 
written,  in  an  old  hand,  date  8th  February  1703,  the 
following  list  of  lairds  : — 

1.  Nicholas,  1400-4.  8.  James,      1600. 

2.  Nicholas,  1400-15.  9.  William,  1600. 

3.  Magnus,  1400-21.  10.  William,  1600. 

4.  Sir  Henry,  1400-37.  11.  Donald,    1600. 

5.  Nicholas,  1500.  12.  William,  1700. 

6.  Magnus,  1500.  13.  James. 

7.  William,  1500. 

The  earliest  writ  noticed  is  the  notarial  double  of  a 
charter  granted  by  "  Henricus  de  Sancto  Claro,  Comes 

Orchadiae,"    to   Budge,    of  tenements   in   Wick, 

but  it  bears  no  date.     A  charter  granted  by  one  or  other 


THE  BUDGES  OF  TOFTINGALL.  183 

of  the  two  Henrys,  Earls  of  Orkney,  would  carry  the  The  Budges  of 
Budges  back  to  between  1379,  the  date  of  the  creation  0fToftinga11' 
the  first  Henry  St.  Glair,  as  Earl  of  Orkney,  and  1420, 
when  the  second  Earl  of  the  name  died.     In  the  "  Origines 
Parochiales "   (vide  Olrick)  there  is  mention  of  Magnus 
Buge,  Eector  of  Olrick  in  1455  ;  and  Magnus  is  a  family 
name  among  the  Budges. 

The  first  legible  charter  is  one  said  to  have  been 
granted  to  Nicholas  Budge  of  Toftingale,  in  July  1403, 
but  as  the  granter  was  William  St.  Glair,  Earl  of  Caith- 
ness, it  is  evident  that  the  correct  date  is  1503,  for  since 
the  first  Earl  of  Caithness  of  that  name  did  not  acquire 
the  earldom  till  1455,  and  since  the  second  Earl,  William, 
succeeded  in  1476  and  died  in  1513,  the  charter  must 
have  been  granted  by  the  latter.  This  charter  would 
seem  to  have  been  granted  to  Nicholas  No.  1  in  the  list, 
who  appears  to  have  really  flourished  till  1504.  A  like 
correction  in  the  century  falls  to  be  made  in  the.  three 
subsequent  names  on  the  list.  Commencing,  then,  with 
the  charter  in  1503,  we  have — 

I.  NICHOLAS  BUDGE  OF  TOFTINGALL. — The  list  gives 
two  of  this  name,  but  as  Magnus,  the  third  on  the  list, 
appears  to  have  got  a  precept  from  John,  Earl  of  Caith- 
ness, dated  21st  February  1515  (in  MS.  1415),  as  heir 
to  Nicholas,  who  flourished  till  1515,  we  may  assume 
that  Nicholas  No.  1  is  the  first  laird  in  regard  to  whom 
we  have  written  evidence,  and  that — 


184  THE  BUDGES  OF  TOFTINGALL. 

The  Budges  of         II.  NICHOLAS  BUDGE  OF  TOFTINGALL  may  have  been 

Toftingall.  .  * 

ms  son. 


III.  MAGNUS  BUDGE  got  a  precept  as  heir  to,  and 
most  probably  as  the  son  of,  Nicholas  No.  2,  of  the  three- 
penny land  of  Toftingall  and  tenements  in  Wick.     There 
is  also  a  charter  by  "  Alexander,"  Bishop  of  Caithness, 
"  Magno  Budge  de  Wick,"  of  a  croft  and  tenements  in 
Wick,  dated  at  Wick,  10th  January  1421,  according  to 
the   MS.,  but  there  was   no  Bishop  Alexander  at   this 
date,  and  supposing  the  correct  date  to  be  1521,  the  then 
Bishop  was  Andrew,  and  not  Alexander.     Magnus  was 
succeeded  by  his  son,  Sir  Henry. 

IV.  SIR  HENRY  BUDGE  OF  TOFTINGALL  was  served 
heir  to  his  father,  Magnus,  on  19th  November  1537  (in 
MS.   1437).     He  was  treasurer  of  the  Church  revenues 
of  Boss,  and  was  doubtless  a  priest,  to  the  members  of 
which  order  the  title  of  "  Sir "  was  frequently  given. 
Various  treasurers  of  Ross  were  so  styled. 

On  29th  April  1538  Sir  Henry  entered  into  an  agree- 
ment with  Anna  Wemyss,  his  father's  "  relict,"  but 
apparently  not  his  own  mother,  whereby  she  sold  her 
right  of  terce  in  the  lands  of  Toftingall  for  seven  merks 
Scots  yearly.  He  appears  to  have  been  succeeded  by — 

V.  NICHOLAS  BUDGE  OF  TOFTINGALL,  who  held  a 
wadset  of  Brabsterdorran  in   1567,  and  who  occurs  in 


THE  BUDGES  OF  TOFTINGALL.  185 

1573  as  sitting  on  an  inquest.     In  what  degree  of  rela-  The  Budges  of 

5  .  Toftingall. 

tionship  he  stood  to  Sir  lienry  is  not  known. 

In  the  list  of  lairds  we  have  no  fewer  than  five,  viz. 
Magnus,  William,  James,  William,  and  William,  between 
Nicholas  (No.  5)  and  Donald  (No.  11),  who  was  in  posses- 
sion in  1627.  But  of  the  existence  of  these  five  there  is 
no  written  evidence,  and  it  is  not  very  probable  that  in 
the  short  space  of  fifty-four  years  there  could  have  been 
so  many  proprietors  in  succession. 

VI.  DONALD  BUDGE  or  TOFTINGALL  was  laird  in 
1627.  He  had  a  brother,  William,  who  is  the  same 
William  Budge  who  was  in  Bualglass,  on  the  estate  of 
Forse,  in  1627,  who  was  afterwards  in  Harpsdale.  He 
had  Mybster  and  Tormsdale  in  1660,  the  two  latter  being 
acquired  from  the  Earl  of  Caithness  for  5180  merks. 

There  is,  or  there  was,  about  the  beginning  of  this 
century,  a  local  tradition  that  a  house  at  Dale,  called 
"  the  Tigh-na-tuir,"  or  House  of  the  Tower,  was  built  by 
one  of  the  Budge  family  whose  father  bore  the  name  of 
"William  Ballugais."  The  word  Ballugais  is  not  Gaelic, 
and  in  the  absence  of  any  other  explanation  of  its  import, 
it  is  thought  that  "  William  Ballugais "  was  "  William 
Bualglass,"  or  William  Budge  in  Bualglass,  who  was 
afterwards  of  Mybster  or  Myribster  and  Easterdale.  The 
builder  of  the  House  of  the  Tower  would  consequently 
be  William's  son,  Donald.  This  house  can  scarcely  have 
been  the  existing  house  of  Dale. 

2  A 


186  THE  BUDGES  OF  TOFTINGALL. 

The  Budges  of         Donald  Budge  had  three  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

ToftingalL  „.„.  ?. 

1.  William,  ms  successor. 

2.  Alexander  in  Harpsdale,  whose  eldest  son,  Henry, 

it  is  supposed  was  the  Henry  Budge  who  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Patrick  Sinclair  of  South- 
dun,  who  was  his  cousin. 

3.  Nicholas,  who  was  in  Toftingall  from  1651  to  1682. 
1.  Margaret,  who  married  in  1651,  Alexander  Calder, 

in  Strath  of  Bylbster. 

VII.  WILLIAM  BUDGE  OF  TOFTINGALL  died  without 
issue,  about  1675. 

William  Budge  of  Easterdale  and  Mybster,  the  brother 
of  Donald  of  Toftingall,  married  Katharine  Murray,  pro- 
bably of  the  Pennyland  Murrays,  and  had  a  son,  Donald 
Budge,  styled  of  Easterdale.  About  1683,  after  the 
death  of  his  cousin-german,  William  Budge  of  Toftingall, 
Donald  Budge  appears  to  have  adjudged  that  estate; 
and  thereafter  it  and  the  tenements  in  Wick  passed  into 
the  Easterdale  and  Mybster  branch  of  the  family,  instead 
of  descending  to  the  younger  brothers  of  William  Budge 
of  Toftingall. 

VIII.  DONALD  BUDGE,  when  fiar  of  Easterdale  and 
Mybster,    married,    in    May    1672,1    Elizabeth,    second 
daughter  of  David  Sinclair  of  Southdun  and  his  wife, 
Jean,  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Ulbster. 

1  Contract  of  Marriage. 


THE  BUDGES  OF  TOFTINGALL.  187 

In  the  churchyard  of  Watten  the  following  inscription  The  Budges  of 
appears  on  the  gravestone  of  this  lady  : — 

"  Here  lies  the  Dust  of  ane  Honest  Discreit  and  Ciuill  Gentle 
Woman  Elizabeth  Sinclair  Meistress  of  Toftingall  who  departed 
from  Tyme  to  Eternitie  on  the day  of  August  1685." 

William  Budge  of  Toftingall  was  a  party  to  the  con- 
tract of  marriage. 

After  the  acquisition  of  Toftingall,  by  Donald  Budge, 
about  1683,  the  family  estate  comprehended,  as  it  still 
does,  Toftingall,  Easterdale,  Mybster,  and  Spittal. 
Spittal  was  apprized  by  Donald  Budge  about  1672  from 
Murray  of  Pennyland,  who  held  it  under  a  contract  of 
wadset  in  1648,  from  John  Sinclair  of  Brims. 

Donald  Budge  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  William,  his  successor. 

2.  David,   tutor  of  Toftingall,  who   married  Janet, 

daughter  of  John  Forbes,  Commissary  of  Caith- 
ness. 

3.  James,  Writer  to  the  Signet,  1738. 

1.  Jean,  eldest  daughter,  who  married  Hugh  M'Kay 

of  Strathy. 

2.  Katharine,    who    married   Alexander    Sinclair   of 

Olrig. 

IX.  WILLIAM  BUDGE  OF  TOFTINGALL  married,  in 
1696,  Esther,  daughter  of  James  Sutherland  of  Langwell, 
and  had  a  son,  James. 


188  THE  BUDGES   OF  TOFTINGALL. 

The  Budges  of  X.  JAMES  BUDGE  OF  TOFTINGALL  was  in  minority  at 
the  time  of  his  father's  death,  and  his  uncle,  David,  took 
the  management  of  the  estate  as  "Tutor  of  Toftingall." 
James  Budge  married  Janet,  daughter  of  John  Campbell 
of  Castlehill.  In  1751  he  executed  an  entail  of  the 
estates.  He  died  without  issue,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  cousin,  William. 

XI.  WILLIAM  BUDGE  OF  TOFTINGALL,  the  son,  it  is 
thought,  of  David  Budge,  was  a  Writer  to  the  Signet, 
and  died  1766.    He  had  two  sisters,  Jean,  who  married 
Richard  Murray  of  Pennyland  ;  and  Isabella,  who  married 
Patrick   Calder   of  Lynegar.      He    married    Katharine 
Sinclair,  who  survived  him,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been 
his  cousin,  daughter  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Olrig.    ( Vide 
Sinclair  of  Olrig).     He  had  two  daughters  :— 

1.  Janet. 

2.  Grizzel. 

XII.  JANET  BUDGE  OF  TOFTINGALL  died  unmarried, 
and  was  succeeded  by  her  sister,  Grizzel. 

XIII.  GRIZZEL  BUDGE  OF  TOFTINGALL  also  died  un- 
married. 

In  1799  the  succession  devolved,  under  the  entail, 
upon  the  descendants  of  Jean  Budge  and  Richard  Murray 
of  Pennyland,  in  the  person  of  their  daughter,  Janet 
Murray,  heiress  of  Pennyland  and  Toftingall. —  Vide 
Murray  of  Pennyland, 


THE  HURRAYS  OF  PENNYLAND. 

IT  is  probable  that  the  Caithness  branch  of  the  The.  Hurrays  of 
Hurrays  came  from  the  Horays  or  Hurrays  who  settled 
in  Sutherla*ndshire  at  a  remote  period,  and  who  figure 
largely  in  the  feuds  which  form  the  history  of  that  county 
in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries.  The  prin- 
cipal Caithness  families  of  the  name  are  those  of  Penny- 
land,  Clairden,  and  Castlehill,  all  of  them  nearly  allied. 

I.  The  first  "  HURRAY  OF  PENNYLAND  "  was  WILLIAM 
RONALDSON  or  HURRAY,  who,  in  1549,  got  a  charter  from 
the  Bishop  of  Caithness  of  tenements  in  Thurso,  and  who 
got  in  1559  a  charter  of  Penny  land  to  himself  and  his 
wife,  Isobel  Dundas.  Pennyland  had  previously  belonged 
to  the  Bishopric,  and  when,  in  1557,  Bishop  Robert  gave 
a  grant  of  Bishop  lands  to  John,  Earl  of  Sutherland, 
there  is  mention  of  "the  lands,  not  named,  of  John 
H'Ewen  and  William  Ranaldson,  except  the  crofts  of 
Scrabster."  In  1560  William  Ranaldson  of  Pennyland 
was  witness  to  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Forss  and  Baillie, 
granted  by  John,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  to  David  Sinclair  of 
Dun,  and  in  the  same  year  he  was  witness  to  a  charter, 


190          THE  HURRAYS  OF  PENNYLAND. 

The  Hurrays  of  also  by  the  Earl,  of  the  lands  of  Westerseat,  near  Wick, 
to  Hutcheon  Murray,  alias  Pyper,  from  whom  came  the 
name  of  "  Pyper's  croft,"  as  the  lands  were  afterwards 
and  still  are  called. 

William  Ranaldson  or  Murray  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  Walter,  his  successor. 

2.  John,  in  Clairden.     In  1568  his  father  resigned  in 

his  favour  tenements  in   Thurso,  and  mentions 
him  as  his  second  son. 


II.  WALTER    or    WALTER    WILLIAM    MURRAY    or 
PENNYLAND  had  a  son,  John,  who  is  named  along  with 
him  in  a  charter  in  1590. 

III.  JOHN  MURRAY  OF  PENNYLAND  got  a  charter  in 
1609  from  Alexander,  Bishop  of  Caithness,  to  himself  in 
liferent  and  to  his  son,  William,  in  fee.     In  this  charter  he 
is  designed   as   son  of  Walter   Murray.      He  had  two 
sons : — 

1.  William,  his  successor. 

2.  John. 

IV.  WILLIAM  MURRAY  OF  PENNYLAND  was  succeeded 
by  his  brother,  John. 

V.  JOHN  MURRAY  OF  PENNYLAND  obtained  in  1630 
from  John,  Bishop  of  Caithness,  a  precept  of  dare  constat 
as  heir  to  his  brother-german,  William.     In  1663  he  had 


THE  HURRAYS  OF  PENNYLAND.  191 

a  wadset  of  Scotscalder.     In  1674  there  is  a  charter  by  The  Hurrays  of 
him  and  his  wife,  Margaret  Murchison,  and  his  name  is  of 
frequent  occurrence  in  the  kirk-session  records  of  Thurso 
as  an  elder.     He  had  five  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  James,  his  successor. 

2.  Richard,  designed  of  Scotscalder,  in  virtue  of  the 

wadset  right  to  his  father  of  which  he  got  an 
assignation.  Richard  also  got  a  disposition  from 
his  father  in  1663  to  a  wadset  of  Lieurary,  and 
he  was  one  of  the  Commissary  deputes  of 
Caithness.  He  appears  to  have  been  twice  mar- 
ried, namely,  to  Jean  Cunningham,  ^and  to  Jean, 
daughter  of  Smith  of  Braco.  The  disposition  in 
1663  to  the  wadset  of  Lieurary  is  in  favour  of 
himself  and  Jean  Cunningham,  his  spouse,  and 
John,  their  eldest  son ;  and  in  December  of  the 
same  year  there  is  a  charter  of  confirmation  by 
the  Bishop  to  him  and  Jean  Smith.  His  children 
were  five  sons  and  three  daughters  :  John ;  Pat- 
rick, afterwards  of  Pennyland  ;  James ;  Richard, 
a  merchant  in  Leith  (who  had  a  son,  James,  and 
two  daughters,  Jean  and  Anne) ;  David,  in  Clair- 
den ;  Mary,  who  married  the  Rev.  James  Oswald ; 
Margaret,  who  married  the  Rev.  George  Oswald ; 
and  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Sinclair  of 
Forss. 

3.  David,  of  Clairden. 

4.  John,  a  Writer  in  Edinburgh  in  1667. 


192          THE  MURRAYS  OF  PENNYLAND. 

The  Murray s  of  5.    Francis. 

1.  Katharine,  who  married,  in   1670,   George  Gray, 

Minister  of  Loth;  and,  in  1674,  William  Gum- 
ming, Minister  of  Halkirk,  by  whom  she  had 
four  daughters  :  Elizabeth,  who  married  George 
Sinclair  of  Barrock;  a  daughter,  who  married 
a  Mr.  Bruce ;  Barbara,  who  married,  in  April 
1703,  Patrick  Sinclair  of  Brabsterdorran ;  and  a 
daughter,  who  married  Gumming  of  Craigmiln, 
Morayshire,  whose  daughter,  Rachel,  married 
William  Sinclair,  of  the  Customs,  Thurso,  of  the 
Dun  family. 

2.  Barbara,  who  married,  in  1656,  James  Innes  of 

Thursater. 

VI.  JAMES  MURRAY  is  designed  OF  PENNYLAND  in 
1670.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Captain  John  Wemyss  of and  Janet  Murray ; l 

and,  secondly,  to  Elizabeth  Willson,  who  was  his  relict  in 
1697. 

By  his  first  marriage  he  had  a  son  and  three  daugh- 
ters : — 

1.  James,  designed  as  his  eldest  lawful  son,  who 
seems  to  have  died  without  issue. 

1.  Elizabeth,  who  married  William  Campbell,  Sheriff- 
clerk  of  Caithness.2 

1  Contract  of  Marriage  and  Disposition  by  John  Murray  of  Port  of  Ormlie, 
1659.  2  Contract  of  Marriage,  1684. 


THE  HURRAYS    OF  PENNYLAND.  193 

2.  Janet,  who  married  Patrick  Sinclair  of  Southdun.    TheMurraysof 

3.  Margaret,  who  married  Evander  M'lvor  of  Loch- 

miln. 

By  his  second  marriage  he  had  an  only  daughter, 
Katharine,  who  married,  in  1690,  James  Murray  of  Glair- 
den. 

James  Murray  of  Penny  land  was  succeeded  by  Patrick, 
eldest  son  of  Richard  Murray  of  Scotscalder  and  his  wife, 
Jean  Smith.  Scotscalder  had  a  son,  John,  who  is  men- 
tioned as  the  "  eldest  son  "  of  him  and  Jean  Cunningham, 
but  he  may  only  have  been  eldest  son  of  that  marriage, 
and  may  have  died  before  the  succession  to  Pennyland 
had  opened  by  the  death  of  James  Murray. 

VII.  PATRICK  MURRAY  OF  PENNYLAND  married 

,  daughter  of  James  Cunningham  of  Geise.  In  1700 

he  acquired  the  right  of  reversion  of  the  wadset  of  Scots- 
calder, held  by  his  grandfather,  John.  From  1696  to 
1698  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  for  the  county 
in  the  Scottish  Parliament;  and  in  1701  he  entered  into 
a  feu-contract  with  Ulbster  in  regard  to  Scotscalder.  He 
had  seven  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  James,  his  successor. 

Pennyland  appears  to  have  been  adjudged  by  James 
Murray  of  Clairden  and  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Barrock, 
and  to  have  been  sold  to  James  Murray  for  £500,  the 
rental  being  then  £25.  Mr.  Sinclair  states  that  about 
the  middle  of  last  centuiy  the  usual  selling  price  of  land 

2  B 


194  THE  MURK  AYS  OF   PENNYLAND. 

The  Murrays  of  in  the  county  was  twenty  years'  purchase  of  the  free 

Pennyland.  ,    n 

rental. 

2.  Richard,  who  seems  to  have  taken  up  the  succes- 

sion on  the  death  of  his  brother,  James. 

3.  David. 

4.  Alexander. 

5.  Peter. 

6.  William. 

7.  Adam. 

1.  A  daughter,  who  married  James  Fall,1  a  merchant 
in  Dunbar,  and  whose  daughter,  Janet,  married 
Sir  John  Anstruther  of  Anstruther. 
It  has  been  supposed  that  Patrick  Murray  had  another 
daughter  who  married  M'Kay  of  Strathy ;  but  the  only 
marriage  of  the  Pennyland  Murrays  with  that  family,  so 
far  as  is  known,  was  that  of  the  daughter  of  Richard 
Murray,    Patrick's    son,    to    Hugh    M'Kay,    second    of 
•  Strathy. 

VIII.  JAMES  MURRAY  or  PENNYLAND  was  served  heir 
to  his  father  in  1729.     He  married  Helen,  daughter  of 
William  Miller  of  Mugdrum,  and  appears  to  have  had  no 
issue.     He  was  dead  in  1731. 

IX.  RICHARD  MURRAY  OF  PENNYLAND  married  Jean, 
sister  of  William  Budge  of  Toftingall,  W.S.,  and  had  a 
son  and  two  daughters  : — 

1  Douglas. 


THE  HURRAYS  OF  PENNYLAND.  195 

1.    Patrick,  his  SUCCeSSOr.1  The  Hurrays  of 

T  Pennyland. 

1.  Janet. 

2.  Barbara,    first   wife   of  Hugh   M'Kay,    second   of 

Strathy.     In  1721  there  was  a  bond  to  her  and 
her  four  sons. 

X.  PATRICK  MURRAY  OF  PENNYLAND  died  without 
issue,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  sister,  Janet. 

XI.  JANET  MURRAY  OF  PENNYLAND,  and  heiress  of 
Toftingall  under   the   entail   of  that   estate   by   James 
Budge,    married,    in    1761,    Dr.    Stuart    Threipland    of 
Fingask,  and  these  properties  are  now  possessed  by  her 
grandson,    Sir    Patrick    Murray    Threipland    Budge   of 
Fingask  and  Toftingall,  Baronet. 

1  In  1762  James  Murray,  described  a  second  son  of  Richard  Murray.     No 

as  Surveyor  of  the  Customs,  resided  at  mention  is  made  of  his  having  children. 

Pennyland    with    his    wife,    Barbara,  Bishop  Forbes,  who  does  ample  justice 

daughter  of  James  Murray  of  Clairden,  to  his  hosts,  mentions  that  be  passed 

and  two  sisters,  and  in  January  1770  the  5th  of  August  1762  at  Pennyland, 

he  died,  and  was  buried  in  Pennyland  "and  most  elegantly  was  he  entertained 

Chapel.     Who  he  was  is  uncertain,  and  there." 
it  is  conjectured  that  he  may  have  been 


THE   HURRAYS   OF   CLAIRDEN 
AND  CASTLEHILL. 

TheMurraysof  JOHN    MURRAY,   "  IN    CLAIRDEN,"  Was    the    S6COnd  SOD 

Castiehiii.  of  William  Ronaldson  or  Murray,  first  of  Pennyland.  In 
1568  he  got  a  charter  to  tenements  in  Thurso  on  the 
resignation  of  his  father.  He  had  a  son,  William. 

I.  WILLIAM  MURRAY  was  styled  "or  CLAIRDEN."  In 
1614  he  got  a  charter  from  Alexander,  Bishop  of  Caithness, 
as  eldest  son  and  heir  of  John,  of  tenements  in  Thurso,  to 
himself  and  his  wife,  Agnes  Dalmahoy,  in  liferent,  and  to 
Ranald,  their  son,  in  fee.  He  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  John. 

2.  Ranald. 

II.  JOHN  MURRAY,  IN  CLAIRDEN,  was  served  heir  to 
his  father,  William,  in  1655,   in   "William  Ronaldson's 
tenements"  in  Thurso.     He  died  about  1656,  and  had  a 
son,  James,  who  is  mentioned  in  1658  as  eldest  son,  but  of 
whom  there  is  no  further  account ;  the  next  of  the  family 
who  appear  in  connection  with  Clairden   being  David 
Murray. 

III.  DAVID  MURRAY,  STYLED  OF  CLAIRDEN,  was  third 


THE  HURRAYS    OF  CLAIRDEN  AND  CASTLEHILL.       197 

son  of  John  Murray,  fifth  of  Pennyland,  and  married  Janet,  The  Murrays  of 
daughter  of  John  Cunningham  of  Brownhill  and  Giese.  castiehm. 
He  was  a  person  of  considerable  note  in  his  time,  and 
was  holder  of  wadsets  on  Dunnet,  Swinzie,  Greenland, 
Carsgo,   and  Aimster,   and  although   he   was   styled  of 
Clairden,  it  is  supposed  that  he  had  only  a  wadset  of 
these  lands.    He  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  John,  who  is  mentioned  as  "  eldest  son  "  in  a  bond 

to  him  by  his  father  in  1675,  and  who  appears 
to  have  died  before  his  father. 

2.  James,  afterwards  of  Clairden. 

3.  Patrick. 

1.  Elizabeth,  who  married,  first,   William  Innes   of 

Isauld ;  and,  second,  George  Sinclair  of  Barrock. 

2.  Jean,  who  married  William  Innes,  Writer  to  the 

Signet  in  Edinburgh.1  Her  father  was  then 
dead,  and  her  mother,  Janet  Cunninghame,  and 
her  brother-german,  James,  are  parties  to  the 
contract. 

David  Murray  died  in  1686,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son,  James. 

IV.  JAMES  MURRAY  OF  CLAIRDEN  was  married  three 
times — first,  to  Katharine,  only  daughter  of  James 
Murray  of  Pennyland,2  by  whom  he  had  no  issue ; 
secondly,  to  Anne  Cunningham,  by  whom  he  had  a 

1  Contract  of  Marriage,   12th   May         2  Contract   of    Marriage,    6th    Feb- 
1693.  ruary  1690. 


198      THE  HURRAYS  OF  CLAIRDEN  AND  CASTLEHILL. 

The  Hurrays  of  daughter,  Barbara,  who  married  (it  is  supposed)  James 

Clairden  and  j.  i  / 

Castiehiii.  Murray,  surveyor  of  customs,  Thurso,  one  of  the  Penny- 
land  family;  and,  thirdly,  to  Margaret  Sinclair,  styled 
"Lady  Clairden,"1  daughter  of  George  Sinclair  of 
Barrock,  and  his  wife,  Anne  Dunbar  of  Hempriggs.  By 
this  last  marriage  James  Murray  had  two  sons  and  five 
daughters  :  — 

1.  George,  his  successor. 

2.  David  of  Castiehiii.     Between  1750  and  1754  he 

purchased  from  James  Budge  of  Toftingall  the 
lands  of  Garth,  which  he  afterwards  excambed 
with  James  Sinclair  of  Durran  for  Stangergill, 
now  part  of  the  estate  of  Castiehiii.  He  married 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Harry  Innes  of  Borlum, 
and  had  three  sons  and  a  daughter — namely, 
Alexander,  in  North  Calder ;  John,  who  died 
unmarried ;  Captain  James ;  and  Barbara,  who 
married  Dr.  Liddell,  and  had  a  son  Andrew,  and 
two  daughters,  Margaret  and  Elizabeth.  Mar- 
garet Liddell  married  Major  George  Innes, 
brother  of  James  Innes  of  Thrumster,  and  had 
two  sons,  William,  Lieutenant- Colonel  in  the 
Honourable  East  India  Company's  Service,  and 
Andrew,  who  both  died  unmarried.  Elizabeth 
Liddell  married  Colonel  Zulche,  and  had  no 
issue. 
1.  Jean,  who  married  the  Eeverend  George  Traill  of 

1  Contract  of  Marriage,  22d  and  23d  September  1702. 


THE  MURRAYS  OF  CLAIRDEN   AND  CASTLEHILL.       199 

Hobbister,  Minister  of  Dunnet,  and  had  issue.  The  Hurrays  of 

T7"  7     HT      '11  Clairdenand 

—  Vide  Traills.  castiehm. 

2.  Anne,  who  married  the  Reverend  James  Brodie, 

Minister    of    Latheron,   and    had    issue. — Vide 
Brodies. 

3.  Elizabeth,    who    married    the    Reverend    James 

Oswald,    Minister   of   Dunnet,   and    had   issue. 

—  Vide  Oswalds. 

4.  Janet,    who    married    Professor    Morton    of    St. 

Andrews,  and  had  no  issue. 

5.  Margaret,  who   married — first,  David   Sinclair  of 

Southdun ;  and,  secondly,  John  Gibson,  Sheriff- 
substitute. 

V.  GEORGE  MURRAY  OF  CLAIRDEN  married  his  cousin, 
Jean,  eldest  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Barrock.  He 
died  in  1752,  and  was  survived  by  his  wife,  who  lived  to 
an  old  age,  and  had  two  sons  and  five  daughters : * — 

1.  James. 

2.  Alexander,  a  surgeon,  who  died  unmarried.     He 

was  known  by  the  name  of  "  Tarras." 

1.  Barbara,   who   married   William    Brodie,    Sheriff- 

substitute  of  Caithness,  and  son  of  James  Brodie, 
Minister  of  Canisbay.     She  had  no  issue. 

2.  Anne,  who  married  Thomas  Stedman  (or  Steeds- 

man,  as  signed  by  himself  in  1766),  and  had  two 
sons  and  two  daughters:  (l)  Dr.  William  Sted- 

1  Discharge  by  them,  1766. 


200      THE  HURRAYS  OF  CLAIRDEN  AND  CASTLEHILL. 

The  Hurrays  of  man,  who  had  three  sons,  George,  John  Gordon, 

CastieMii?nC  and   William,   and    three    daughters,    Lucretia 

(Mrs.  Bushby),  Anne,  and  Catherine  ;  (2) 
George.  Mrs.  Stedman's  two  daughters  were 
Jane  and  Margaret,  who  both  died  at  Thurso, 
unmarried. 

3.  Margaret,  who  died  unmarried. 

4.  Elizabeth. 

5.  Jean. 


THE  CUNNINGHAMS. 

THE  Cunninghams  of  Caprington  in  Ayrshire,  and  The  Cunning- 
hams. 
of  Broomhill,  date  from  the  time  of  King  David  Bruce. 

and  they  became  connected  with  Caithness  early  in  the 
seventeenth  century.  In  1624  we  find  John  Cun- 
ningham, Admiral  Depute  and  Sheriff  of  Caithness,  in 
the  occupation  of  Geise,  Ormlie,  and  Brownhill,  and 
married  to  a  lady  of  the  family  of  Rattar. 

The  first  Cunningham  of  Broomhill  was  John,  second 
son  of  William  of  Caprington,  who  got  in  patrimony 
from  his  father  the  lands  of  Broomhill,  which  was  the 
designation  of  this  branch  of  the  family,  and  continued 
to  be  so  until  the  original  family  estate  of  Caprington 
was  acquired  by  John  Cunningham,  the  eminent  advocate, 
who  was  created  a  baronet  in  1669. 

JOHN  CUNNINGHAM,  FIRST  OF  BROOMHILL,  is  said  by 
Douglas  to  have  been  succeeded  by  a  son,  William,  who 
is  said  to  have  got  a  Crown  charter  of  the  lands  in  1629, 
and  to  have  married,  first,  Janet,  daughter  of  Patrick, 
first  Lord  Lindores,  and  by  her  to  have  had  three 
daughters  : — 

1.  Jean,  married  to  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath. 

2c 


202  THE  CUNNINGHAMS. 

The  Cunning-  2.  Margaret,  married  to  Innes  of  Borlum. 
3.  A  daughter,  married  to  Mr.  Symmers. 
According  to  the  same  authority,  William  Cunning- 
ham's second  wife  was  "  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William 
Sinclair  of  Rattar,  descended  of  a  second  son  of  the  Earl 
of  Caithness,  and  now  (1768)  claiming  the  title  of  Earl 
of  Caithness,  and  grand-aunt  of  the  present  laird  of 
Rattar."  The  laird  of  Rattar  and  the  claimant  of  the 
title  in  1768  were  one  and  the  same  person,  and  the  only 
lady  of  the  Rattar  family  who  married  into  the  family  of 
Cunningham  was  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Sinclair,  first  of  Rattar,  and  the  great-great-grandaunt 
of  the  laird  of  Rattar,  who  claimed  and  obtained  the  title 
of  Earl  of  Caithness  in  1768  ;  but  it  will  be  seen  that  her 
husband  was  not  William  Cunningham.  By  this  second 
marriage,  however,  Douglas  says  he  had  three  sons  and 
four  daughters : — 

1.  Sir  John,  his  heir. 

2.  James  of  Geise. 

3.  Adam,  a  Captain  in  the  Army. 

1.  Janet,  who  married  Murray  of  Clairden. 

2.  Isobell,  who  married  Sinclair  of  Telstane. 

3.  Anne,  who  married  Bruce  of  "Itam." 

4.  Mary,  who  married  Stewart  of  Ascog. 

In  the  pedigree  of  the  Cunninghams,  as  given  by 
Douglas,  there  is  no  mention  of  John  Cunningham  of 
Geise  and  Brownhill,  Admiral  Depute  and  Sheriff  of 
Caithness ;  but  that  he  was  in  the  occupation  of  these 


THE   CUNNINGHAMS.  203 

lands  in  1624  is  shown  by  a  receipt  for  rent  paid  by  him  The  c 
in  that  year;  and  that  he  was  Sheriff  in  1625  is  shown 
by  a  judicial  ratification  signed  before  him  at  Brims  on 
31st  March  of  that  year;  while  under  the  designation  of 
John  Cunningham  of  "  Brownhill "  he  is  repeatedly 
named  in  deeds  and  otherwise  down  to  past  the  middle 
of  the  century;  and  in  1655  he  was  an  Elder  of  the 
parish  of  Thurso,  as  appears  from  the  Session  Records. 

John  Cunningham  of  Brownhill  was  twice  married. 
The  name*  of  his  first  wife  has  not  been  traced,  but  it 
is  noticeable  that  Douglas,  in  his  account  of  the  family  of 
Lindores,  says  that  Janet,  daughter  of  Patrick,  first  Lord 
Lindores,  married  Sir  John  Cunningham  of  Broomhill ; 
while  in  his  account  of  the  Cunninghams  he  says  that 
this  lady  married  William  Cunningham  of  Broomhill. 

John  Cunningham's  second  wife  was  undoubtedly 
Elizabeth  Sinclair,  daughter  of  Sir  John,  first  of  Green- 
land and  Rattar.  In  March  1636  Sir  William  Sinclair 
of  Cadboll  brought  an  action  against  James  Sinclair  of 
Rattar,  son  of  Sir  John,  for  £3000  borrowed  by  his  brother, 
John,  and  him  for  payment  of  his  sister  Elizabeths  tocher 
to  John  Cunningham  of  Geise,  her  husband. *  William  of 
Rattar,  the  son  of  James  Sinclair,  and  the  great-grand- 
father of  William  of  Rattar,  tenth  Earl  of  Caithness,  had 
no  daughter  Elizabeth. 

The  designation  of  " Brownhill"  is  unmistakably 
given  to  the  John  Cunningham  who  married  Rattar's 

1  Bond,  8th  May  1632. 


204  THE  CUNNINGHAMS. 

The  Cunning-  daughter,  and  who  occupied  Geise,  and  was  otherwise 
connected  with  the  county  ;  but,  as  has  been  already 
remarked,  Douglas  nowhere  mentions  any  Cunningham 
"  of  Brownhill."  There  is  a  place  near  Thurso  and 
Ormlie  known  as  Brownhill ;  but  whether  John  Cunning- 
ham acquired  the  designation  from  these  lands,  which  he 
may  have  possessed  as  he  did  Ormlie,  or  whether  the 
original  family  title  was  Brownhill,  the  "  Broomhill "  of 
Douglas  being  a  misnomer  or  misprint,  cannot  now  be 
ascertained.  In  a  MS.  Inventory  of  the  Feus  and 
Papers  produced  by  the  Caithness  Vassals  in  1720,  John 
Cunningham  of  Geise  is  designed  of  "  Broomhill"  but 
this  is  the  only  instance  discovered  of  his  having  been 
so  designed. 

John  Cunningham  had  by  his  marriages  five,  if  not 
six  daughters,  and  five  sons  : — 

1.  Jean,  who  married  in  1632  Alexander  Sinclair  of 
Latheron,  brother  of  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Dun- 
beath.  No  other  lady  of  the  name  married  into 
the  family  of  Dunbeath  and  Latheron,  and  this 
lady  must  be  the  same  as  the  Jean  Cunningham 
of  Douglas,  who,  as  daughter  of  William  Cun- 
ningham of  Broomhill,  married  "  Sinclair  of  Dun- 
beath." She  married,  in  1647,  William  Sinclair  of 
B-attar,  the  nephew  of  that  Elizabeth  Sinclair  who 
was  the  second  wife  of  her  father.  In  what 
year  John  Cunningham's  second  marriage  took 
place  is  uncertain,  but  it  was  not  later  than  1636, 


THE  CUNNINGHAMS.  205 

and  was  probably  only  a  few  years  earlier,  as  The  Cunning- 
Elizabeth.  Sinclair's  father  died  in  1622,  and  herh£ 
brother,  James  (who,  as  we  have  seen,  borrowed 
money  to  pay  her  tocher),  had  only  succeeded  to 
the  estate  about  1634,  on  the  death  of  an  elder 
brother.  Jean  Cunningham  was  thus,  almost 
certainly,  of  her  father's  first  marriage.  If  she 
was  of  his  second  marriage,  then  she  and  her 
second  husband,  William  of  Battar,  were  cousins- 
german.  In  her  contracts  of  marriage  in  1632 
and  1647,  and  in  other  deeds,  she  is  named  as 
daughter  of  John  Cunningham  of  Brownhill. 

2.  Margaret,  who  married  William  Innes  of  Borlum. 

This  sister  of  Jean  Cunningham  is  no  doubt  the 
same  lady  who  Douglas  says  married  Innes  of 
Borlum,  and  who,  according  to  him,  was  the 
daughter  of  William  Cunningham.  In  1651 
John  Cunningham  signed  a  bond  of  caution  for 
her  in  connection  with  the  Borlum  affairs,  and 
although  she  is  not  designated  as  the  daughter 
of  John  Cunningham,  she  must  have  been  so  if 
she  was  the  sister  of  Jean,  who  was  certainly  his 
daughter.  She  seems  to  have  considered  herself- 
a  person  of  consequence,  for  in  1683  she  writes 
stating  her  inability  to  assist  her  son,  Henry 
Innes,  and  at  the  same  time  to  maintain  herself 
"  as  becomes  a  person  of  my  quality." 

3.  Janet,  who  married  David  Murray  of  Clairden. 


206  THE  CUNNINGHAMS. 

The  Cunning-          4.  Isobel,  who  married  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Telstane. 

5.  Anne,  who  married  John  Bruce  of  Ham,  no  doubt 

the  same  lady  who,  according  to  Douglas, 
married  "  Bruce  of  Itam."  She  afterwards 
married  William  Sutherland,  styled  "  of  Ham/' 
of  which  she  had  the  liferent.  This  William 
Sutherland  was  a  son  of  John  Sutherland  of 
Little  Tarbol,  Sutherlandshire,  and  in  1712  he 
disponed  his  whole  estate  and  effects  to  his 
nephew,  John  Sutherland  of  Little  Tarbol. 

6.  Mary,  who  married  Stewart  of  Ascog.     She  was 

unquestionably  the  daughter  of  John  Cunning- 
ham of  Brownhill. 
The  five  sons  of  John  Cunningham  were — 

1.  John,  advocate,  afterwards  Sir  John  of  Caprington. 

2.  James  of  Geise  and  Reaster.     In  1677  he  was  an 

Elder  of  Thurso.  He  married  Barbara,  styled 
"  Mistress  of  Geise,"  daughter  of  Sir  James 
Sinclair  of  Murkle,  and  had  a  son  who  is 
designed  William  Cunningham  of  Heaster  in 
1686. 

3.  George,   the   third   son,   married   Isabel   Dundas. 

In  1698  he  was  dead,  for  in  that  year  Isabel 
Dundas  is  designed,  in  an  assignation  of  a  bond 
granted  by  her  husband's  cousin,  David  Sinclair 
of  Freswick,  as  "  relict  of  umquhile  Mr.  George 
Cunningham,  brother-german  of  Sir  John  Cun- 
ningham of  Caprington." 


THE  CUNNINGHAMS.  207 

4.  Adam,  who  was  in  Carsgo  in  1661.    He  is  designed 

as  fourth  son  of  John  Cunningham,  and  is,  no 
doubt,  the  "  Captain  Adam  Cunningham  of 
Aukingill "  who  was  a  Commissioner  of  Supply 
in  1709.  His  wife  was  Jean  Milburn. 

5.  Alexander. 

In  1664  John  Cunningham  assigned  a  wadset  held 
by  him  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Sinclair,  on  the  Rattar 
estate,  in  favour  of  the  following  "younger  children  of 
his  second*  marriage,"  namely,  James,  George,  Adam,. 
Alexander,  and  Mary.  His  only  other  children  were  John, 
the  Advocate,  afterwards  Sir  John,  who  is  named  in  this 
deed  as  his  eldest  son,  and  his  two  daughters,  Jean  and 
Margaret.  Since  John  is  referred  to  in  the  assignation 
by  the  widow  of  George  Cunningham  as  the  brother- 
german  of  her  husband,  he  was  most  probably  a  son  of 
his  father's  second  marriage.  However  this  may  be, 
all  the  persons  named  were  certainly  children  of  John 
Cunningham  of  Geise  and  Brownhill,  though  they  are  all 
(except  George  and  Alexander)  named  by  Douglas  as  the 
children  of  William  of  Broomhill.  It  is  evident  either 
that  there  was  no  William  of  Broomhill,  and  that  John 
was  the  correct  name  of  the  son  and  successor  of  John, 
first  of  Broomhill,  or  that,  if  there  was  a  William,  he  had 
no  family,  and  that  John  of  Broomhill  was  his  brother, 
as  John,  and  not  William,  was  undoubtedly  the  father 
of  Sir  John,  the  ancestor  of  the  present  family  of  Cap- 
rington.  Thus  Douglas  is  clearly  mistaken  in  his  account 


208  THE  CUNNINGHAMS. 

The  Cunning-    of  the  descendants  of  William  Cunningham  of  Broom- 
hams.  ,  .,. 
hill. 

John  Cunningham,  advocate,  is  repeatedly  mentioned 
as  the  son.  of  John  of  Brownhill.  In  1657  he  assigned  a 
bond  to  David  Murray  of  Clairden,  who  had  married  his 
sister.  M'Kay  says  that  John  Cunningham  was  born  in 
Caithness  and  educated  in  Thurso,  and  that  he  was  the 
eminent  advocate  who  was  created  a  baronet  in  1669. 
Consequently  he  was  the  same  Sir  John  who  acquired 
.Caprington  by  purchase  after  its  sale  by  the  creditors  of 
his  cousin,  Sir  William  of  Caprington. 

Of  still  existing  families  in  the  county  connected 
with  the  Cunninghams  of  Brownhill  and  Geise  are  the 
Traills  of  Rattar ;  the  descendants  of  David  Murray  of 
Clairden  and  his  wife,  Janet  Cunningham  ;  and  the 
family  of  Innes  of  Sandside,  descended  from  Margaret 
Cunningham,  "  Lady  Borlum." 


THE  CALDERS  OF  LYNEGAR. 
THE  name  Calder,  in  its  older  form  of  Caldell,  is  ofTheCald«"<>* 

Lyne^ar. 

considerable  antiquity,  and  in  the  middle  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  few  names  in  the  county  are  of  more 
frequent  occurrence.  In  1508  we  find  William  Caldell 
of  Dun,  and  about  the  same  period  Donald  Caldell,  a 
proprietor  in  Wick.  In  1525  a  charter  was  granted  to 
one  Donald  Caldell  of  lands  of  Dunnet  and  Barrock. 
This  was  probably  the  same  person  who  married  Helen 
Brisbane,  one  of  the  co-heiresses  of  considerable  lands  at 
Reiss  and  Ackergill,  of  which  they  were  despoiled,  when 
minors,  by  the  Earl  of  Caithness.  In  1558  Donald 
Caldell  executed  a  deed  in  relation  to  the  lands  of 
Dunnet,  and  in  1563,  his  son,  Donald  of  Barrock, 
resigned  these  lands  ad  remanentiam  in  favour  of  George, 
Earl  of  Caithness. 

The  principal  families  of  the  name  were  those  of 
Lynegar,  of  Strath,  of  Bylbster,  and  of  Achingale  and 
Newton ;  but  there  were  many  others,  holders  of  small 
wadsets  in  various  parts  of  the  county. 

Of  the  Lynegar  branch  the  first  was  probably  ANDREW 

2  P 


210  THE  C  ALDERS  OF  LYNEGAR. 

The  caiders  of  C  ALDER  OF  LYNEGAR,  who  in  1567  had  a  tack  of  Brabster- 

Lynegar. 


CHARLES   CALDER  OF  LYNEGAR  was  present  at  an 
inquest  in  1573. 

LAURENCE  CALDER  OF  LYNEGAR,  the  son  probably  of 
Charles,  died  about  1629,  leaving  three  sons  :  — 

1.  Charles,  his  successor. 

2.  Laurence,  who,  as  son  to  umquhile  Laurence  of 

Lynegar,  got  a  precept  of  dare-constat  in  tene- 
ments in  Dunnet,  and  a  farthing  land  there,  in 
1634,  and  who,  in  1636,  married  Janet  Davidson. 
He  died  before  1679,  and  had  three  sons  — 
William,  Andrew  of  Holland,  who  had  a  son 
Laurence,  and  John. 

3.  John,  who,  as  narrated  in  a  bond  to  his  brothers, 

Charles  and  Laurence,  in  1634,  left  Caithness 
"  to  travel  in  foreign  countries." 

CHARLES  CALDER  OF  LYNEGAR,  son  of  Laurence, 
married,  before  1647,  Margaret  Sutherland,  "Lady 
Dun,"  widow  of  David  Sinclair  of  Dun,  and  daughter 
of  Donald  Sutherland  of  Forse.  He  was  succeeded  by 
his  son,  Laurence. 

It  is  probable  that  the  Caiders  of  Lynegar  were  at 
first  merely  wadsetters  ;  but  in  1632  Charles  Calder  got 
a  feu-charter  of  the  lands  from  William,  Lord  Berriedale, 


THE  C ALDERS  OF  LYNEGAE.  211 

and   from   that   date,    at    all   events,    the   family  were  The  caiders  of 
proprietors. 

LAURENCE  CALDER  OF  LYNEGAR  got  a  disposition  of 
the  estate  from  his  father  in  1665,  under  reservation  of 
his  father's  own  liferent.  In  1653  he  married  Isabel, 
eldest  daughter  of  David  Sinclair  of  Southdun,  and  he 
afterwards  married  Elizabeth  Innes.  In  1691-92  the 
Earl  of  Breadalbane  disponed  the  lands  to  him  and 
his  wife  in  liferent,  and  to  their  son,  James,  in  fee. 
Laurence  was  for  some  time  Chamberlain  to  the  Earl  of 
Caithness,  from  whom  he  acquired  Bowertower  in  1692. 

In  1661  Laurence  Calder  got  a  wadset  from  the 
Caithness  family  of  the  feu-duties  of  Lynegar,  and  he 
had  from  time  to  time  various  wadset  rights  in  different 
parts  of  the  county,  such  as  Achalibster,  Achscoraclate, 
etc. 

By  his  first  marriage  he  had  four  sons  :-— 

1.  William,  fiar  of  Lynegar. 

2.  John. 

3.  Andrew. 

4.  Alexander. 

By  his  second  marriage  he  had  several  children,  of 
whom  the  eldest  was — 

James,  to  whom  in  1694  he  disponed  Halcro  and 
Bowertower.1  James  sold  the  latter  in  1717  to  John 
Sinclair  of  Barrock. 

1   Vide  Contract  1691-92,  ut  supra. 


212  THE  CALDERS  OF  LYNEGAR. 

The  caiders  of         Laurence  Calder  had  also  three  daughters  : — 

1.  Barbara. 

2.  Elizabeth. 

3.  Jean. 

WILLIAM  CALDER  OF  LYNEGAR  married,  in  1683, 
Elizabeth,  only  daughter  of  Walter  Bruce  of  Ham,  and 
of  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of 
Latheron,  third  son  of  George  Sinclair  of  Mey.  He  died 
about  1698,  and  left  a  son,  William. 

WILLIAM  CALDER  OF  LYNEGAR  was  a  minor  at  his 
father's  death,  and  had  for  his  curator  Alexander  Sinclair 
of  Olrig,  whose  father  had  married  his  mother.  William 
married  Marjory,  daughter  of  Patrick  Sinclair  of  South- 
dun,  and  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  Patrick,  his  successor. 

2.  James. 

PATRICK  CALDER  OF  LYNEGAR  married  Isabel, 
youngest  sister  of  William  Budge  of  Toftingall,  W.S. 
He  and  William  of  Rattar,  tenth  Earl  of  Caithness,  were 
cousins-german,  their  mothers  having  been  sisters.  He 
had  a  son  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Alexander,  his  successor. 

2.  Jean,  who  married  Mr.  Russell,  but  whose  issue 

are  extinct. 

ALEXANDER  CALDER  OF  LYNEGAR  held  some  office 


THE  C ALDERS  OF  LYNEGAR.  213 

or  employment  in  the  Exchequer  Office  at  Edinburgh,  The  caiders  of 
and  was  the  last  proprietor  of  Lynegar  of  this  family. 
He  married  Barbara  Gray,  and  had  three  sons  and  two 
daughters : — 

1.  Alexander,  Colonel  in  the  Madras  Native  Infantry, 

who  married  Anna  Bunbury,  and  had  a  son, 
Francis,  who  married  Mary  Graham,  and  left  no 
issue ;  and  a  daughter,  Anna  Bunbury,  who 
married  Mr.  Wall,  and  has  issue. 

2.  Francis,   Captain,  R.N.,   who  died  unmarried   in 

1855.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  most  benevolent 
character,  and  a  fountain  has  been  erected  in 
Belfast  to  his  memory. 

3.  Patrick,    Deputy  Commissary-General,   who   died 

unmarried  in  1853. 

1.  Isabella,  who  married  William  Sinclair  of  Freswick, 

and  who  died  in  1812,  leaving  a  son,  John,  and 
two  daughters,  of  whom  the  eldest  was  Mrs. 
Thomson  Sinclair  of  Freswick. — Vide  Freswick. 

2.  Barbara,  who  died  unmarried  in  1870. 

The  late  Mrs.  Eliza  Campbell  or  Grant,  Thurso, 
writes,  in  1826,  to  the  late  William  Sinclair  of  Freswick, 
in  reference  to  the  Lynegar  family,  as  follows  : — "  Sir 
James  Calder,  the  father  of  Sir  Harry  and  of  Admiral 
Calder,  was  Equerry  to  the  late  Queen  Charlotte,  and 
his  daughter  married  Admiral  Hotham.  I  knew  Sir 
James,  and  when  he  heard  what  part  of  Scotland  I 
came  from  he  particularly  inquired  for  the  Caiders  of 


214  THE  CALDERS  OF  LYNEGAR. 

TheCaidersof  Lynegar,  who,  he  told  me,  were  a  very  ancient  family 
with  whom  he  was  connected,  and  had  the  honour  of 
being  a  younger  branch  of  the  same  family.  He  sent  for 
Jean  Calder  (Mrs.  Russell),  and  shewed  her  great  atten- 
tions, as  did  Lady  Calder  Nand  Mrs.  Hotham." 


THE  CALDERS  OF  ACHINGALE  AND 
NEWTON. 

THERE  is  little  doubt  that  the  Calders  of  Achingale  The  caiders  of 
and   Newton  were   nearly   allied   to   the   Lynegar   and  Newton. 
Strath  family  of  the  same  name. 

In  1577  Achingale  was  occupied  by  Robert  Caldell, 
and  from  that  date  down  to  1763  the  Calders  are  found 
as  tenants,  wadsetters,  or  feuars  of  Achingale,  Newton, 
and  Banks  of  Scouthel.  In  1629  Donald  Calder  of 
Newton  obtained  a  feu- charter  of  these  lands  from  the 
Earl  of  Caithness  ;  in  1639  he  and  his  wife,  Isabel  Murray, 
obtained  a  tack  of  Achingale  from  John,  Master  of 
Berriedale ;  and  in  1665  Alexander  Calder,  then  of 
Achingale,  obtained  a  wadset  of  the  feu- duties  payable 
under  the  charter  of  1629,  and  of  the  tack  of  1639. 

ALEXANDER  CALDER  OF  ACHINGALE  AND  NEWTON 
died  about  1678,  and  had  three  sons  : — 

1.  Alexander,  his  successor. 

2.  Lieutenant  Donald  Calder  of  Newton. 

3.  John  of  Strath. 

ALEXANDER  CALDER  OF  ACHINGALE  married  Anne, 


216  THE   CALDERS   OF   ACHINGALE  AND   NEWTON. 

The  Caiders  of  daughter  of  William  Sutherland  of  Langwell,  and  widow 
°f  John  Lines  of  Oust.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest 
son,  Alexander. 

ALEXANDER  CALDER  OF  ACHINGALE  AND  NEWTON 
married,  in  1722,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Alexander 
Sinclair  of  Sixpenny,  and  had  issue — 

1.  Donald. 

1.  Beatrice,  who  married  William  Henderson  in 
Dirlot. 

DONALD  CALDER  OF  ACHINGALE  died  without  issue. 

BEATRICE  CALDER,  as  heiress  to  her  brother  and 
father,  disponed  the  lands  in  1763  to  her  uncle,  William 
Sinclair,  in  whose  family  they  remained  until  1804,  when 
they  were  acquired  by  William  Sinclair  of  Freswick. 
The  reversion  of  the  wadset  of  1665  had  come  into  the 
hands  of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,  and  was 
acquired  by  William  Sinclair,  his  son-in-law. 


THE  CALDEES  OF  STRATH. 

BEFORE  1649  part  of  the  lands  of  Strath  of  Bylbster  The  caiders  of 
was  feued  to  the  heirs  of  Marcus  Calder. 

In  1651  Alexander  Calder  of  Strath  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Donald  Budge  of  Toftingall ;  and  in  1665  the 
Earl  of  Caithness  gave  a  feu-charter  of  the  whole  lands 
to  him  and  his  wife. 

In  1680,  they,  with  consent  of  their  son,  Alexander, 
disponed  Strath  to  Alexander  Calder  of  Achingale. 

In  1692,  John  Calder,  brother-german  of  Achingale, 
and  his  son,  Donald,  got  a  disposition  of  Strath.  John 
married  Margaret  Calder,  and  had  issue  : — 

1.  Donald. 

1.  A  daughter  who,  in  1718,  was  wife  of  James  Innes 
in  Thrumster,  grandfather  of  the  late  Major  James 
Innes  of  Thrumster. 

DONALD  on  DANIEL  CALDER  OF  STRATH  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  David  Sutherland  of  Ausdale,  and 
great-granddaughter  of  William  Sutherland  of  Langwell. 
He  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters  : — 

l.*James,  Collector  of  Excise,  Thurso. 

2E 


218  THE   C ALDERS   OF  STRATH. 

TheCaidersof         2.  Patrick,  Captain  in  the  64th  Regiment  of  Foot, 

Strath.  ,         T     i  «     i   •          o/M-r 

who  died  unmarried  in  1807. 

1.  Janet,  who  married  Mr.  Murray. 

2.  Margaret,  who  married  Alexander  Calder. 

3.  Emily,  who  died  unmarried. 

COLLECTOR  JAMES  CALDER  OF  STRATH  had  a  son  and 
a  daughter  :  — 
1.  David. 

1.  Jean,    who    married    Captain    George    Swanson, 
Gerston. 

DAVID  CALDER  OF  STRATH  AND  PENNYLAND  sold 
Strath  in  1801  to  William  Stewart  in  Downreay,  father 
of  the  late  General  Stewart,  and  Penny  land  he  sold  to 
Mr.  Sinclair  of  Freswick. 


THE  DUNBARS  OF  HEMPRIGGS. 

I.  THIS  branch  of  the  family  of  Dunbar  is  directly  The  Dunbars  of 
descended    from   Sir   Alexander    Dunbar   of  Westfield, H 
Knight,  son  of  James  Dunbar,  fifth  Earl  of  Moray,  and 
great-grandson  of  John  Dunbar,  second  Earl.     He  was 

born  about  1425,  and  died  10th  March  1497  or  1498. 
He  married  Isabel,  daughter  of  Alexander  Sutherland  of 
Duff  us,  who  died  llth  November  1505.  He  had  eight 
sons  and  a  daughter,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  third  son, 
Alexander. 

- 

II.  ALEXANDER  DUNBAR  OF  AULDCASH,  KILBOYACH, 
AND  KILCALMKILL,  third  son  of  Sir  Alexander,  was  killed 
in  1498  by  Alexander  Sutherland  of  Dalred  or  Dirlot,  in 
Caithness.     He   married   Lady  Janet   Sutherland,   who 
survived  him.     Sir  Robert  Gordon  states  that  he  married 
Margaret  Baillie,  widow,  in  1460,  of  John,  tenth  Earl  of 
Sutherland,  which  is  a  mistake,  he  having  been  only  three 
years  of  age  at  the  period  of  this  alleged  marriage.     He 
was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  James. 

III.  JAMES  DUNBAR  OF  AULDCASH,   CONZIE,   KIL- 
CALMKILL, AND  KILBOYACH,  was  born  about  1480.    He 


220  THE  DUNBARS  OF  HEMPRIGGS. 

The  Dunbars  of  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  1501,  and  died  in  1553 
or  1554.  According  to  Douglas  he  married  Helen  Innes, 
and  was  succeeded  by  a  son,  James,  who  married  Isobel 
Brodie,  but  it  is  proved  by  a  deed  registered  at  Edinburgh 
in  1539-40,  that  he  was  twice  married  at  least,  his  first 
wife  being  Helen  or  Elen  Innes,  and  his  second  wife 
being  Isabel  Brody  or  Brodie,  and  he  was  succeeded  by 
his  son,  Alexander. 

IV.  ALEXANDER  DUNBAR  OF  CONZIE  AND  KILBOYACH 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John,  sixth  Lord  Forbes 
(ch.  1564),  and  had  several  sons,  of  whom  the  fifth  was 
William,  his  successor. 

V.  WILLIAM  DUNBAR  OF  STRUTHERS,  afterwards  of 
Hempriggs  (of  one-third  of  which  he  got  a  charter  in 
1574),  is  called   portioner  of  Hempriggs  in  his  father's 
will,  which  is  dated  25th  February  1577.     He  married 
Catherine,  the  daughter  (and  heiress  probably)  of  John 
Anderson  of  Struthers  and  Janet  Gibson,  his  spouse,  and 
he  died  on  25th  November  1624.    He  had  four  sons  and 
a  daughter : — 

1.  John,  his  heir. 

2.  James. 

3.  Ninian. 

4.  Robert. 

1.  Isobel,  who  married  Hepburn  of  Inverlochty. 

VI.  JOHN  DUNBAR  OF  HEMPRIGGS  was  twice  married, 


THE   DUNBARS  OF  HEMPRIGGS.  221 

and  had  by  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  George  The  Dunbars  of 

cv       i    •        /TVT  T   -L  Herapriggs. 

Sinclair  of  Mey,  a  son,  John. 

VII.  JOHN  DUNBAR  OF  HEMPRIGGS,  and  also  of 
LATHERONWHEEL  (which  he  purchased),  married  Anna, 
eldest  daughter  of  Andrew  Fraser,  Commissary  of  Inver- 
ness, and  in  his  contract  of  marriage,  dated  26th  Septem- 
ber 1624,  his  father,  John  Dunbar,  made  over  to  him 
his  lands  of  Hempriggs  "  as  they  had  been  left  to  him 
by  his  father,  William/'  John  had  two  sons  and  three 
daughters  : — 

1.  William,  afterwards  Sir  William. 

2.  Robert  of  Northfield,  afterwards  Sir  Robert. 

1.  Janet,  who  married  Patrick  Gumming  of  Ernside. 

2.  Catherine,  who  married  William  Geddes,  Minister 

of  Wick  from  1659  to  1675. 

3.  Anne,  who   married  her  cousin,  George   Sinclair, 

first  of  Barrock.  Of  this  marriage  is  descended 
the  present  representative  of  the  family  of  Sinclair 
of  Barrock. 

VIII.  SIR  WILLIAM  DUNBAR,  who  was  created  a 
Baronet  of  Nova  Scotia  in  1698,  was  a  man  of  consider- 
able ability  and  local  influence.  In  1691  he  purchased 
the  lands  of  Telstane,  and  changed  the  name  to  Hemp- 
riggs. He  also  purchased  Old  Wick  and  other  lands  on 
the  south  side  of  the  water  of  Wick;  and  in  1699  he 
acquired  the  Ackergill  estates,  which  formerly  formed  a 
barony  held  by  the  Keiths,  Earls  Marischal.  He  also 


THE   DUNBARS    OF  HEMPBIGGS. 

The  Dunbars  of  acquired  the  lands  of  Wick,  Papego,  South  and  North 
Kilmsters,  and  Miln  of  Wenless,  which  before  1591  were 
held  by  the  Earl  of  Sutherland  off  the  Bishop  of  Caith- 
ness and  then  of  the  Crown,  and  were  in  that  year 
resigned  by  the  Earl  in  favour  of  the  Earl  of  Caithness. 
He  held  a  commission  from  the  Earl  of  Breadalbane  as 
Sheriff  and  Justiciar  of  Caithness.  He  married  his  second 
cousin,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of 
Latheron,  by  whom  he  had  a  son  and  a  daughter  :— 

1.  Benjamin,  who  married  Janet,  daughter  of  Patrick 
Sinclair  of  Ulbster,  and  who  died  before  his 
father  without  issue. 

1.  Elizabeth. 

On  Sir  William's  death  without  male  issue  the 
baronetcy  devolved  on  his  brother,  Robert,  and  the 
estates,  under  an  entail  executed  by  himself,  on  his 
daughter,  Elizabeth.  Elizabeth  Dunbar  married,  first, 
Sir  Robert  Gordon  of  Gordonstoun,  great-grandson  of 
Alexander,  fifteenth  Earl  of  Sutherland,  and  had  by 
him  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  From  her  third 
daughter,  Lucy,  who  married  David  Scott  of  Scotstoun, 
is  descended,  maternally,  the  present  Duke  of  Portland. 
Sir  Robert  having  died  in  1701,  his  widow  married, 
secondly,  James  Sutherland,  second  son  of  Lord  Duffus, 
who  was  created  a  baronet  in  1706,  under  the  title  of 
Sir  James  Dunbar  of  Hempriggs.  Of  this  second  mar- 
riage there  were  two  sons  and  four  daughters  : — 

1.  William,  born  in  1708. 


THE  DUNBARS   OF   HEMPRIGGS.  223 

2.  James,  an  officer  in  the  army,  who  died  in  Jamaica  The  Dunbars  of 

.     T  Hempriggs. 

in  1742  unmarried. 

1.  Janet,  who  married,  first,  John  Sinclair  of  Barrock, 

by  whom  she  had  a  son  (John  Sinclair  of  Sibster), 
and  a  daughter;  and,  secondly,  Harry  Innes  of 
Borlum  and  Sandside. 

2.  Charlotte,  born  in  1712,  who  married  Sir  William 

Sinclair  of  Keiss,  and  had  two  sons,  Captain 
Alexander,  and  Kennedy-Muir. 

3.  Elizabeth,  who  married  Eric  Sutherland,  eldest  son 

of  Kenneth,  third  Lord  Duffus  (attainted  in  1715). 
They  had  two  daughters: — (1.)  Elizabeth,  who 
married,  first,  her  cousin,  Captain  Alexander 
Sinclair,  son  of  Sir  William  of  Keiss ;  and, 
secondly,  Charles  Sinclair  of  Olrig,  by  whom  she 
had  an  only  daughter,  Fenella ;  and,  thirdly,  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Rudd,  Yorkshire,  by  whom  she 
had  a  son  and  two  daughters.  (2.)  Charlotte, 
who  married  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Mey,  and  had 
issue,  James,  afterwards  Earl  of  Caithness. 

4.  Rachel,  who  married  James  Sutherland  of  Lang- 

well,  and  had  a  son,  Robert,  and  a  daughter, 
Elizabeth.  Robert  Sutherland  married  Ann 
Sinclair,  heiress  of  Brabster. 

IX.  SIR  WILLIAM  DUNBAR  OF  HEMPRIGGS  married, 
first,  Elizabeth,  only  daughter  of  Alexander  Dunbar  of 
Westfield.  Elizabeth  Dunbar  was  the  undoubted  heir  of 


224  THE  DUNBARS  OF   HEMPRIGGS. 

The  Dunbars  of  line  of  the  old  family  of  Dunbars,  hereditary  Sheriffs  of 
Moray,  descended  from  James,  fifth  Earl  of  Moray,  of  the 
Dunbar  line.  By  this  first  marriage  Sir  William  had  a 
daughter,  Janet,  who  married  Captain  Thomas  Dunbar, 
styled,  after  his  marriage,  "  of  Westfield,"  and  descended 
of  the  same  stock  as  his  wife.  They  had  three  sons  and 
two  daughters  : — Patrick;  Alexander,  who  died  in  1782  ; 
William- Henry ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  James  Moodie 
of  Melsetter,  had  issue,  and  died  in  1798  ;  Mary  Maxwell, 
who  married  the  Reverend  Peter  Nicolson  of  Shebster, 
Minister  of  Thurso,  and  had  issue,  and  died  in  1806. 

Sir  William  married,  secondly,  Jean,  daughter  of 
David  Sinclair  of  South  Dun,  by  whom  he  had  no  issue. 

He  married,  thirdly,  Henrietta,  daughter  of  Hugh 
Rose  of  Kilravock,  and  had  by  her  two  sons  and  three 
daughters  : — 

1.  Benjamin,  his  successor. 

2.  Robert. 

1.  Elizabeth. 

2.  Alexandrina. 

3.  Williamina. 

X.  SIR  BENJAMIN  DUNBAR  OF  HEMPRIGGS  married 
Janet,  daughter  of  George  M'Kay  of  Bighouse,  and  had 
two  sons  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  George,  his  successor. 

2.  Captain     Robert    of    Latheronwheel,    who    died 

unmarried,  llth  August  1857, 


THE  DUNBARS  OF  HEMPRIGGS.  225 

1.  Louisa,  who  married  Garden  Duff  of  Hatton.  The  Dunbars  of 

2.  Elizabeth,  who  died  unmarried. 

3.  Henrietta,  who  married  William  Sinclair  Wemyss 

of  Southdun. 

On  the  death  of  James  Sutherland,  last  Lord  Duffus, 
the  title  was  assumed  by  Sir  Benjamin,  as  heir-male 
through  his  grandfather,  Sir  James  Dunbar  or  Suther- 
land, but  since  his  decease,  in  1843,  it  has  been  in 
abeyance. 

XI.  SIR  GEORGE  DUNBAR  OF  HEMPRIGGS  devoted 
himself  to  country  pursuits  for  many  years,  and  carried 
on  extensive  improvements  on  the  family  estates,  thereby 
largely  enhancing  their  value.  He  added  to  their  extent 
by  the  purchase  of  part  of  Myrelandhorn  and  of  the 
estate  of  Sibster,  and  by  the  acquisition  of  the  lands  of 
Tannoch  in  exchange  for  portions  of  his  Strathmore 
property.  He  set  aside  the  entail  executed  by  his  great- 
great-grandfather,  Sir  William,  and  died  28th  August 
1875,  unmarried. 


2F 


THE   DUNBAKS   OF  NORTHFIELD 
AND    BOWERMADDEN. 

The  Bunbars  of       I.    ROBERT    DlJNBAR   OF    MYRELAND,    AND    OF    NORTH- 
North  field  and  _  ...  if* 

Bowermadden.   FIELD,    BOWERMADDEN,    AND    LlSTER,    Was    S6COnd    SOH   OI 

John  Dunbar  of  Hempriggs  and  of  Latheronwheel. 
Having  succeeded  to  the  baronetcy  on  the  death  of  his 
elder  brother,  Sir  William  of  Hempriggs,  he  was  styled 
Sir  Robert  of  Northfield.  In  the  Rebellion  of  1715  he 
appeared  with  a  party  at  the  Cross  of  Wick,  and  drank 
the  Chevalier's  health. 

He  seems  to  have  been  twice  married.  In  1675  he 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Patrick  Sinclair  of  Ulbster. 
In  1708  he  acquired  Myreland  and  Quintfall  from  Lord 
Glenorchy;  and  about  the  same  period  Bowermadden 
and  Belster  were  acquired  by  his  son,  Patrick.  He 
died  in  1742,  and  had  four  sons,  and  two,  if  not  three, 
daughters  : — 

1.  Patrick,   his   successor,  who  was   the   last-named 

substitute  in  the  entail  of  Hempriggs,  executed 
by  Sir  William  Dunbar,  his  uncle, 

2.  William, 


THE   DUNBARS  OF  NORTHFIELD   AND   BOWERMADDEN.      227 

3.  James.  The  Dunbars  of 
-p.       .-,                                                                                                                      Northfieldand 

4.  JJavlQ.  Bowermadden. 

These  three  younger  sons  are  named  in  the  Ulbster 
entail,  and  were  doubtless  of  their  father's  marriage  to 
Ulbster's  daughter.  They  are  all  supposed  to  have  died 
young. 

5.  Marjory,  who  married  David  Sinclair  of  Southdun. 

6.  A  daughter, ,  who  married  George  Manson  of 

Bridgend. 

In  certain  judicial  proceedings  in  1781  between  Miss 
Katharine  Sinclair  of  Southdun  and  George  Manson 
Sinclair  of  Bridgend,  it  is  stated,  in  reference  to  Miss 
Sinclair's  father,  David,  and  Bridgend's  grandfather, 
George  Manson,  that  a  friendship  which  had  existed 
from  near  neighbourhood  came  to  be  a  closer  connection 
"by  intermarriages  of  two  daughters  of  Sir  Robert 
Dunbar."  It  is  inferred  that  David  Sinclair  and  George 
Manson  each  married  one  of  Sir  Robert's  daughters, 
and  of  these,  Marjory  was  the  second  wife  of  David 
Sinclair.  The  name  of  the  other  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained, and  reference  is  made  to  the  notes  on  the  Bridg- 
end family  for  particulars  regarding  George  Manson's 
marriages. 

Sir  Robert  seems  to  have  had  a  third  daughter,  for 
in  "  Fasti  Eccles.  Scot.,"  David  Dunbar,  minister  of 
Olrig  from  1735  to  1762,  third  son  of  John  Dunbar  of 
Kinsorth,  married  Mary  Dunbar,  who  died  in  1780,  and 
their  only  son  died  in  minority. 


228      THE  DUNBARS   OF  NORTHFIELD  AND  BOWERMADDEN. 

TheDunbarsof          II.    SlR   PATRICK    DlJNBAR   OF    NORTHFIELD,    BOWER- 

Northfield  and  -r  —4,  .     -,     n 

Bowennadden.    MADDEN,    AND   LlSTER,  Was  twiCC   mamed,  first,    III    1697, 

to  Katharine,  youngest  daughter  of  William  Sinclair  of 
Dunbeath,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Robert  and  William. 
In  1708,  William,  in  a  disposition  to  the  lands  of  Lister, 
in  which  his  father  was  liferenter,  and  he  was  fiar,  he  is 
designed  as  "eldest  son,"  and  in  1758  his  father  was 
served  heir  in  special  to  him;  and,  secondly,  in  1722,  to 
Katharine,  daughter  of  Joseph  Brodie  of  Milntown, 
Morayshire,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  three 
daughters : — 

1.  John,  born  in  1727,  who  married  his  cousin,  Mar- 

jory, daughter   of  David  Sinclair  of  Southdun, 
and  died  without  issue. 

2.  Patrick,  born  in  1733,  died  young. 

1.  Elizabeth,  who  succeeded  her  father. 

2.  Anne. 

3.  Henrietta,  who  died  unmarried. 

III.  ELIZABETH  DUNBAR  OF  NORTHFIELD  AND  BOWER- 
MADDEN,  married  James  Sinclair  of  Durran,  and  had 
issue. —  Vide  Durran. 


THE  TRAILLS  OF  CASTLEHILL  AND  RATTAR. 

THE  connection  of  this  family  with  the  county  dates  The  Trams  of 
from  the  settlement  of  Dr.  George  Traill  as  minister  of  Rattar. 
Dunnet  in- 1751. 

In  1581,  George  Traill,  of  the  family  of  Traill  of 
Blebo,  in  Fife,  settled  in  Orkney.  He  was  twice  married : 
to  Jean  Kennedy  and  to  Isabella  Craigie.  From  the  * 
former  marriage  are  descended  the  Orkney  families  of 
Traills  of  Holland,  Skaill,  Tirlot,  and  Vena,  and  from  the 
latter  are  descended  the  Traills  of  Quendal,  Hobbister, 
Westness,  and  Weststove. 

JAMES  TRAIL,  FIRST  OF  QUENDAL,  was  the  son  of 
George  Traill  by  his  second  marriage,  and  he  had  three 
sons : — 

1.  James  of  Quendal,  his  successor. 

2.  George,  first  of  Hobbister. 

3.  John  of  Sanday. 

George  Traill  of  Hobbister  had  two  sons : — 

1.  James,  who  died  in  1756. 

2.  George. 

DR.  GEORGE  TRAILL,  THIRD  OF  HOBBISTER,  succeeded 
to  that  estate  on  the  decease  of  his  brother  James  in 


230  THE  TRAILLS  OF  CASTLEHILL  AND  RATTAR. 

The  Trams  of    1756.     Having  studied  for  the  Church,  he  was  settled  as 

Castlehill  and          .    .  Jf  . 

Batter,  minister  01   JDunnet  in   1751.      In  1761   he   purchased 

Castlehill ;  in  1773  he  obtained  the  degree  of  D.D.  from 
the  University  of  King's  College,  Aberdeen,  and  in  1785 
he  died,  aged  62. 

In  1753  Dr.  Traill  married  Jean,1  daughter  of  James 
Murray  of  Clairden,  and  his  wife,  Margaret  Sinclair 
(daughter  of  George  Sinclair  of  Barrock  and  his  first  wife, 
Anne,  daughter  of  John  Dunbar  of  Hempriggs),  and  had 
two  sons  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  George,  who  died  unmarried. 

2.  James,    advocate,    afterwards    of    Castlehill    and 

Rattar. 

1.  Margaret. 

2.  Isabella. 

3.  Barbara. 

These  ladies  all  died  unmarried. 

JAMES  TRAILL  OF  HOBBISTER,  CASTLEHILL,  AND 
RATTAR,  was  appointed  Sheriff-depute  of  Caithness  in 
1788,  and  about  1789  he  purchased  the  estate  of  Rattar. 
He  married  Lady  Janet,  youngest  daughter  of  William 
Sinclair  of  Rattar,  tenth  Earl  of  Caithness,  and  died  in 
1843,  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  held 
in  the  highest  estimation  during  his  long,  active,  and 
useful  life,  as  an  able  judge  and  as  a  leading  county 
gentleman. 

1  Ob.  May  1810. 


THE  TRAILLS  OF  CASTLEHILL  AND  R  ATT  AH.  231 

Mr.  Traill  had  three  sons  and  six  daughters  : —  The  Trams  of 

~  ,  .  Castlehill  and 

1.  George,  his  successor.  Rattar. 

2.  John,  a  young  gentleman  of  much  promise,  who 

died  in  early  life. 

3.  James,  barrister,  who  for  many  years  was  one  of 

the  Police  Magistrates  of  London. 

1.  Williamina- Barbara. 

2.  Jean. 

3.  Isabella. 

4.  Mary. 

5.  Margaret,  who  died  at  Brighton,  3d  June  1878, 

aged  82. 

6.  Janet. 

These  ladies  all  died  unmarried.  They  were,  during 
their  lives,  held  in  universal  regard. 

GEORGE  TRAILL  OF  EATTAR  represented  Orkney  in 
Parliament  for  three  years.  In  1841  he  was  elected 
member  for  the  county  of  Caithness,  which  he  represented 
until  1869,  when  he  retired,  having  been  returned  in 
seven  successive  general  elections,  five  times  without  a 
contest,  and  twice  by  majorities.  He  entered  the  House 
of  Commons  as  a  Liberal,  and  in  his  public  career  he  was 
throughout  eminently  consistent,  while  in  his  private 
relations  he  was  held  in  the  greatest  esteem  as  an  upright 
and  honourable  man.  He  died,  unmarried,  at  London, 
on  29th  September  1871,  in  his  eighty- third  year. 


THE  OSWALDS. 

rhe  Oswalds.  THE  earliest  member  of  this  family  of  whom  there  is 
notice  is  James  Oswald  of  Kirkwall,  who  was  born  about 
1590,  and  died  about  1660.  He  got  a  charter  from  the 
Earl  of  Caithness  of  tenements  in  Kirkwall.  He  had  a 
son,  James. 

JAMES  OSWALD  was  a  Bailie  of  Wick.  He  married 
Barbara,  daughter  of  Coghill  of  that  Ilk,  and  had  two 
sons : — 

1.  James,  born  in  1654. 

2.  George,  born  in  1674. 

JAMES  OSWALD  was  Episcopal  minister  of  Watten. 
He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Richard  Murray  of  Penny- 
land,  and  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  Richard  of  Scotston,  a  merchant  in  Glasgow,  who 

died  in  1763. 

2.  Alexander,  a  merchant  in  Glasgow,  who  died  in 

1766. 

1.  Margaret,  who  married  Baird  of  Chesterhall. 

2.  Isabella,  who  married  James  Campbell  of  Lochend. 


THE   OSWALDS.  233 

GEORGE  OSWALD,  second  son  of  Bailie  Oswald,  was  The  Oswalds. 
ordained  minister  of  Dunnet  in  1697,  and  died  in  1725. 
He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Richard  Murray  of 
Pennyland,  and  had  two  sons  and  four  daughters  : — 

1.  The  Reverend  James  Oswald,  Dunnet. 

2.  Richard   Oswald   of  Auchencruive,    who   married 

Mary,    daughter    of   Alexander   Ramsay,    Esq., 

Jamaica,  and  died  in  1784  without  issue. 
In  the  original  Statistical  Account  of  Caithness  it  is 
asserted  that  Richard  Oswald  was  an  unsuccessful  candi- 
date for  the  Parish  School  of  Thurso.  This  story  must, 
however,  be  incorrect,  for  as  Mr.  Oswald  was  born  in 
1704,  and  as  the  Session  Records  show  that  the  competi- 
tion for  the  school  took  place  in  1706,  the  unsuccessful 
competitor  must  have  been  a  different  person.  The 
name  Oswald  was  not  uncommon  in  Thurso  at  that 
time. 

In  the  published  papers  and  correspondence  of  Lord 
Shelburne  there  is  an  account  of  his  employment  of  Mr. 
Richard  Oswald  to  negotiate  peace  with  America,  after 
the  first  war.  Mr.  Oswald  is  described  as  a  well-known 
Scotch  merchant  in  the  city  of  London,  who  had  originally 
become  known  as  a  contractor  during  the  Seven  Years' 
war,  and  who,  being  dissatisfied  with  the  manner  in  which 
his  business  was  carried  on,  went  to  Germany  himself, 
and  acted  as  Commissary-General  of  the  army  of  the 
Duke  of  Brunswick.  In  1759  he  purchased  the  estate  of 
Auchencruive,  in  Ayrshire.  He  married  Miss  Mary 

2  G 


234  THE   OSWALDS. 

riie  Oswalds.  Ramsay,  through  whom  he  became  possessed  of  extensive 
estates  in  America  and  the  West  Indies.  Owing  to  his 
connection  with  these  parts,  he  had  already  been  fre- 
quently consulted  by  the  Government  during  the  war. 
In  1777  he  had  visited  Paris,  and  made  acquaintance  with 
Vergennes  and  Franklin.  He  was  known  as  holding  very 
liberal  views  on  economic  and  commercial  questions,  being 
a  disciple  of  Adam  Smith,  to  whom  he  owed  his  intro- 
duction to  the  Secretary  of  State.  He  left  England  with 
a  letter  from  Lord  Shelburne  to  Franklin  in  which  his 
Lordship  writes  :  "  I  have  had  a  longer  acquaintance  with 
him  than  even  I  have  had  the  pleasure  to  have  with  you. 
I  believe  him  an  honest  man,  and  after  consulting  some 
of  our  common  friends,  I  have  thought  him  the  fittest  for 
the  purpose.  He  is  a  practical  man  and  conversant  in 
those  negotiations  which  are  most  interesting  to  mankind. 
This  has  made  me  prefer  him  to  any  of  our  speculative 
friends,  or  to  any  person  of  higher  rank."  The  nego- 
tiation with  America  was  ably  conducted  by  Mr.  Oswald, 
who  received  high  praise  for  his  remarkable  singleness  of 
purpose. 

1.  Jean,  who   married   David   Manson,  merchant  in 

Thurso,  and  left  no  issue. 

2.  Elizabeth,  who  married  William  Anderson,  merchant 

in  Wick,  and  had  a  son,  Alexander,  a  merchant 
in  London. 

3.  Mary,  who  married  Andrew  Robertson,  minister  of 

Farr  in  1727,  and  afterwards  of  Killearn.     She 


THE   OSWALDS.  235 

died  in  1787.     They  had  a  son,  Harry  Oswald,  a  The  Oswalds, 
merchant  in  Glasgow. 

4.  A  daughter,  who  married  John  Sutherland,  minister 
of  Golspie  in  1731,  and  of  Tain  in  1752,  son  of 
Arthur  Sutherland,  minister  of  Edderton.  Mr. 
Sutherland  had  a  numerous  family  of  sons 
and  daughters.  The  eldest  son  was  William 
Sutherland,  minister  of  Wick  from  1764  to 
1816. 

From  the  Presbytery  Records  it  appears  that  in  1699 
the  minister  of  Dunnet  "  delated "  two  persons,  a  man 
and  a  woman,  "  suspect  of  witchcraft,"  and  requested  the 
advice  of  the  presbytery,  who  recommended  the  accused 
to  be  confronted  with  the  witnesses,  and  a  report  to  be 
made  to  next  meeting ;  but  there  is  no  further  account 
of  the  matter.  This  is  about  the  last  we  hear  of  proceed- 
ings before  church  courts  against  witches  in  Caithness. 

DR.  JAMES  OSWALD,  minister  of  Dunnet,  was  trans- 
lated to  Methven  in  Perthshire,  and  died  in  1773.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  Murray  of  Clairden, 
and  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters : — 

1.  George  of  Scotston,  who  married  Miss  Smith  of 
Methven,  and  died  in  1819.  He  had  four  sons 
and  five  daughters  :  Richard,  who  succeeded  his 
grand-uncle,  Richard  Oswald  of  Auchencruive, 
and  died  without  issue ;  David,  Captain  in  the 
Nineteenth  Regiment ;  James,  Captain  in  the 


236  THE   OSWALDS. 

Royal  Navy ;  Alexander,  an  Advocate ;  Miss 
Oswald,  afterwards  of  Scotston,  who  died  in  1864, 
aged  ninety- eight ;  Catharine,  who  married  Mr. 
Haldane ;  Margaret,  who  married  General  Wilson; 
Christian,  who  married  Alexander  Anderson, 
merchant  in  London ;  and  Mary,  who  married  Mr. 
Dennistoun. 

2.  Alexander,  of  Shieldhall,  who  married  Margaret, 
only  daughter  of  John  Dundas  of  Manor,  and 
died  in  1813.  They  had  three  sons  and  three 
daughters.  The  sons  were — John,  who  died  un- 
married in  1800  ;  James,  a  merchant  in  Glasgow, 
afterwards  of  Shieldhall,  and  M.P.  for  Glasgow, 
he  succeeded  to  Auchincruive  on  the  death  of 
his  cousin,  Richard,  and  died  unmarried  in  1853, 
aged  seventy-four ;  and  Richard,  who  married  his 
cousin,  Miss  Anderson,  and  had  two  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Richard's  eldest  son,  Alexander 
Haldane  Oswald,  in  succession  to  his  uncle,  James, 
of  Auchincruive,  and  M.P.  for  Ayrshire  in  1843, 
married  Lady  Louisa,  daughter  of  William,  first 
Earl  Craven.  His  only  son  died  in  1868,  and 
he  himself  died  in  September  of  the  same  year, 
leaving  two  daughters,  Louisa  Elizabeth,  who 
married  Colonel  Farquharson  of  Invercauld,  and 
another,  who  married  the  Honourable  J,  Manners 
Yorke.  The  second  son  of  Richard  Oswald  was 
George,  who  succeeded  to  Auchincruive  on  the 


THE  OSWALDS.  237 

death  of  his   brother,  Alexander,    and   died   in  The  Oswalds. 
March  1871. 

The  daughters  of  Alexander  Oswald  of  Shield- 
hall  were — Agnes,  who  died  unmarried;  the 
second  was  Lillias,  who  married  Andrew  Mitchell, 
Writer  in  Glasgow,  and  the  third  was  Margaret, 
who  married  Dr.  Macfadzean,  Ardrossan. 

3.  James,  third  son  of  Dr.  James  Oswald. 

4.  Eichard,  who  died  young. 

1.  Janet. 

2.  Margaret. 

3.  Barbara,  who  married  Mr.  Laird,  and  had  an  only 

daughter,  Miss  Margaret  Laird. 


THE  INNESES  OF  THURSATER 

The  inneses  of  THE  historian  of  the  family  of  Innes  of  Innes  asserts 
that  they  possessed  "  the  third  rig  of  Caithness,  which 
they  kept  till  the  year  1540,"  and  he  supposes  that  they 
may  have  acquired  some  part  of  their  Caithness  posses- 
sions as  early  as  1260  or  1270.  The  editor  of  Forbes' 
account  of  the  family,  however,  had  been  unable  to  dis- 
cover any  evidence  of  their  having  held  lands  in  Caith- 
ness previous  to  1507,  at  which  date  Alexander,  son  and 
heir  of  Alexander  Innes  of  Innes,  got  a  charter  of  Dun- 
beath,  Reay,  and  Sandside.  In  1541  and  1564  he 
obtained  charters  of  various  lands  in  Latheron,  Wick, 
and  Thurso  parishes,  which  had  previously  belonged  to 
the  Oliphants ;  but  these  the  Innes  family  do  not  appear 
to  have  held  for  any  length  of  time.  In  1529  Dunbeath, 
Reay,  and  Sandside  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
Sinclairs,  that  being  about  the  time  of  the  marriage  of 
Alexander  Sinclair  of  Stemster  to  Elizabeth  Innes. 

It  is  not  known  what  was  Elizabeth  Innes's  connec- 
tion with  the  family  of  Innes  ;  but  about  the  middle  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  Margaret,  only  daughter  of 
Alexander  Innes  of  Innes,  married  William  Sinclair  of 


THE   INNESES    OF  THUBSATEB.  239 

Dunbeath,  the  son  and  heir  of  Alexander  Sinclair  and  The  inneses  of 
Elizabeth  Innes.      In  addition  to  these,   several  inter- T 
marriages  took  place  between  the  house  of  Innes  and  the 
Caithness  family. 

Other  branches  of  the  family,  or  at  least  persons 
bearing  the  family  name,  had  a  more  permanent  connec- 
tion with  the  county,  namely,  the  Inneses  of  Thursater 
and  their  collaterals,  and  the  Inneses  of  Sandside. 

The  first  notice  we  have  of  the  Inneses  of  Thursater 
is  in  1560'  when  "  Maister  Walter  Innes  of  Thursater" 
appears  as  witness  to  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Wester- 
seat,  granted  by  John,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  to  Hutcheon 
Murray  or  Pyper,  which  was  signed  at  Scrabster  on  30th 
December  in  that  year.  In  1554  and  1566  a  Mr.  Walter 
Innes  was  vicar  of  Thurso,  and  he  is  also  mentioned  as 
having  obtained  from  the  Bishop  in  1564  a  lease  of  lands 
in  Brims,  adjoining  Thursater.  There  can  be  little  doubt 
of  the  identity  of  "  Mr.  Walter,"  the  vicar,  with  "  Maister 
Walter  of  Thursater,"  "  Maister"  having  been  the  usual 
title  of  a  preacher. 

From  1567  down  to  1582  Thursater  was  possessed  by 
William  Innes,  who  is  described  as  of  Thursater  and 
portioner  of  Brims.  He  was  also  Bailie  to  the  Bishop  of 
Caithness.  He  had  a  son,  Robert,  who  died  before  him. 

It  appears  from  a  discharge  dated  25th  November 
1582,  and  signed  at  Girnigo  by  William  Innes,  who  is 
therein  designed  "of  Bryms,"  that  his  son,  Robert,  married 
Margaret  Sinclair,  "  Oy  "  or  grandchild  of  George,  fourth 


240  THE   INNESES   OP  THURSATER. 

The  inneses  of  Earl  of  Caithness  ;  and  the  discharge  acknowledges  pay- 
ment of  100  merks  from  the  Earl's  son,  George,  Chan- 
cellor of  Caithness,  as  in  full  satisfaction  of  300  merks 
promised  by  the  Earl  in  the  contract  of  marriage  of  his 
"  Oy."  Whose  daughter  Margaret  Sinclair  was  is  not 
mentioned.  Her  name  does  not  occur  in  the  family  pedi- 
gree, and  it  may  have  been  that  she  was  a  daughter  of 
William,  the  elder  brother  of  the  Chancellor,  if  she  was 
not  a  daughter  of  the  Chancellor  himself. 
EGBERT  INNES  had  five  sons  : — 

1.  John. 

2.  Eobert  of  Owst. 

3.  George  of  Skaill. 

4.  Alexander  of  Borrowstoun. 

5.  James  in  Watten. 

JOHN  INNES  OF   THURSATER,  eldest  son  of  Robert, 
married  Isobel  Innes,  and  had  three  sons  : — 

1.  Robert,  fiar  of  Thursater. 

2.  William. 

3.  Walter. 

ROBERT    INNES    OF    THCJRSATER  had  a  son  and  a 
daughter : — 

1.  James,  his  successor. 
1.  Janet. 

JAMES  INNES  OF  THURSATER  married  in  1656  Barbara, 


THE   INNESES  OF   THURSATER.  241 

daughter  of  John  Murray  of  Pennyland  ;  she  must  have  The  inneses  of 
been  his  second  wife.     James  Innes  had  two  sons  and  a 
daughter : — 

1.  Robert,  his  successor. 

2.  John,  surgeon  in  Edinburgh  in  1683. 

1.  Margaret,  who  married  William  Sinclair  of  Thrum- 
ster,  son  of  John,  older  of  Brims,  and  grandson 
of  John  Sinclair  of  Ulbster, — his  father  and  elder 
brother,  both  afterwards  of  Ulbster,  being  parties 
to  the  contract  of  marriage. 

ROBERT  INNES  OF  THURSATER  received  a  disposition 
from  his  father,  James,  in  1665.  He  was  apparently  not 
the  son  of  Barbara  Murray,  who  married  his  father  only 
in  1656.  Robert  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  James,  younger  of  Thursater,  in  1668. 

2.  William. 

James  Innes  of  Thursater  is  found  in  the  Kirk-Session 
Records  as  an  Elder  in  1666  and  1667,  and  there  was  a 
James  Innes  also  in  1675. 

James  Innes  of  Thursater,  "  grandson  of  Robert  Innes," 
was  infeft  in  1684,  on  a  precept  of  dare  constat,  and 
was,  it  is  presumed,  the  son  of  James,  who  was  younger 
of  Thursater  in  1668,  and  afterwards  of  Thursater. 

From  1684  there  is  no  certain  account  of  this  family  ; 
but  the  last- mentioned  James  Innes  appears  to  have  had 
a  son,  Robert.  At  all  events,  in  1705,  John  Sinclair  of 
Brims  was  infeft  on  a  disposition  of  Thursater  and  Easter 
Brims,  granted  by  Robert  Innes  of  Thursater.  There  is 

2  H 


242  THE  INNESES   OF   THURSATER. 

The  inneses  of  a  tradition  that  the  last  laird  of  Thursater  was  accustomed 
to  attend  the  kirk  of  Thurso  (of  which  he  was  an  elder) 
with  his  "  twelve  children/'  which  may  account  for  the 
extinction  of  the  family  estate. 

In  1718  a  daughter  of  John  Calder  of  Strath  was  the 
wife  of  James  Innes  in  Thrumster,  who  was  afterwards 
in  Ollaclate.  Their  son,  William,  was  also  in  Ollaclate, 
and  was  father  of  the  late  Major  James  Innes  of  Thrum- 
ster, and  it  is  thought  that  the  connection  traditionally 
said  to  exist  between  the  Inneses  of  Thursater  and  the 
Inneses  of  Thrumster  was  through  this  James  Innes  of 
1718,  and  that  he  was  probably  the  son  or  grandson  of 
the  last  Innes  of  Thursater. 

Reverting  to  the  other  sons  of  Robert  Innes  and 
Margaret  Sinclair,  there  were  : — 

I.  ROBERT  INNES  OF  OUST,  in  1633,  who  married 
Elizabeth  Sinclair,  and  died  before  1671,  leaving  two  sons 
and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  George. 

2.  John. 

1.  Jean,  who  married  Thomas  Gunn  or  Rorieson  in 

Thurdistoft. 

2.  Margaret,  who  married  James   Innes  of  Borrow- 

stoun. 
3-  Janet,  who  married  John  Forbes  in  Achscrabster, 

in  1674. 
There  were  apparently  two  families  of  Inneses  of  Oust, 


THE   INNESES  OF   THURSATER.  243 

as  we  find  in  1671  Elspeth  Innes,  relict  of  William  Innes  Theinnesesof 
of  Oust,  and  William,  her  eldest  son. 

II.  GEORGE  INNES  OF  OUST  married  Katharine, 
daughter  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Forss,  and  had  a  son, 
John. 


III.  JOHN  INNES  OF  OUST  appears  from  1677  to  1682. 
He  married  Anna,  daughter  of  William  Sutherland  of 
Langwell,  a  branch  of  the  Sutherlands  of  Forse.  They 
had  a  son  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  John,    to  whom  his   uncle,   James  Sutherland  of 

Langwell,  was  tutor. 

1.  Marion,  who,  in  May  1703,  married  John,   eldest 
son  of  Robert  Calder  in  Winless,  with  consent  of 
her  mother,  who  was  then  wife  of  Alexander 
Calder  of  Achingale.    Her  tocher  was  2800  merks. 
Of  the  Oust  branch  there  is  no  further  account. 
The  third  son  of  Robert  Innes  of  Thursater  was — 
George  Innes  of  Skaill,  who  had  a  son,  Walter. 
Walter  Innes  of  Skaill  married  Katharine,  daughter 
of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Murkle,  and  had  issue  : — 

1.  John,  who,  as  younger  of  Skaill,  is  included  in  the 

criminal  letters    in  1668  against  the  gentlemen 
of  Caithness  for  their  raid  into  Strathmore. 

2.  Walter. 

1.  Mary,  who  married  Angus  M'Kay  of  Golval,  Strath- 
naver. 


244  THE  INNESES   OF   THURSATER. 

The  inneses  of         The  fourth  son  of  Robert  Innes  of  Thursater  was — 

Alexander  Innes  of  Borrowstown,  who  married  Mar- 
garet Miller,  and  had  a  son,  James. 
James   Innes   of    Borrowstown    married   his   cousin, 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Robert  Innes  of  Oust,  and  had  a 
daughter,  Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth  Innes  married  Henry  Budge,  son  of  Robert 
Budge  in  Stainland. 

These  Inneses  of  Oust,  Skaill,  and  Borrowstown  held 
their  several  lands,  not  as  proprietors,  but  under  the 
redeemable  tenure  of  wadsets,  although  during  the  sub- 
sistence of  the  wadsets  the  holders  exercised  the  usual 
rights  of  proprietors.  A  great  portion  of  the  lands  in  the 
county  was  held  at  this  period  in  a  similar  way,  and  until 
comparatively  recent  times  the  number  of  absolute  pro- 
prietors was  limited. 


THE  INNESES  OF  SANDSIDE. 

IN  1507  Sandside  belonged  to  the  family  of  Innes  of  The  inneses  of 
Innes.  In  1529  it  had  passed  into  possession  of  the  first 
Sinclairs  of  Dunbeath,  probably  through  the  marriage  of 
Elizabeth  Innes  to  Alexander,  son  of  William,  second 
Earl  of  Caithness,  and  in  1610  it  was  acquired  from  the 
great-grandson  of  Alexander  Sinclair  by  Lord  Forbes, 
who  was  allied  to  the  Inneses.  In  1624  it  was  purchased 
by  Sir  Donald  M'Kay,  and  about  1625  it  was  acquired 
by  William  Innes,  a  Morayshire  gentleman,  said  to  have 
been  related  to  the  family  of  Innes  of  Innes,  and  who  had 
come  into  the  county  as  Chamberlain  for  Lord  Forbes. 
Isauld  formed  part  of  the  original  estate,  but  in  1703  a 
charter  of  adjudication  and  novodamus  was  obtained  by 
Mr.  Robert  Gordon,  wherein  Isauld  was  erected  into  a 
barony,  and  in  1723  that  property  was  acquired  by  the 
family  of  Murkle,  of  whose  estate  in  Caithness  it  still 
forms  part. 

It  is  uncertain    when    WILLIAM    INNES,   FIRST    OF 
SANDSIDE,  died.     He  appears  to  have  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  William,  supposed  to  have  been  the  eldest. 

2.  John,  who  in  1626  is  mentioned  as  an  Officer  in 


246  THE   INNESES  OF   SANDSIDE. 

The  inneses  of  the  troops  raised  by  Sir  Donald  M'Kay  for  the 

King  of  Denmark,    and   who  is   said    to    have 
obtained  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

WILLIAM  INNES,  SECOND  OF  SANDSIDE. — In  1638 
there  is  a  deed  which  narrates  a  bond  granted  in  1634  by 
William  Innes,  "  Elder  and  Younger,"  in  which  it  is  stated 
v  that  both  were  "  sty  lied  Captains."  It  is  difficult  to  say 
who  these  two  Captains  were.  In  1631  and  1637  char- 
ters were  granted  to  William  Innes  of  Sandside,  and  in 
1640  a  William  Innes  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 
James,  who  had  a  brother,  William  of  Isauld  and  Bor- 
lum.  Unless  "younger"  in  the  bond  of  1634  necessarily 
leads  to  the  conclusion  that  Captain  William  Innes 
"younger"  was  the  heir-apparent  of  Sandside,  he  may 
have  been  the  same  person  as  William  of  Isauld  and 
Borlum.  If  Captain  William  "younger"  was  not  that 
person,  then  the  parties  to  the  bond  must  have  been 
either  William  Innes,  first  of  Sandside,  and  his  son  and 
successor ;  or  William  Innes,  the  second  of  Sandside, 
and  a  son,  William.  On  the  latter  supposition,  that  son 
must  have  been  the  father  of  James,  Robert,  and 
William  Innes,  and  must  himself  have  succeeded  to  Sand- 
side,  as  William,  second  of  Sandside,  would  not  have  two 
sons  of  the  same  name,  Captain  William,  and  William 
of  Isauld  and  Borlum. 

WILLIAM  INNES,  SECOND  OR  THIRD  OF  SANDSIDE,  had 
three  sons : — 


THE   INNESES    OF   SANDSIDE.  247 

1 .  James.  The  Inneses  of 

2.  Robert,  in  Shebster. 

3.  William  of  Isauld  and  Borlum,  who  died  before 

1655,1   and    to    whom    reference   is   afterwards 
made. 


JAMES  INNES  OF  SANDSIDE  was  served  heir  in  1640 
to  his  father,  William  Innes,  whichever  of  the  Williams 
that  may  have  been.  In  1637  he  had  joined  his  father 
in  a  bond,*  wherein  he  is  described  as  his  eldest  lawful 
son;  and  from  1640  down  to  1693,  a  period  of  fifty-three 
years,  there  is  a  James  Innes  of  Sandside,  who  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  the  same  person. 

About  the  time  of  James  Innes's  succession  there  is 
mention  of  an  Alexander  Innes,  as  eldest  son  of  William 
Innes  of  Sandside,  but  of  him  there  is  no  further  account. 

James  Innes  married  Elizabeth  Johnstone,  and  had 
three  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  William,  younger  of  Sandside  in  1684. 

2.  Robert,  tutor  of  Sandside. 

3.  Arthur,  mentioned  in  1697. 

1.  Elizabeth,  to  whom,  in  1673,  her  father  granted 
a  bond  of  provision,  which  is  witnessed  by  her 
uncle,  Robert,  in  Shebster.  In  1682  she  married 
William  Sinclair,  Commissary  of  Caithness, 
eldest  son  of  William  Sinclair  of  Hoy  (not 
William,  afterwards  of  Scotscalder),  and  she  had 

1  Bond,  1638. 


248  THE   INNESES   OF   SANDSIDE. 

The  inneses  of  two    sons  i     William,    writer    in    Thurso,     and 

Robert,  rector  of  Bulfan  in  Essex. 
It  is  uncertain  at  what  time  James  Innes  died,  and 
whether  his  successor,  William  Innes,  was  his  son  or 
his  grandson.  In  1684  his  son,  William,  is  styled 
younger  of  Sandside,  but  from  1693  down  to  1701,  when 
William  Innes,  then  a  minor,  was  laird  of  Sandside,  with 
his  uncle,  Robert,  as  tutor,  there  is  no  mention,  so  far 
as  appears,  of  the  succession  of  William,  the  eldest  son  of 
James. 

WILLIAM  INNES  OF  SANDSIDE,  grandson  (as  is  sup- 
posed) of  James,  died  without  issue  in  1747.  In  1710, 
being  then  Captain  Innes,  he  fought  a  duel  with  Alex- 
ander Sinclair  of  Olrig,  in  which  the  latter  was  unfortun- 
ately killed,  and  for  some  time  thereafter  he  resided 
abroad.  This  quarrel,  which  excited  strong  feeling  in 
the  county,  from  its  fatal  result,  appears  to  have  arisen 
under  the  following  circumstances :  Captain  Innes  and 
a  party  of  gentlemen  of  the  name  of  Sinclair  had  met 
at  Thurso,  in  the  lodgings  of  the  laird  of  Murkle,  who 
was  then  a  youth  of  seventeen.  In  the  course  of  the 
evening  Murkle  left  the  room  in  ill-humour,  and  went  to 
bed,  whereupon  it  was  proposed  that  the  strongest 
of  the  party  should  carry  him  back,  and  Innes,  follow- 
ing up  the  joke,  carried  the  young  laird  from  his  bed, 
and  placed  him,  wrapped  in  blankets,  in  the  chair. 
This  increased  his  bad  humour,  and  he  spat  in  Innes's 


THE   INNESES  OF   SANDSIDE.  249 

face,  which  called  forth  the  remark  that  "  the  best  of  the  The  inneses  of 
Sinclairs  dared  not  do  that."    Olrig  fired  at  this,  and  Sandside' 
instantly  challenged  Innes,  who,  however,  unwilling  to 
carry  the  dispute  further,  represented  to  Olrig  that  the 
contest   was  unequal,  he,  Olrig,  having  a  large  family, 
while  he  himself  had  none.     But  Olrig  insisting  on  fight- 
ing, they  met  at  a  place  near  Loch  Ulgrim  on  Scotscalder, 
Olrig  armed  with  a  broadsword,  and  Captain  Innes  with 
a  rapier.     The  result  was  that  Olrig  was  run  through  the 
body,  and  died  within  a  few  days. 

Reverting  now  to  the  brothers  of  James  Innes,  it 
appears  that  William  Innes  of  Isauld  and  Borlum  died 
before  1655. 

He  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  a 
son : — 

William  Innes  of  Isauld,  who  is  mentioned  in  1660 
and  1668.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
David  Murray  of  Clairden,  by  whom  he  had 
a  son,  James.  About  1684  James  Innes,  then 
of  Sandside,  and  William,  his  eldest  son,  granted 
to  David  Murray  of  Clairden  a  bond  of  corrobora- 
tion  of  debts  and  diligences  affecting  the  estate, 
and  in  1693  his  son,  James  Murray,  granted  a" 
deed  of  restriction  of  the  adjudications  in  favour 
of  his  nephew,  James  Innes,  son  of  Isauld. 
Elizabeth  Murray,  the  mother  of  James,  was 
liferented  in  Sandside,  and  was  styled  "Lady 
Sandside."  How  she  obtained  this  liferent  is 
2  I 


250  THE   INNESES   OF  SANDSIDE. 

Theinnesesof  not  known,  as  her  husband.  William  Innes  of 

Sandside. 

Isauld,  does  not  appear  to  have  been  also  of 
Sandside.  He  may,  however,  have  been  in  posses- 
sion as  an  adjudging  creditor. 

William  Innes  of  Isauld  and  Borlum  married,  secondly, 
Margaret  Cunningham,  said  by  Douglas  to  have  been 
daughter  of  William  Cunningham  of  Broomhill,  but  who 
was,  more  probably,  the  daughter  of  John  Cunningham  of 
Brownhill,  who  signed  a  bond  of  cautionry  for  her.  Of  this 
marriage  there  were  several  children,  and  among  these — 

Henry,  the  eldest  son. 

Jean,  who  got  in  1650  from  her  half-brother,  William 
of  Isauld,  a  bond  for  500  merks. 

Henry  Innes  was  apparently  a  minor  at  the  time  of 
his  father's  death,  and  was,  as  stated  in  a  deed  by  his 
mother  in  1683,  "under  great  burden  of  debt."  She 
was  liferented  in  Borlum,  and  in  order  to  assist  her  son, 
she  assigned  to  him  certain  claims  on  the  estate  of 
Sandside,  that  being  all  she  could  do  for  him,  after  main- 
taining herself  and  family,  "  as  becomes  a  person  of  my 
quality."  Henry  Innes  married  Jean,  daughter  of  John 
Sinclair,  first  of  Brabster,  and  had  three  sons  and  a 
daughter  :  Harry,  the  eldest  son ;  Alexander,  who  died 
in  the  West  Indies,  where  he  is  said  to  have  held  "  a 
considerable  employment ;  "  John,  who  was  a  young  man 
at  school  in  1698,  as  appears  from  a  letter  by  him  to  his 
uncle,  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Brabster,  written  in  that  year; 
and  Margaret,  who  married  David  Murray  of  Castlehill. 


THE   INNESES   OF   SANDSIDE.  251 

HARRY  INNES  OF  BORLUM  succeeded  to  Sandside  on  The  inneses  of 
the   death   of   Captain   William    Innes,   in    1747.     He 
married    Janet    Dunbar,    widow    of    John    Sinclair    of 
Barrock,    and    daughter   of '  Sir    James    Sutherland    or 
Dunbar  of  Heinpriggs,  and  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  William,  his  successor. 

2.  Alexander,  whose  daughter,  Anne,  married  John 

Sutherland  of  Wester,  and  had  by  him  a  son 
and  six  daughters. 

WILLIAM  INNES  OF  SANDSIDE,  son  of  Harry  Innes, 
married  in  1764  Mary  Craddock,  who  survived  him,  and 
resided  for  many  years  in  Thurso,  where,  as  "Lady 
Sandside,"  she  was  much  esteemed  and  respected. 
They  had  two  sons  and  several  daughters  : — 

1.  William,  his  successor. 

2.  Henry,  who  died  without  issue. 

Mrs.  Macdonald,  who  had  a  son  and  two  daughters. 

MAJOR  WILLIAM  INNES  OF  SANDSIDE  was  served  heir 
to  his  father,  William,  in  1787.  He  married  his  cousin, 
Miss  Craddock,  and  died  in  1842  without  issue,  being 
succeeded  by  his  nephew,  Captain  Donald  Macdonald. 

CAPTAIN  DONALD  MACDONALD  OF  SANDSIDE,  RE., 
was  served  nearest  and  lawful  heir  of  provision  to  his 
uncle  in  1843,  under  settlements  executed  in  1816  and 
1830,  and  he  died  17th  October  1872.  He  married  Lady 


252  THE   INNESES   OF   SANDSIDE. 

The  inueses  of  Ramsay  Maule,  daughter  of  Lord  Panmure,  and  had  five 

Sandside.  J  '  ° 

sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Macdonald,  who  married  Miss 

Lindsay,  and  died  in  India  leaving  one  son,  an 
infant. 

2.  Henry. 

3.  John. 

4.  Arthur. 

5.  Dudley- Ward. 

1.  Mary. 

2.  Patricia,  who  died  young. 

The  estate  has  been  sold  to  the  Duke  of  Portland, 
*    and  none  of  the  family  of  Sandside  remain  in  the  county. 

This  sketch  of  the  family  is  confessedly  imperfect,  but 
the  sources  of  information  have  been  limited. 


THE  COGHILLS  OF  THAT  ILK. 

THE  proprietors  of  the  small  estate  of  Coghill  and  The  cogMiis  of 
Gersay  in  .Watten,  now  part  of  the  estate  of  Watten, 
were,  so  far  as  is  known,  the  only  county  landholders 
who  bore  the  designation  "  of  that  Ilk." 

The  first,  apparently,  of  this  family  was  Alexander 
Coghill  "  of  that  Ilk,"  who  nourished  previous  to  1630,  in 
which  year  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  David. 

David  Coghill  got  a  charter  in  1630  from  William, 
Lord  Sinclair,  and  another  charter  in  1638  from  John, 
Master  of  Berriedale.  In  1650  he  was  infeft  in  Scottag, 
on  a  charter  from  the  Earl  of  Caithness. 

Barbara  Coghill,  daughter  of  "  Coghill  of  that  Ilk," 
who  married  James  Oswald,  a  Bailie  of  Wick,  may 
have  been  the  sister  or  perhaps  the  daughter  of  David 
CoghiU. 

Thomas  Coghill  of  Coghill  and  Gersay,  the  son  probably 
of  David,  obtained  a  precept  of  dare  constat  from  the 
Earl  of  Caithness. 

In  1671  David  Coghill  of  Coghill  got  a  charter  from 
the  Earl  of  Caithness,  confirming  a  disposition  to  him  by 
David  Coghill  of  Coghill ;  and  it  is  presumed  that  he 


254  THE   COGHILLS   OF  THAT  ILK. 

The  coghiiis  of  was    the   son    of   Thomas,   and    grandson  of  the  first 

that  Ilk.  -^       ., 

David. 

About  the  end  of  the  century  (1698)  the  lands  were 
acquired  by  Alexander  Manson  of  Watten. 


THE  SINCLAIKS  OF  BOELUM,  TOFTKEMP, 
AND  THURA. 

IN    the    South   or   "  Murkle   Aisle"   of   the   parish  The  sinciairs of 
church   of  'Thurso   there  is  a  mural   inscription  on  thekemp,  and 
north-west  wall,  in  the  following  terms  : —  Thura" 

"  This  is  the  burial-place  of  James  Sinclair  of  Borlum ; 
and  here  lyes  James  Sinclair  his  eldest  son  and  his 
spouse,  Eliz.  Innes,  who  left  behind  them  the  Revd.  Mr. 
John  Sinclair  who  was  Rector  of  James  interred  in  Leck- 
patrick  nigh  Strabane  in  Ireland  1665."  "  Here  lyes 
Isabel  Sinclair  who  was  married  to  the  Revd.  George 
Anderson  Minister  of  Halkirk;  and  Elizabeth  Sinclair 
married  to  John  Farquhr,  Bailze  of  Thurso;  and  Mar- 
garet Sinclair  spouse  to  George  Sinclair  in  Ulgrimbeg." 

Isabel  Sinclair  was  the  grand-daughter  of  James 
Sinclair  of  Borlum,  and  it  is  thought  that  Elizabeth  and 
Margaret  were  probably  her  sisters ;  that  all  three  were 
daughters  of  James  Sinclair,  the  eldest  son  of  Borlum, 
and  that  George  Sinclair,  the  husband  of  Margaret,  was 
a  grandson  of  John  Sinclair,  first  of  Assery. 

Who  James  Sinclair  of  Borlum  was  is  very  uncertain. 
He  may  have  been  a  grandson  of  William  Sinclair  of 


256      THE   SINCLAIRS   OF  BORLUM,  TOFTKEMP,  AND  THURA. 

The  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,   to  whom   Brubster,    Brims,    Toftkemp,   and 

Borlum,  Toft-     m-,  ,     ,  ,       ^      ,         ,  .  .   . 

kemp, and  Inura  belonged^  Borlum s  name  occurs  ui  common  with 
all  these  places  in  the  county  records  from  1624  to  1646  ; 
or  he  may  have  been  of  the  family  of  Murkle,  and  if  so, 
he  may  have  been  a  brother  of  John  Sinclair,  first  of 
Assery,  and  a  son  of  James  Sinclair,  first  of  Murkle. 

In  M'Kay's  history  it  is  mentioned  that  James  Sin- 
clair of  Borlum  was  killed  (time  not  stated)  by  one  Neil 
M'Kay,  for  the  share  he  had  in  the  slaughter  of  the 
latter's  father  in  an  affray  in  Thurso,  about  1648, 
with  which  Murkle  was  concerned.  Then,  Murkle  was 
cautioner  for  him  and  for  his  own  son,  John  Sinclair  of 
Assery,  in  1637;  and  frequent  marriages  took  place 
between  the  immediate  descendants  of  Sinclair  of  Bor- 
lum and  Sinclair  of  Assery.  Thus,  Borlum's  son,  Major 
William  Sinclair,  married  Assery's  grand-daughter,  Mar- 
garet Doull;  Borlum's  grand- daughter,  Jean  Sinclair, 
married  Assery's  great-grandson,  Alexander  Sinclair ; 
and  Borlum's  grandson,  Richard  of  Thura,  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  George  Sinclair  of  Assery.  It  may  be 
noticed  also  that  James  Sinclair  of  Murkle  is  found  as 
cautioner  for  John  Sinclair  of  Assery,  his  son,  and  James 
of  Borlum,  and  that  John  Sinclair,  fourth  of  Sybster, 
the  son  of  Assery,  is  cautioner  in  1658  in  the  marriage- 
contract  of  Borlum's  daughter,  Jean. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  James  Sinclair  was  of  the 
Dunbeath  family,  he  was  probably  the  son  of  George 
Sinclair  of  Downreay ,  the  youngest  son  of  William  Sinclair. 


THE   SINCLAIRS    OF    BORLUM,  TOFTKEMP,  AND  THURA.      257 

It  is  certain,  at  all  events,  that  there  were  transactions  The  sinciairs  of 
between  James  Sinclair  and  the  descendants  of  William  kem^wid^ 
Sinclair  in  relation  to  lands  which  belonged  to  the  family.  Thura' 
In  particular,  there  is  mention  of  a  renunciation  of  rights 
held  by  Borlum  over  Spittal,  granted  by  him,  in  1649,  to 
John  Sinclair  of  Brims,  grandson  of  Dunbeath.  This 
deed,  if  extant,  would  perhaps  throw  light  on  his  history.1 
A  few  years  ago  a  family  of  Sinciairs  of  Holyhill,  in 
Ireland  (of  whom  notice  will  be  found  in  "  Burke "), 
claiming  to  be  descended  from  a  "  Sir  James  Sinclair  of 
Caithness,"  made  inquiries  in  regard  'to  their  Caithness 
ancestry.  There  is  no  doubt  that  this  family  is  descended 
from  a  clergyman  named  James  Sinclair,  rector  of  Strath- 
bane,  a  grandson  of  James  Sinclair  of  Borlum,  while  the 
tradition  among  them  that  their  ancestor  was  a  Sir  James 
Sinclair  strengthens  the  supposition  that  Borlum  was  of 
the  Murkle  family.  John  Sinclair  of  F  res  wick  writes  in 
1782  from  Knaresboro' :  "  At  York  ther'se  a  very  re- 
spectable sensible  man,  Councillor  Robert  Sinclair  of  the 
Holyhill  family  in  Ireland.  He  has  a  property  there  of 
£400  a  year ;  is  marry' t  here  to  a  lady  of  good  family,  by 
whom  he  will  get  £10,000.  The  late  Mr.  Pope  of  Reay 
knew  to  what  family  in  Caithness  they  were  connected. 
He  wants  to  know  his  descent,  when  they  emigrate,  or 
when  came  of  the  Caithness  family." 

1  Reference    is    made   to    notes    on  that  there  was  a  connection  between  the 

Sinciairs  of  Dunbeath  and  Stemster  as  to  Sinciairs  of  Borlum  and  Wester-Brims, 

younger  branches  of  Dunbeath  family,  and   the  Sinciairs  of  Brims  descended 

Mr.  Alexander  Sinclair  was  of  opinion  from  the  Sinciairs  of  Dunbeath. 

2  K 


258      THE  SINCLAIRS  OF  BORLUM,  TOFTKEMP,  AND   THURA. 

The  sinciairs  of  In  1853  a  letter  was  received  by  the  late  Sir  John 
kempfand0  Sinclair  (Barrock)  from  a  gentleman  in  Ireland  to  the 
following  effect :  "In  tracing  the  pedigree  of  the  Lowry 
family  of  the  County  Tyrone  in  this  country,  I  find  that, 
early  in  the  1 8th  century,  Hobert  Lowry,  grandfather  of 
the  first  Lord  Belmore,  married  Miss  Sinclair,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  James  Sinclair  of  Holyhill,  County  Down,  and 
grand-daughter  of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Caithness.  Could 
you  assist  me  in  identifying  this  Sir  James,  as  I  am 
induced,  as  a  matter  of  family  history,  to  trace  this  if  pos- 
sible ?"  This  no  doubt  has  reference  to  the  family  of  the 
Rev.  James  Sinclair. 

JAMES  SINCLAIR  OF  BORLUM  had  four  sons,  James, 
Alexander,  William,  and  Robert,  and  a  daughter,  Jean. 
1.  James  Sinclair  of  Wester-Brims  married  Elspeth 
or  Elizabeth  Innes,  probably  of  the  Inneses  of 
Thursater  and  Wester-Brims,  and  died  before 
1659,  leaving  a  son,  John,  and  several  daughters. 
The  existence  and  history  of  John  Sinclair,  his 
son,  are  clearly  shown  by  the  inscription  (given 
above)  in  Thurso  Old  Kirk,  and  by  the  state- 
ments in  a  contract,  dated  23d  September  1659 
(Sheriff-Court  Records,  1665),  between  Elizabeth 
Innes,  his  mother,  and  his  uncle,  Alexander 
Sinclair  of  Telstane.  James  Sinclair  of  Thura 
(Borlum),  as  principal,  and  his  son,  James  of 
Wester-Brims,  as  cautioner,  had  come  under 
certain  obligations  which  Elspeth  Innes,  as  exe- 


THE   SINCLAIRS    OF    BORLUM,  TOFTKEMP,  AND  THURA.      259 

cutrix  of  her  husband,  had  to  pay.  She  led  an  The  sinciairs  of 
adjudication  of  the  lands  of  Thura  and  Toftkemp,  ^^1°"" 
then  possessed  by  Major  William  Sinclair,  forThura> 
1600  merks,  and  she  assigned  the  decreet  to 
Alexander  Sinclair  of  Telstane  and  his  wife, 
Isabel  Cunningham  ;  he  becoming  bound  to  lead 
an  adjudication  against  John,  son  of  James  of 
Wester- Brims,  as  heir  of  line  to  his  grandfather, 
James  of  Thura  and  Borlum.  This  assignation 
is*  drawn  by  John  Cunningham,  advocate,  no 
doubt  the  brother  of  Isabel  Cunningham,  and 
afterwards  Sir  John  of  Caprington. — ( Vide  Cun- 
ninghams). Further,  in  a  deed  executed  by  Eliza- 
beth Innes,  as  relict  of  James  Sinclair  of  Wester- 
Brims,  in  connection  with  the  sale  of  Brims,  in 
1660,  to  John  Sinclair  of  Tannoch,  mention  is 
made  of  her  son,  Mr.  John  Sinclair,  minister  of 
Leckpatrick,  in  Ireland. 

James  Sinclair  had  certainly  three  daughters  : 
Isabell,  who  married  the  Reverend  George  Ander- 
son, minister  of  Halkirk,  as  mentioned  in  the 
inscription  above  quoted ;  Jean,  who  married 
Alexander  Sinclair,  notary-public  in  Thurso ; 
and  a  third  daughter,  who  married  Alexander 
Abernethy,  in  Swordale,  and  thereafter  Alexander 
Mulliken,  in  Papigo,  chamberlain  to  the  Earl  of 
Caithness. 
2.  Captain  Alexander  Sinclair,  second  son  of  James 


The  Sinclair*  of 
Borlum,  Toft- 
kemp,  and 
Thura. 


260      THE    STNCLAIRS   OF  BORLUM,  TOFTKEMP,  AND    THTJRA. 

Sinclair  of  Borlum  and  Thura,  was  first  of  Bower- 
tower,  and  afterwards  of  Telstane  (now  Hemp- 
riggs),  of  which  he  held  a  wadset  from  the  Earl 
of  Caithness.  He  married  Isabel,  the  daughter — 
according  to  Douglas — of  William  Cunningham 
of  Broomhill,  but  more  probably  of  John  Cun- 
ningham of  Brownhill.  Captain  Sinclair  had  two 
sons,  John  (1683)  and  James,  and  two  daughters, 
Katharine,  "  Lady  Dun,"  wife  of  William  Sinclair 
of  Dun,  and  thereafter  of  Alexander  Sutherland 
of  Ausdale,  by  whom  she  had  a  daughter, 
Isabella ;  his  second  daughter  married  one  John 
Fullerton. 

In  1666  there  is  on  record  an  inhibition  at 
the  instance  of  John,  Alexander,  George,  Eliza- 
beth, and  Margaret  Sinclair,  as  "  lawful  heirs  "  of 
Alexander  Sinclair  of  Telstane.  It  is  not  ex- 
plained who  these  persons  were,  or  what  was  their 
relationship  to  Alexander  Sinclair. 
3.  Major  William  Sinclair  of  Thura,  third  son  of  James 
of  Borlum,  got  a  disposition  of  the  estate  from 
his  father  in  1651.  He  served  in  the  German 
wars,  and  was  in  the  fight  at  Aultimarloch  in 
1680,  on  the  side  of  the  Sinclairs.  He  married 
Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Doull  of  Thuster, 
Wick,  and  grand-daughter  of  John  Sinclair,  first 
of  Assery.  He  had  three  sons  and  a  daughter  : 
(l)  John,  afterwards  of  Thura,  who  disponed  the 


THE   SINCLAIRS   OF   BORLUM,  TOFTKEMP,  AND   THURA.       261 

estate    in    1702    to    his    brother,    Richard ;    (2)  The  sinciairs  of 
Richard     of    Thura,    who     married     Elizabeth,  k«mp,  aad° 
daughter   of    George    Sinclair    of    Assery,    andThura- 
had    a    son,    Captain   John    Sinclair,   who   sold 
the  lands  in  1754  to  Daniel  Taylor;  (3)  James, 
of  whom  there  is  no  account ;  and  (l)  Jean. 

4.  Robert  Sinclair,  fourth  son  of  James  of  Borlum,  had 
a  daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  married  Donald  Hen- 
derson in  Sibster,  afterwards  in  Achalibster. 
— 'Vide  Hendersons  of  Westerdale. 

1.  Jean,  the  daughter  of  James  Sinclair  of  Borlum, 
married,  in  1658,  Alexander  Steill,  who  is  de- 
signed as  "servitor  to  the  Earl  of  Caithness." 
Her  brothers,  Captain  Alexander  and  Major 
William,  were  parties  to  the  contract  of  marriage, 
and  her  tocher  was  1000  merks. 


THE  BRUGES  OF  STANSTILL. 

The  Bruces  of  THE  Bruces,  of  whom  the  principal  family  was  Bruce 
of  Stanstill,  are  of  old  standing  in  the  county.  It  is 
believed  that  ancient  charters  connected  with  this  family 
are  still  extant  in  the  charter- chest  of  Mr.  Wemyss  of 
Southdun ;  but  the  information  at  hand  does  not  ex- 
tend beyond  1559.  At  that  period,  Stanstill,  which  had 
formed  part  of  the  bishopric,  was  feued  out  with  other 
lands  to  John,  Earl  of  Sutherland.  In  the  charter  by  the 
Bishop,  Stanstill  is  mentioned  as  then  held  in  feu  by 
"William  Davidson."  As  we  find,  in  1562,  " David 
'Saul  of  Stanstill,"  and,  in  1567,  "  David  Bruce  of  Stan- 
still,"  and  David  having  been  a  family  name,  it  is 
probable  that  "  William  Davidson"  was  William  David 's- 
son,  that  is,  William  Saul  or  Bruce,  son  of  David  Saul  or 
Bruce.  Saul  seems  to  have  been  the  patronymic  or  clan 
name  of  the  Bruces,  for,  in  1630,  David  Bruce,  then 
of  Stanstill,  bequeathed  "  two  hundred  merks  of  his 
readiest  rents  to  be  dedicat  and  given  to  the  building  of 
ane  He  and  burying  place  in  the  kirk  yard  of  Bower  in 
the  Clan-Saul  Hillock,  where  he  has  ordainit  to  bury 
his  bodie." 


THE    BRUGES  OF   STANSTILL.  263 

I.  DAVID  BRUCE,  who  was  probably  the  David  Saul  The  Braces  of 
of  1562,  obtained  a  charter  of  Stanstill  and  part  of  Kirk 
in  1567  ;  and  in  1577  he  received  sasine  on  Stanstill,  and 
in  the  hereditary  office  of  Keeper  of  the  Loch  of  Alter- 
wall  and  fresh- water  fishings  thereof,  on  a  charter  from 
Alexander,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  the  son  of  Earl  John. 
David  Bruce  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  William,  his  successor. 

2.  John,  mentioned  in  1601. 

II.  WILLIAM  BRUCE  OF  STANSTILL  AND  HASTIGROW 
obtained  a  tack  of  teinds  in  1573  ;  and  in  1582  he  got  a 
precept  as  heir  to  his  father.  He  died  in  1622.  He  was 
twice  married ;  first  to  Isabella,  daughter  of  Patrick 
Mowat  of  Buquhollie.  She  died  in  1601,  as  appears  from 
a  tombstone  to  her  memory,  which  had  been  originally 
placed  in  the  parish  church  of  Canisbay,  and  which  is 
still  extant  in  the  churchyard  there.  By  her  William 
Bruce  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  David,  his  successor. 

2.  William,  mentioned  in  1617. 

3.  Patrick,  who  had  a  son  named  Magnus,  and  other 

children — Magnus  being  the  eldest. 

1.  Christian,  who  married  Gavin  Bruce,  portioner  of 

Lyth. 

2.  Isabella. 

William  Bruce  married,  secondly,  Janet  Murray, 
widow  of  David  Sinclair,  apparent  of  Forss,  and  daughter 


264  THE   BRUGES   OF  STANSTILL. 

The  Braces  of  of  Murray  of  Pulrossie,  Sutherlandshire.  She  survived 
her  husband ;  and  much  litigation  took  place  between 
her  and  her  relations  (the  Hurrays  of  Pulrossie  and  Span- 
ziedale)  and  her  stepson,  David  Bruce,  with  the  result, 
as  stated  in  a  letter  in  1630,  from  David  Bruce,  minister 
of  Olrig  (a  near  connection  of  the  Stanstill  family),  to 
Magnus  Mowat  of  Buquhollie,  that  "  the  Ladye  craftily 
wrought  her  point,  to  the  ruin  of  the  House." 

By  Janet  Murray,  William  Bruce  had  a  daughter, 
Janet,  who  married  James  Sinclair  of  Reaster,  afterwards 
of  Rattar,  son  of  Sir  John  Sinclair,  first  of  Greenland  and 
Rattar.  By  her  eldest  son,  William,  the  Rattar  line  was 
carried  on. 


III.  DAVID  BRUCE  OF  STANSTILL  succeeded  his  father, 
William,  and  married  Helen,  daughter  of  George  Ogilvie 
of  Carnoustie,  and  sister  of  Sir  George  Ogilvie.  In  refer- 
ence to  the  misfortunes  which  befell  the  family  of  Stan- 
still  in  the  time  of  David  Bruce,  minister  of  Olrig,  he 
writes  that,  "  the  want  of  his  tocher  gude  fra  Carnoustie 
brought  a  discord  betwixt  his  father  and  him,"  of  which, 
he  adds,  his  stepmother  took  advantage  to  his  prejudice. 

David  Bruce  left  the  estate  much  involved  in  debt, 
and  the  minister  of  Olrig,  the  fast  friend  of  the  family, 
urged  Buquhollie,  the  uncle  of  Stanstill,  "to  lat  all 
friends  put  to  their  shoulders  for  the  standing  of  the 
House  that  is  so  unjustly  pursuit,"  he  himself  having 
taken  charge  of  the  young  heir,  whom  he  describes  as  a 


THE  BRUGES  OF   STANSTILL.  265 

"  pretty  quick  bairn  of  nine  years  of  age."    David  Bruce  The  Braces  of 
died  in  1630,  leaving  a  son  and  four  daughters  : — 
1.  William,  his  heir. 

1.  Janet. 

2.  Jean. 

3.  Elizabeth. 

4.  Margaret. 

By  his  will  he  "  left  in  Legacie  "  his  four  daughters  as 
follows :  Janet,  to  Lady  Hatton,  her  mother's  sister ; 
Jean,  to  his  cousin-german,  Christian  Mowat,  wife  of  Sir 
John  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath ;  Elizabeth,  to  her  uncle,  the 
laird  of  Birness ;  and  Margaret,  to  her  aunt,  Christian, 
wife  of  Gavin  Bruce  of  Lyth. 

IV.  WILLIAM  BRUCE  OF  STANSTILL  appears  to  have 
married  a  daughter  of  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath,  for 
in  a  bond  to  Sir  John,  in  1640,  he  mentions  the  latter  as 
his  father-in-law.  If  he  had  issue,  there  is  no  account  of 
them.  David  Bruce  of  Lyth,  the  minister  of  Olrig,  who 
had  taken  -charge  of  William  when  a  minor,  at  his  death, 
in  1633,  committed  his  ward  to  the  care  of  his  brother 
and  heir,  William,  and  a  great  deal  of  litigation  subse- 
quently took  place  between  them. 

The  estate  was  apparently  hopelessly  sunk  in  debt, 
and  Sir  John  Sinclair  had  acquired  apprisings  over  it, 
amounting  to  20,000  merks.  In  1649,  William  Bruce, 
portioner  of  Lyth,  got  right  to  these  apprisings  from  Sir 
John,  subject  to  the  condition  that  Patrick,  the  uncle  of 

2  L 


266  THE   BRUGES  OF  STANSTILL. 

The  Braces  of  William  Bruce  of  Stanstill,  or  Magnus,  Patrick's  eldest 
son,  should  be  entitled  to  redeem  the  lands  within  a 
certain  time.  This  makes  it  probable  that,  at  the  period 
of  this  transaction,  William  Bruce  was  dead,  and  had  left 
no  issue.  The  estate  was  not  redeemed,  and  conse- 
quently, in  1653,  Robert  Bruce,  eldest  son  of  William 
Bruce  of  Lyth,  came  into  possession  of  Stanstill.  The 
Lyth  Bruces  were  no  doubt  connected  with  the  Stanstill 
family,  as  were  the  Bruces  of  Hastigrow  and  Ham ;  but 
the  particulars  of  the  relationship  have  not  been  traced. 

Y.  EGBERT  BRUCE  OF  STANSTILL,  the  son  of  William 
Bruce,  portioner  of  Lyth,  and  nephew  of  David  Bruce, 
minister  of  Olrig,  married  Elizabeth  or  Elspeth,  daughter 
of  James  Sinclair  of  Rattar,  and  had  a  son,  William. 

VI.  WILLIAM  BRUCE  OF  STANSTILL  is  described,  in 
1667,  as  "Younger  of  Stanstill,"  and  as  portioner  of 
Lyth.  In  1666  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  David 
Sinclair  of  Southdun.1  His  further  history  is. unknown, 
but  the  title-deeds  of  the  estate  will  no  doubt  show  when 
Stanstill  passed  from  the  Bruce  family,  as  it  long  ago  did. 
There  is  some  notice  of  a  second  son,  George. 

1  Contract  of  Marriage. 


THE  BRUGES  OF  HAM. 

WALTER  BRUCE  OF  HAM,  third  son  of  Saul  Bruce 
Lyth,  obtained,  in  1636,  from  James  Sinclair  of  Rattar, 
a  wadset'of  Ham  and  Wester;  and  in  1647  lie  got  a 
wadset  of  Brough  from  William  Sinclair  of  Rattar.  In 
1663  the  Earl  of  Caithness  gave  him  a  charter  of  these 
lands,  confirming  to  him  and  his  heirs  "an  irredeemable 
bond  of  alienation/' 

Walter  Bruce  married  three  times  ;  first,  Janet,  eldest 
daughter  of  James  Sinclair  of  Rattar  ;l  secondly,  Barbara, 
daughter  of  William  Smithe,  minister  of  Dunnet  from 
1614  to  1650  ;2  and,  thirdly,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Alexander  Sinclair  of  Latheron,  and  sister  to  the  first 
Sinclairs  of  Brabster  and  Barrock.  The  last-named 
survived  her  husband  and  married  George  Sinclair  of 
Olrig. 

By  his  first  marriage  Walter  Bruce  had  two  sons 
and  a  daughter : — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

2.  David,  afterwards  styled  of  Ham. 

1  Contract  of  Marriage,  20th  December  1642. 

2  Contract  of  Marriage,  ]  657. 


268  THE  BRUGES  OF   HAM. 

TheBrucesof  1.    Janet. 

By  his  second  marriage  he  had  two  sons  and  a 
daughter  : — 

1.  Walter. 

2.  William. 

1.  Rose  or  Rosie,  who  married  Andrew  Gunn,  and 
who  seems  to  have  been  heiress  to  Walter  and 
William. 

By  his  third  marriage  he  had  a  daughter : — 

Elizabeth,  who  married  William  Calder  of  Lynegar. 

John  Bruce  of  Ham  married  Anne,  daughter  of  John 
Cunningham  of  Brownhill,  and  had  two  daughters  : — 

1.  Janet. 

2.  Elizabeth. 

These  ladies  are  both  mentioned  in  1694  as  daughters 
of  the  deceased  John  Bruce  of  Ham. 

John  Bruce  appears  to  have  been  succeeded  by  his 
brother,  David,  as  "  heir-male "  of  him  and  his  father, 
Walter;  while  at  the  same  time  his  daughter,  Janet, 
is  designed  as  Janet  Bruce  of  Ham. 

Janet  Bruce  married  ^Eneas  or  Angus  Sutherland, 
merchant  in  Thurso,  and  had  a  son,  William. 

In  1738  James  Murray  of  Clairden  adjudged  from 
William  Sutherland,  son  of  Janet  Bruce,  his  rights  to 
Ham,  as  representing  his  mother,  his  grandfather,  John, 
and  his  great-grandfather,  Walter.  From  James  Murray 
the  lands  of  Ham,  etc.,  came  into  the  possession  of  Sinclair 
of  Barrock,  and  they  finally  reverted  to  the  Rattar  family. 


THE  BRUGES  OF   HAM.  269 

David  Bruce  of  Ham,  the  "heir-maill"  of  his  brother,  The  Braces  of 
John,  and  his  father,  Walter,  is  mentioned  in  1694  as 
"  now  of  Ham,"  but  there  is  no  further  notice  of  him, 
and  it  would  seem  as  if  the  possession  had  remained  in 
the  family  of  John  Bruce  until  the  date  of  Clairden's 
adjudication  in  1738. 

John  Bruce's  widow,  Anne  Cunningham,  was  life- 
rented  in  Ham,  and  married  William  Sutherland,  who 
was  thereafter  styled  of  Ham.  He  is  not  to  be  con- 
founded with  her  grandson,  William  Sutherland,  the  son 
of  her  daughter,  Janet. 


THE  BRUGES  OF  LYTH. 

TheBmcesof  IN  1524  Lyth  belonged  to  the  "Hansons."  In  that 
year  Kenneth,  Donald,  and  William  Manson  got  a  charter 
of  the  lands  in  equal  shares  from  Andrew,  Bishop  of 
Caithness,  and,  in  1532,  a  commission  was  directed  by 
the  Pope  for  confirming  the  grant. 

Between  1583  and  1610,  Lyth  was  acquired  by  the 
Bruces,  William  Bruce  of  Stanstill  having,  in  1583, 
obtained  a  charter  from  the  Bishop  of  one-third, — while, 
in  1601,  another  one-third  was  held  by  Saul  Bruce,  and 
the  remaining  one-third,  in  1610,  by  Gavin  Bruce. 

Saul  and  Gavin  Bruce,  portioners  of  Lyth,  were 
probably  brothers,  and  in  a  removing  against  them  in 
1610,  at  the  instance  of  William  Bruce  of  Stanstill 
(Gavin  Brace's  father-in-law),  from  the  lands  of  Bilster, 
they  are  designed  by  the  alias  of  "  Donald  Williamsons." 
Their  connection  with  the  Stanstill  branch  is  not  known 
further  than  Gavin's  alliance  by  marriage. 

In  1592  there  was  a  charter  to  William  Bruce,  eldest 
son  of  Donald  Williamson  or  Bruce.  In  1681  the  Bishop 

granted  a  charter  to  Bruce,  heir  of  Gavin  Bruce, 

son  and  heir  of  Donald.      In  1683  there  was  a  special 


THE   BRUGES  OF  LYTH.  271 

retour  and  also  a  precept  of  dare  constat  to  James  Bruce,  The  Bmces  of 
grandson  of  Gavin.     Thus  there  are  : — 

1.  Donald  Bruce  Williamson. 

2.  William  Bruce,  eldest  son  of  Donald,  in  1592. 

3.  Gavin  Bruce,  who  married  Christian,  daughter  of 

William  Bruce,  second  of  Stanstill. 

4.  Bruce,  Gavin's  son. 

5.  James   Bruce,  grandson   of  Qavin.      In  1682  he 

disponed  his  third  of  Lyth  to  George  Sinclair  of 
Barrock. 

I.  SAUL  BRUCE  married  one  of  the  Manson  family,  to 
whom,  in  1524,  Lyth,  then  divided  into  three  portions, 
belonged.  He  had  three  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  David,    minister   of  Olrig,  or   more   probably   of 

Halkirk.  In  1591  Saul  Bruce  was  minister  of 
Reay,  and  between  1597  and  1599  he  was  trans- 
lated to  Olrig.  David  Bruce  is  not  in  the  list  of 
ministers  of  Olrig  in  "  Fasti  Eccles.  Scot." 

2.  William. 

3.  Walter  of  Ham. 

I.  Marjorie,  who  married  Sinclair  of  Dun. 

II.  DAVID  BRUCE,  portioner  of  Lyth,  said  to  have 
been    minister   of    Olrig   and    Skinnet,    married   Janet 
Sinclair,  the  widow  of  John  Smart,  who  was  minister  of 
Wick  in  1638,  and  who  died  minister  of  Dunnet,  in  1667. 

The  great  interest  taken  by  David  Bruce  in  the  affairs 


97'} 


THE   BRUGES   OF  LYTH. 

The  Braces  of  Of  the  Stanstill  family  has  been  already  noticed.  He  died 
in  1633,  and,  having  no  family,  he  left  his  property  of 
Lyth  to  his  brother,  William,  who  is  designed  of  Milburn  ; 
his  moveables  to  his  brother,  Walter  Bruce  of  Ham ;  a 
legacy  to  his  sister,  Marjorie ;  and  another  legacy  to  her 
"  and  William  Sinclair's  bairns."  William  Sinclair  of 
Dun  is  mentioned  by  Father  Hay  as  having  married 
Marjorie,  daughter  of  Saul  Bruce  of  Leith  (Lyth).  She 
was,  no  doubt,  David  Bruce's  sister. 

III.  WILLIAM  BRUCE,  portion er  of  Lyth,  succeeded 
his  brother,  David,  and  had  three  sons  : — 

1.  Robert. 

2.  George. 

3.  William    of    Myreland ;    and   also    of   Kirk   and 

Myrelandhorn,  which  he  apprised  from  James 
Sinclair,  and  assigned  to  his  grandson,  George, 
together  with  an  apprising  of  Lyth. 

IV.  ROBERT    BRUCE,    eldest    son   of   William,   and 
portioner  of  Lyth  in  1653,  came  into  possession  of  Stan- 
still.    For  further  particulars  regarding  him  reference  is 
made  to  the  "  Notes  "  on  the  Stanstill  family. 


THE   BKUCES   OF   HASTIGEOW 
AND    SEATEE. 

THE    lp,nds   of    Hastigrow    belonged,    in    1582,    to  The  Braces  of 
William    Bruce,    then    of    Stanstill,    and    they     mustseater. 
have  belonged  also  to  his  father,  David,   first  of  Stan- 
still,    for   William    obtained   a   precept   as   heir  to  his 
father. 

In  1604,  Hastigrow  was  in  possession  of  John  Bruce,1 
who  probably  was  John,  the  brother  of  William.  John 
had  a  son,  David. 

DAVID  BRUCE  OF  HASTIGROW  AND  SEATER  was  served 
heir  to  his  father  in  1607,2  and  had  a  son,  Magnus. 

MAGNUS  BRUCE  OF  HASTIGROW  AND  SEATER  was 
served  heir  to  his  father,3  and  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  John     of    Hastigrow,     who    married     Katharine 

Dunnet. 

2.  William  of  Seater. 

In  1686  the  brothers  made  a  division  of  their 
father's  property.  John  got  Hastigrow,  to  which  he 

1  Charter  by  E.  of  C.,  9th  June  1604. 

2  Precept,  llth  August  1607. 

3  Sasine  on  Disposition  by  his  father,  1657. 

2  M 


274  THE   BRUGES   OF  HASTIGROW   AND  SEATER. 

The  Bmces  of  also  had  a  disposition  from  his  father  and  grand- 
father  in  1657;  and  Seater  fell  to  William.  Hasti- 
grow  was  sold  to  George  Sinclair  of  Barrock  in  1687. 
Both  it  and  Seater  now  belong  to  the  Southdun 
estate. 


THE  CAMPBELLS  AND  M'lVERS 
OR  IVEEACHS. 

FROM  "  An  Account  of  the  Clan  Tver,"  or,  as  they  are  The  Campbell 
named  bjf  Gordon,  The  Sell-  Wick-  Iver  in  Caithness,  by 
Principal  Campbell  of  Aberdeen, — printed  for  private 
circulation  in  1868,  and  reprinted  in  1873, — it  appears 
that  some  at  least  of  the  Caithness  Campbells,  viz.  the 
M'lvers  Buey  (Buidhe,  Yellow-haired),  latterly  Camp- 
bells of  Quoycrook,  in  Caithness,  and  Duchernan,  in 
Argyle,  are  descended  from  Kenneth  Buey  M'lver,  who 
emigrated  from  Argyle  to  Caithness  between  1575  and 
1585,  accompanied  by  his  brother,  Farquhar,  and  a  band 
of  the  clan.  In  1594  Farquhar  was  slain  in  a  fight  near 
Harpsdale.  Kenneth  was  alive  in  1616,  and  had  obtained 
a  charter  of  Quarrycrook  in  Halkirk. 

Kenneth  M'lver  is  said  to  have  had  two  sons  : — 
William  M'lver  or  William  Kennetson,  who  was  chief 
of  the  clan,  and  John.  The  latter  and  his  uncle, 
Farquhar,  are  supposed  to  have  been  the  progenitors  of 
many  of  the  Caithness  M'lvers  and  Iverachs,  some  of 
whom  assumed  the  name  of  Campbell. 

About  1626  William  Buey  was  dispossessed  by  Lord 


276        THE   CAMPBELLS   AND  MOVERS   OR  IVERACHS. 

The  Campbells  Berriedale  of  such  lands  as  were  held  from  him,  and  he 
returned  to  Argyle.  Having  interested  Lord  Lorn  in  his 
fortunes,  he  assumed  the  name  of  Campbell,  and,  coming 
back  into  Caithness  with  a  new  body  of  his  clansmen,  he 
carried  on  a  feud  with  Lord  Berriedale  for  several  years. 
At  length  he  was  taken  prisoner,  along  with  one  of  his 
sons,  and  both  were  put  to  death. 

In  Principal  Campbell's  account  of  the  Caithness 
M'lvers,  they  are  said  to  have  occupied  most  of  the 
lands  in  the  parishes  of  Halkirk  and  Reay,  and  in  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  parish  of  Thurso,  of  which  the 
Earl  Marischal  and  Lord  Oliphant  were  superiors ;  and  it 
is  stated  that  they  can  be  traced  in  possession  of  Quoy- 
crook,  part  of  Braal,  Scotscalder,  and  North  Calder, 
Lieurary,  Brubster,  Soure  or  Shurery,  Braalbin,  Gerston, 
Comlie-foot,  Housell,  Drakress,  Olganymore,  Sibmister 
(Sibster),  and  Sordale.  But  what  portion  of  these  lands, 
with  the  exception  of  Quoycrook,  they  held  by  a  heritable 
title,  is  said  not  to  have  been  ascertained. 

William  Buey  M'lver  had  several  sons,  but  there  is 
uncertainty  as  to  their  names.  By  one  of  them,  Donald, 
he  had  three  grandsons  : — 

1.  Patrick  Buey  Campbell  of  Quoycrook.  This  was 
a  family  possession,  recovered  by  him  in  1657,  and 
of  which  he  obtained  a  new  charter  in  1674.  It  is 
the  same  place  to  which,  under  the  name  of 
Quarry  crook,  Kenneth  M'lver  had  acquired  a 
charter. 


THE  CAMPBELLS   AND   MOVERS   OR  IVERACHS.          277 

2.  Farquhar  Campbell  or  M'lver,  in  Eumsdale.     He  The  Campbells 

,       ,  TTT-ii*  and  M'lvers  or 

had  a  son,  William. 

3.  Alexander  Campbell  of  Comlie-foot,  near  Halkirk. 

He  had  a  wadset  of  these  lands,  dated  6th  March 
1682.  He  married  Agnes  Charleson,  and  had  at 
least  two  sons  and  a  daughter :  Donald  Camp- 
bell, in  Stainland  and  Aimster,  chamberlain  to 
Lord  Breadalbane ;  John  Campbell  in  Comlie- 
foot  ;  and  Isabel,  who  married,  in  1700,  William 
Davidson,  in  Buckies.  The  following  inscription 
is  to  be  seen  on  a  gravestone  in  the  kirkyard  of 
Halkirk  : — "  Here  lyes  Alexander  Campbell  of 
Comilfiet,  who  died  10  Nov.  1693."  An  adjoin- 
ing stone  marks  the  grave  of  his  brother, 
Farquhar. 

Patrick  Buey  Campbell  married  Helen  Bayne,  of  the 
Baynes  of  Bylbster,  or  of  Clyth,  and  had  an  only  son, 
Donald,  and  several  daughters,  of  whom  one  married 
Murdoch  Campbell,  in  Brubster,  and  another,  named 
Anna,  married  her  cousin-german,  William,  tacksman  of 
Eumsdale,  in  1697,  son  of  Farquhar  Campbell  or  M'lver. 
In  1705,  Helen  Bayne,  then  relict  of  Patrick  Buey 
Campbell,  executed  a  renunciation  of  part  of  Quoycrook 
in  favour  of  her  nephew,  Donald,  the  son  of  Alexander 
Campbell  of  Comliefoot ;  and  in  the  same  year  she  dis- 
poned  her  liferent  in  certain  other  lands  to  her  son-in- 
law,  Murdoch  Campbell,  in  Brubster. 

From  Donald  Buey  Campbell  of  Quoycrook,  the  son 


278        THE   CAMPBELLS   AND   M'lVEKS   OR   IVERACHS. 

The  Campbells  of  Patrick,  are  descended  the  Campbells  of  Duchernan, 
'  'lli  Argyle. — Vide  Principal  Campbell's  "Account." 

The  Iverachs  of  Caithness  are  sub-cadets  of  the 
M'lvers  Buey,  and  during  last  century  they,  for  several 
generations,  occupied  lands  at  Braehour,  Clayock,  and 
Lieurary.  From  William  Iverach,  in  Sordale,  the  repre- 
sentative of  this  branch  in  the  earlier  part  of  last 
century,  are  descended  Messrs.  Peter  Iverach  in  Weydale, 
James  Iverach  in  Harpsdale,  and  William  Iverach  of 
Wideford,  in  Orkney. 

The  Campbells,  who  were  for  the  first  half  of  last 
century  Heritable  Commissary  and  Sheriff  Clerks  of 
Caithness,  are  also  supposed  to  have  been  sub-cadets  of 
the  Buey  Campbells,  and  are  believed  to  be  descended 
from  the  family  of  Quoycrook,  their  immediate  ancestor, 
Donald  Campbell,  younger,  merchant  in  Thurso,  having 
been,  it  is  thought,  a  younger  son  of  William  Buey 
M'lver,  or  of  John,  his  brother.  Donald  Campbell  had 
three  sons : — 

1.  James,  merchant  in  Thurso,  who  died  unmarried. 

2.  William,  Sheriff-Clerk,  of  whom  afterwards. 

3.  John  Campbell  of  Castlehill,  which  he  purchased 

from  Lord  Breadalbane  in  1711.  He  was  also 
Commissary  and  Sheriff  Clerk.  He  married 
Anne,  daughter  of  William  Sinclair  of  Rattar, 
and  widow  of  Robert  Sinclair  of  Durran.  By  her 
he  had  a  son,  Colin,  who  died  without  issue ; 
and  two  daughters, — Isabel,  who  married  James 


THE   CAMPBELLS    AND   M'lVERS   OR   1VERACHS.         279 

Campbell  of  Balbreck,  or  perhaps  Barbreck,  in  The  Campbells 
Argyle  ;  and  Janet,  who  married  James  Budge  of  iverachs. 
Toftingall,  and  had  no  issue. 

On  the  death  of  their  brother,  Colin,  the  two  sisters 
succeeded  to  Castlehill,  and  sold  it  to  David  Murray. 

On  or  near  the  site  of  the  present  House  of  Castlehill 
stood  the  Old  Castle  of  Stangergill,  the  original  name  of 
the  property,  and  after  the  erection  of  the  new  House 
the  estate  got  the  name  of  Castlehill. 

William  Campbell  (No.  2)  was  twice  married ;  first, 
to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  Murray  of  Pennyland, 
by  whom  he  had  a  son,  Donald. 

By  his  second  wife,  Helen  Mudy  or  Helen  Mowat,  he 
had  six  sons  : — 

1.  James,  Sheriff-Clerk,  and  of  Lochend,  which  he 

purchased,  in  1749,  from  James  Sutherland  of 
Swinzie,  for  20,000  merks,  the  rental  being  £50. 
He  was  served  heir  to  his  father,  and  married, 
first,  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Forss ; 
and,  secondly,  Isabella,  daughter  of  the  Reverend 
James  Oswald,  episcopal  minister  of  Watten. 
He  died  in  1766,  leaving  two  sons, — William  and 
Oswald,  who  both  died  unmarried, — the  latter  in 
1776;  and  a  daughter,  Elizabeth,  also  supposed 
to  have  died  unmarried.  William  and  Elizabeth 
are  mentioned  in  Bishop  Forbes's  diary  in  1762. 

2.  William,  immediate  younger  brother  of  James,  was 

secretary  to  Admiral  Vernon,  and  by  his  wife, 


280        THE   CAMPBELLS    AND   M'lVERS   OR   IVERACHS. 

The  Campbells  Philadelphia,  he  had  a  son,  Captain  Alexander 

iverachs.  Campbell,  E.N.     Captain  Campbell  had  a  son, 

Alexander,  who  was  served  heir  to  his  grand- 
uncle,  James  of  Lochend,  in  1777,  and  who  sold 
Lochend,  in  1778,  to  William  Sinclair  of  Fres- 
wick,  for  £2015.  Alexander  died  before  1787, 
leaving  a  widow,  named  Susannah  Poole,  who 
was  his  executrix. 

3.  John.      } 

4.  Patrick.  >  These  three  died  without  issue. 

5.  Colin.      ) 

6.  Hugo   Campbell,   brother-german   of  James    and 

William,  was  joint  Sheriff-Clerk  with  James. 
He  married  Jean,  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of 
Forss,  and  had  two  sons, — John,  and  Rose,  a 
merchant,  who  died  in  Spain  unmarried;  and 
two  daughters, — Isabella,  who  died  unmarried, 
and  Eliza,  who  married,  first,  Alexander  Suther- 
land, merchant  in  London,  son  of  Bailie  George 
Sutherland,  Wick,  and,  secondly,  John  Grant, 
illegitimate  son  of  Mr.  John  Grant  of  Latheron- 
wheel,  which  estate  he  occupied  under  a  wadset. 
Mr.  Grant  entered  the  army,  and  obtained  the 
rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  Portuguese 
service.  He  had  no  issue  by  his  marriage  to 
Miss  Campbell. 

From  an  account  of  "  Rossend  Castle,"  near  Burnt- 
island,   which,   together  with  some  adjacent .  land,  was 


THE   CAMPBELLS   AND   M'lVERS   OR   IV^EACHS.         281 

purchased  by  the  Town  Council  of  that  place,  in  January  The  Campbells 
1873,  for  £7500,  it  appears  to  have  been  a  place  of  much  ^ 

historical  interest.  In  1715  the  Castle  was  occupied  by 
the  Earl  of  Mar  and  his  troops,  and  about  half  a  century 
later  (1765)  it  was  in  the  possession  of  "Murdoch 
Campbell  of  the  Caithness  Campbells."  There  is  no 
doubt  this  was  Murdoch  Campbell,  sometime  writer  and 
merchant  in  Thurso. 

In  1750  Mr.  Campbell  purchased  a  portion  of  a  tene- 
ment in  Thurso  called  Bruce's  Tenement,  and  in  the 
disposition  he  is  designed  "  writer  in  Thurso."  In  1752 
the  remainder  of  Bruce's  tenement  was  purchased  by 
Murdoch  Campbell,  "  merchant  in  Thurso/'  The  identity 
of  the  "writer"  and  the  "merchant"  is  undoubted,  for, 
in  the  disposition  in  1752,  reference  is  made  to  Mr. 
Campbell's  previous  purchase  in  1750  ;  and  in  1776,  in 
a  disposition  by  him  of  the  whole  tenement  to  Alexander 
Duncan,  merchant  in  Thurso,  which  was  signed  at  Burnt- 
island,  he  is  designed  "  Murdoch  Campbell  of  Rossend." 
At  what  period  Mr.  Campbell  left  Thurso  has  not  been 
ascertained. 

In  the  account  of  Rossend,  Mr.  Campbell  is  stated  to 
have  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Taylor  of 
Pitcairlie,  and  the  heiress  of  Carbiston  ;  but  in  the  dis- 
position in  1750,  his  wife,  to  whom  the  tenement  then 
purchased  was  conveyed  in  liferent,  is  named  Rachel 
Taylor.  He  seems  to  have  had  an  only  child,  a  daughter, 
who,  in  1790,  married  Robert  Beatson  of  Kilrie,  and  of 

2  N 


282         THE   CAMPBELLS   AND   M'lVEKS   OR   IVERACHS. 

The  Campbells  the    Boyal    Engineers  ;    and    she    inherited    Bossend. 

iverachs.  These  Taylors  and  Beatsons  did  not  belong  to  Caithness. 
Bobert  Beatson  succeeded  to  Bossend  through  his  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Campbell's  only  daughter. 

It  has  been  supposed  that  Murdoch  Campbell,  writer, 
was  a  grandson  of  Murdoch  in  Brubster,  the  son-in-law, 
and  perhaps  the  nephew  (as  supposed),  of  Patrick  Buey 
Campbell  of  Quarrycrook,  and  son  of  William  Campbell, 
called  William  Beag,  or  Dorcry,  afterwards  in  Brubster, 
who  was  not  improbably  a  brother,  and  certainly  a  near 
relative  of  Patrick  Buey  Campbell  of  Quarrycrook, 
Farquhar  (M'lver)  in  Bumsdale,  and  Alexander  Camp- 
bell of  Comliefoot.  It  is  certain  that  Murdoch  Campbell 
in  Brubster  had  at  least  one  son,  for,  as  appears  from  a 
contract  of  marriage  in  July  1721,  William  Campbell,  his 
son,  married  Janet,  daughter  of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of 
Dunbeath.  She  is  supposed  to  have  been  an  illegitimate 
daughter,  as  Sir  James  did  not  marry  earlier  than  1705, 
and  there  is  no  mention  of  this  daughter  otherwise. 
William  Campbell  was  at  the  time  of  his  marriage  in 
Milton  of  Dunbeath,  and  in  1753  he  was  in  Wester- 
Lather  on.  In  1733  he  got  a  wadset  from  Sir  James 
over  Milbuy  of  Houstry,  to  himself  and  his  wife,  and 
their  eldest  son,  James,  afterwards  in  Dysart ;  and  it  may 
be  that  Murdoch  Campbell  of  Bossend  was  another  of  his 
sons.  When  a  young  man,  Murdoch  appears  to  have 
been  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  James  and  Hugo  Campbell, 
the  supposed  connections  of  his  family. 


THE  HENDERSONS  OF  STEMSTEE. 

THE  traditional  account  of  the  Caithness  Hendersons  The  Henderson* 
is  that  they  are  descended  from  Henry  Gunn,  a  younger  ot 
son  of  George  Gunn,  who  was  chief  of  the  clan  in  the 
fifteenth  century.  After  the  slaughter  of  their  chief  and 
several  of  his  sons  in  a  combat  with  the  Keiths,  a  family 
difference  led  to  Henry  separating  himself  from  his  sur- 
viving brothers,  and  settling  in  the  lowlands  of  Caith- 
ness. In  1594  we  find  mention  of  a  champion  of  the  clan 
Gunn,  named  Donald  Mac- William  Mac-Hendric,  who  may 
have  Had  something  to  say  in  the  matter  of  the  Hender- 
son patronymic  ;  but  the  popular  account  is,  as  has  been 
said,  that  they  are  the  descendants  of  Henry  Gunn. 

I.  DONALD  HENDERSON,  who  was  in  Stemster  in 
1680,  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  David,  who  is  said  to  have  settled  in  Zetland. 

2.  Alexander. 

II.  In  the  year  1700  ALEXANDER  HENDERSON  got  a 
general  disposition  of  moveables  from  his  father  (who 
appears  to  have  been  in  easy  circumstances),  and  in  1706 
he  resided  in  Lochside.  He  married  Anna  or  Agnes 


284  THE   HENDERSONS   OF   STEMSTER. 

rhe  Hendersons  Murray,  sister-german  of  Ranald  Murray,  in  Bowertower. 
In  1726  he  was  tacksman  of  Stemster,  and  in  1736  he 
became  tenant  of  Gerston,  where  he  resided  till  his 
death  in  1743. 

He  had  an  only  son  and  four,  if  not  five,  daughters : — 
1.  David. 

1.  Christian,  who  married,  in  1726,  Francis  Swanson, 

son  of  William  Swanson  in  Stemster,  who  be- 
came  tenant  of  Gerston  in  1751  or  1752,  and 
whose  descendants  were  the  tenants  till  1872. 

2.  Margaret,  who  married  Adam  Henderson,  son  of 

Benjamin  Henderson  in  Achalibster,  from  whom 
are  descended  the  family  of  Hendersons,  some- 
time in  Clyth. 

3.  Anne,   who   married   Donald   Henderson,    second 

laird  of  Westerdale. 

4.  Barbara,  the  youngest  daughter,  who  married,  in 

1751,  Alexander  Sinclair,  the  last  laird  of  Dun, 
being  his  second  wife.  She  had  no  issue. 

5.  There  seems  to  have  been  in  1754  another  daugh- 

ter named  Elizabeth,  who  was  apparently  then 
unmarried. 

III.  DAVID  HENDERSON  occupied  the  farm  of  Gerston 
for  some  time  after  1748,  and  in  1750  he  purchased 
Stemster  from  Sir  Benjamin  Sinclair  for  21,500  merks. 
He  married  Cecilia,  daughter  of  William  Honyman  of 
Grsemsay,  another  of  whose  daughters  was  married  to 


THE   HENDERSONS   OF   STEMSTER.  285 

Taylor  of  Thura,  and  a  third  daughter  to  the  Reverend  The  Hendersons 
Mr.  Nicolson  of  Shebster.  of  stemster> 

The  Honymans  claim  to  be  descended,  in  the  female 
line,  from  Robert  Stewart,  first  Earl  of  Orkney,  natural 
son  of  James  v.,  whose  grand-daughter,  Mary,  was 
married  to  Stewart  of  Graemsay.  Their  only  daughter 
and  heiress,  Mary,  married  Andrew  Honyman,  who  was 
Bishop  of  Orkney  from  1664  to  1676  ;  and  the  Bishop 
was  grandfather  of  William  Honyman  of  Graemsay. 
Bishop  Honyman  was  a  son  of  David  Honyman  of 
Pitcairchney,  and  he  had  a  brother,  George,  who  was 
minister  of  Stromness1  in  1672.  The  Bishop  "did  many 
good  and  charitable  deeds/'  including  the  slating  and 
repairing  of  the  church  of  Sand  wick,  and  died  in  1676. 

David  Henderson  of  Stemster  had  four  sons  and 
three  daughters  : — 

1.  William. 

2.  Alexander,  his  successor. 

3.  Patrick,  who  died  in  Demerara. 

4.  John,  who  died  in  Jamaica. 

1.  Mary,  who  married  the  Reverend  Robert  Gunn, 

minister  of  Latheron. 

2.  Anne,  who  married,  in  1779,  the  Reverend  William 

Gunn,  minister  of  Golspie  from  1776  to   1785, 
when  he  died.     She  lived  until  1841. 

3.  Margaret,    who    died   unmarried,    in    1864,    aged 

ninety- seven. 

1  "  Fasti  Eccles.  Scot." 


286  THE   HENDERSONS   OF   STEMSTEE. 

The  Hendersons          IV.    ALEXANDER    HENDERSON    OF    STEMSTER    was    in 

early  life  for  a  short  time  in  the  Royal  Navy.  He 
married  Margaret,  daughter  of  William  Duthie  of  Ar- 
duthie,  and  he  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters  : — 

1.  David,  his  successor,  retired   from   the   army  as 

captain  in  1816. 

2.  Alexander  Davidson,  who  was  in  the  Indian  Army, 

and  was  drowned  in  the  Persian  Gulf. 

3.  William  Honyman,  C.B.,  who  was  a  post-captain 

in  the  Royal  Navy,  and  died  in  November  1855. 
He  married  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Lord  James 
Townshend,  K.C.H.  He  had  no  issue. 

4.  James,    of    Bilbster   and   Rosebank,    Wick,    who 

married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Kenneth  M'Leay 
of  Newmore,  and  has  issue,  two  sons  and  four 
daughters,  and  who  died  1879,  aged  eighty-one. 

5.  Patrick,  who  was  major  in  the  Indian  Army,  and 

died  in  1873  unmarried. 

1.  Margaret,  who  died  in  1879  unmarried. 

2.  Mary,  who  married  Charles  Chalmers  of  Monkshill, 

Esq.,  advocate,  Aberdeen,  and  had  issue. 

3.  Johanna,  died  1880,  unmarried. 

4.  Cecilia. 

V.  DAVID  HENDERSON  OF  STEMSTER  married  Marjory, 
eldest  daughter  of  Colonel  Benjamin  Williamson  of 
Banniskirk.  He  died  in  1859,  and  had  three  sons  and 
four  daughters.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 


THE   HENDERSONS    OF   STEMSTER.  287 

Alexander   Henderson,  now   of  Stemster,  who  married  The  Hendersons 
Susan,  daughter  of  Allan  M'Farlane,  Esq.,  and  his  wife,  ° 
Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Home,  Esq.  of  Stirkoke,  and 
has  issue.1 

1  The    family   of    Stemster   is   con-     Langwell   and  Forse  and   Sinclairs   of 
nected  through  Mrs.  Marjory  William-     Southdun  and  Ulbster. 
son  with  the  families  of  Sutherlands  of 


THE  HENDEESONS  OF  ACHALIBSTER  AND 
WESTERDALE. 

The  Hendersons  FROM  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  to  the 
and  wester-  early  part  of  the  eighteenth,  we  find  various  Hendersons, 
— such  as  Hendersons,  portioners  of  Brabsterdorran  from 
1642  to  1695;  Hendersons  in  Wester  Nottingham,  and 
in  Rumster  and  Rangag,  on  the  estate  of  Forse,  and 
wadsetters  of  Gersay  in  Watten  from  1655  to  1738, 
supposed  to  be  descended  from  the  Hendersons  of 
Brabsterdorran;  Hendersons  in  Stemster,  from  1680 
downwards ;  and  Hendersons  in  Sibster,  afterwards  in 
Achalibster  and  Westerdale,  from  1660;  and  it  is 
probable  that  they  were  all  more  or  less  related, 
although  it  may  now  be  difficult  to  trace  a  common 
ancestry. 

From  Donald  Henderson,  who,  when  in  Sibster, 
married  Elizabeth  Sinclair,  daughter  of  Robert,  fourth  son 
of  James  Sinclair  of  Borlum  and  Thura,  are  descended  the 
Hendersons  of  Achalibster  and  Westerdale.  Donald 
Henderson  was  in  Achalibster  in  1660,  and  then  got 
from  the  Earl  of  Caithness  a  wadset  for  a  thousand 
merks  of  the  twopenny-halfpenny  lands  of  Westerdale, 


THE  HENDERSONS  OF  ACHALIBSTER  AND  WESTERDALE.    289 

the  halfpenny  lands  of  Croft  of  Dale  and  Southside  of  The  Hendersons 

-T-,  p  TTi       •      i  of  Achalibster 

Burn  of  Ulgrimbeg.  ^  Wester. 

He  had  two  sons  and  a  daughter : — 

1.  Robert. 

2.  David,  first  of  Westerdale. 

1.  Janet,  who  is  mentioned  as  "  daughter  of  Donald 
Henderson  in  Achalibster  and  Elizabeth  Sinclair." 
She  married  Adam  Sutherland  in  Lang  well, 
second  son  of  William  Sutherland  of  Langwell. 

I.  ROBERT  HENDERSON  possessed  in  1699  the  two- 
penny lands  of  Westerdale,  and  in  1703  he  is  named 
as  portioner  of  Dale.  He  married  Anna  Dunbar,  an 
illegitimate  daughter  of  Sir  William  Dunbar  of  Hemp- 
riggs,  who,  in  1701,  granted  to  him  and  his  wife  and 
their  first  and  second  sons,  William  and  Benjamin,  a 
wadset  of  the  twopence-halfpenny  lands  of  Tormsdale. 
In  1718  Sir  William  Dunbar,  as  Justiciary  Depute  and 
Sheriff  of  Caithness,  appointed  him  Procurator- Fiscal  of 
the  county.  In  so  far  as  appears,  his  children  were  : — 

1.  William  in  Achaldall,  now  called  wadset  lands  of 

Westerdale,  and  in  Tormsdale  in  1725  and  1726, 
which  he  possessed  as  heir  to  his  father  in  the 
wadset.  He  gave  a  lease  of  Tormsdale  to  his 
brother,  Benjamin. 

2.  Benjamin. 
1.  Anna. 

Benjamin    Henderson    possessed    Achalibster,    and 

2  o 


290    THE  HENDERSONS  OF  ACHALIBSTER  AND  WESTERDALE. 

The  Hendersons  married  in  1716  his  cousin-german,  Esther,  daughter  of 
and  wester-  Adam  Sutherland  in  Langwell,  and  grand-daughter  of 
dale.  William  Sutherland  of  Langwell.  He  died  before  1739, 

leaving  a  son,  Adam. 

Lieutenant  Adam  Henderson  in  Achaldall  or  wadset 
lands,  was  in  1749  tacksman  of  Achinarras.  In  1739  he 
married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Alexander  Henderson  in 
Stemster  and  Gerston,  and  had  with  her  a  tocher  of  one 
thousand  merks.  He  had  a  son  and  two  daughters  :— 
1.  Benjamin. 

1.  Esther,  who  lived  with  her  mother  for  many  years 

at  Halkirk. 

2.  Janet,  better  known  as  "Miss  Jenny,"  who  died 

in  Edinburgh  at  an  advanced  age. 
Benjamin  Henderson  was  tacksman  of  Clyth,  and 
married  his  relative,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  Suther- 
land of  Swiney,  a  great-great-grand-daughter  of  William 
Sutherland  of  Langwell.  He  had  four  sons  and  six 
daughters  : — 

1.  John,  who  was  drowned  in  Wick  Bay  along  with 

his  mother  about  1806. 

2.  Adam,  who  went  to  the  West  Indies. 

3.  Dr.  James,  who  occupied  Clyth  for  many  years, 

and  down  to  18 — .  He  carried  on  a  herring 
fishery  extensively,  and  expended  considerable 
sums  on  the  harbour  and  farm  of  Clyth.  Before 
settling  in  Clyth  he  was  acting  assistant-surgeon 
in  the  3d  Foot  for  some  years,  and  afterwards  he 


THE  HENDERSONS  OF  ACHALIBSTEK  AND  WESTEBDALE.     291 

acquired  considerable  reputation  in  the  north  as  The  Hendersons 
a  medical  practitioner.     A  few  years  before  his  °[1(f welter-** 
death,  which  took  place   at   Glasgow  on    llthdale' 
April  1848,  he  took  the  degree  of  M.D.  at  the 
University  of  Edinburgh. 

4.  William  was  a  gentleman  of  some  literary  acquire- 
ments, and  was  for  many  years  engaged  in 
various  educational  establishments  in  Scotland 
and  England.  Ultimately  he  went  to  Bombay 
as  a  teacher  in  one  of  the  Church  of  Scotland 
schools.  At  the  Disruption,  in  1843,  he  joined 
the  Free  Church,  but  falling  into  bad  health  he 
returned  to  England,  where  he  died  unmarried 
about  1849  or  1850. 

Benjamin  Henderson's  daughters  were  Jean,  Mar- 
garet, Anne,  Elizabeth,  Jessie,  Alexis,  and  Benjamina, 
all  of  whom  died  unmarried.  Alexis,  his  last  surviving 
daughter,  died  at  Barnstaple  on  25th  March  1874,  and 
the  family  is  now  extinct. 

II.  DAVID  HENDERSON,  the  second  son,  as  is  sup- 
posed, of  Donald  in  Achalibster  and  wadset  lands  of 
Westerdale,  got  from  Lord  Glenorchy,  in  1708,  a  charter 
of  the  sevenpenny  and  two  farthing  and  an  octo  lands 
of  Westerdale.  He  had  a  son,  Donald. 

Donald  Henderson  of  Westerdale  married  Anne, 
daughter  of  Alexander  Henderson  in  Stemster  and 
Gerston,  He  had  a  son,  Alexander. 


292    THE  HENDERSON'S  OF  ACHALIBSTER  AND  WESTERDALE. 

The  Hendersons  Alexander  Henderson  married  Janet  Campbell  of 
and^welter-^  the  Campbells  in  Ausdale,  and  had  three  sons  and  a 
dale-  daughter  : — 

1.  Donald,  who  married  and  left  issue,  but  did  not 

gucceed  to  Westerdale. 

2.  William,  who  occupied  during  his  lifetime  Upper 

Westerdale,  and  died  unmarried. 

3.  David  of  Westerdale,  to  which  by  some  family 

arrangement  he  got  a  disposition  from  his  grand- 
'  •      father.      He   occupied    Ballintunich    or   Lower 

Westerdale,  and  died  in  1860  unmarried. 
1.  Elizabeth,  who  married  William  Angus,  Thurso, 

and  left  no  issue. 


THE  HENDERSONS  OF  NOTTINGHAM 
AND  GEESAY. 

AFTER  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  we  find  The  Hendersons 
frequent  mention  of  William  Henderson  of  Nottingham,  and  Gersay.&m 
he  being  the  same  person  who,  as  William  Rorisone, 
married,  in  1655,  Janet  Gordon,  relict  of  James  Suther- 
land of  Forse.     After  her  first  husband's  death  Janet 
Gordon   was   styled   "Lady    Nottingham,"   having,    no 
doubt,  had   the  liferent  of  these   lands,  and  thus  Wil- 
liam Henderson  was  also  designed  of  Nottingham.     He 
appears  to  have  been  a  person  of  some  substance,  from 
the   bonds   and   obligations   to   him   appearing   on   the 
records,  and  from  the  traditional  account  of  his  family 
he  seems  to  have  been  the  son  of  Roderick  Henderson 
(whence  his  surname  of  Rorisone),  who  was  the  eldest 
son   of  Hugh   Henderson,    one   of  the  portioners   who 
possessed  at  one  time  the  lands  of  Brabsterdorran.     His 
contract  of  marriage  is  dated  31st  January  1655,  and  in 
1676  he  obtained  a  wadset  from  Lord  Glenorchy  of  the 
feu  and  teind  duties  of  Gersay  and  Coghill  in  Watten, 
to  himself  in  liferent  and  to  his  son,  John,  in  fee. 

By  Janet  Gordon  he  had  two  sons,  John  and  David. 


294       THE  HENDERSONS   OF   NOTTINGHAM   AND  GERSAY. 

The  Hendersons  As  fiar  under  the  wadset  in  1676  John  was  styled  of 
LdGenay.      Gersay ;  and  dying  without  issue,  he  was  succeeded  by 
David. 

David  Henderson  of  Gersay  married  in  1680  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Colonel  Francis  Sinclair  in  Scrabster  (son  of 
John  Sinclair,  first  of  Assery)  and  his  wife,  Anne, 
daughter  of  Francis  Sinclair  of  Stirkoke.  In  his  con- 
tract of  marriage  (June  1680)  he  is  called  "lawful  son  of 
William  Henderson  of  Nottingham  and  Janet  Gordon." 

In  1689  and  1697  he  disponed  the  wadset  to  Sir 
Robert  Dunbar  of  Northfield,  and  of  the  subsequent 
history  of  his  family  there  is  no  account. 


THE  WILLIAMSONS  OF  BANNISKIEK. 

THE   ancestor  of  this   family  appears  to   have  been  The  wiiiiam- 
Andrew  Williamson  of  Achorlie,  who  got  a  feu-charter  of  kirk, 
these  lancfs  from  the  Earl  of  Caithness  in  1665.     He  is 
said  to  have  fought  at  Aultimarloch,  on  the  side  of  the 
Sinclairs,  and  to  have  been  killed  there,  and  his  body 
carried   for   burial  to  Spittal,  where  the  Gunns   (from 
whom  the  Williamsons  are  reputed  to  be  descended)  had 
their  burial-place. 

I.  DONALD  WILLIAMSON,  son  of  Andrew  Williamson 
of  Achorlie,  was  a  merchant  in  Thurso,  and  in  1691  and 
1692  he  was  a  bailie  of  the  town.  He  purchased  Bannis- 
kirk  in  1691,  and  the  present  estate  of  Banniskirk 
includes  Achorlie.  He  married  Katharine  Borison, 
sister  of  Bailie  Rorison,  merchant  in  Thurso,  and  had  a 
son  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Benjamin,  his  successor. 

I.  Janet,  who,  in  1713,  married  Malcolm  Henderson, 

in  Stemster,  Reay.     He  had  a  son,  Adam,  who 
was  in  Stemster  in  1753. 

II.  BENJAMIN  WILLIAMSON  OF  BANNISKIRK  married 


296  THE   WILLIAMSONS  OF   BANN1SKIRK. 

The  wniiam-    Elizabeth  Sutherland,  daughter  of  Esther  and  Robert 
kirk.  *  Sutherland    of    Langwell,    and    had    a    son    and    four 

daughters  : — 

1.  Donald,  his  successor. 

1.  Elizabeth,  who  married  William  Campbell,  some- 

time in  Upper  Framside,  and  had  several 
children,  one  of  whom,  the  late  Donald  Camp- 
bell, sometime  in  Harland,  entered  the  army  as 
a  volunteer  during  the  Peninsular  War,  and 
attained  the  rank  of  lieutenant- colonel.  He  died 
at  Creich,  Sutherlandshire,  unmarried. 

2.  Jane,  married  Lieut.  William  Rose,  Thurso,  and 

had  a  son,  William  Rose,  a  merchant  in  Glasgow, 
and  three  daughters,  Elizabeth  and  Benja- 
minina,  who  died  unmarried,  and  Jane,  who 
married  Dr.  John  Williamson. 

3.  Another  daughter  married  John  Dunnet,  a  ship- 

master in  Thurso,  son  of  Bailie  George  Dunnet, 
merchant  in  Thurso.  They  had  no  issue. 

4.  Another  daughter  married,  first,  Donald  Hender- 

son, a  merchant  in  Thurso,  and  had  a  son, 
Benjamin,  a  messenger-at-arms ;  and  second, 
John  Barnetson,  tenant  in  Galshfield,  by  whom 
she  had  a  son,  the  late  Lieutenant  Alexander 
Barnetson,  sometime  in  Mains  of  Tister. 

III.  DONALD  WILLIAMSON  or  BANNISKIBK  married 
Isabell  Ramsay,  second  daughter  of  James  Ramsay  of 


THE   WILLIAMSONS  OF   BANNISKIRK.  297 

Chappletown  of  Meigle,  merchant  in  Dundee,  and  Jhad 
five  sons  and  four  daughters  :-  sons 

1.  Benjamin. 

2.  Major     James,     who    married     Barbara    Gibson, 

daughter  of  George  Gibson,  merchant  in  Thurso, 
and  had  issue,  a  son  and  two  daughters. 

3.  Donald,  who  died  in  the  West  Indies. 

4.  John,  a  surgeon  in  the  army,  who  married  Jane 

Rose,  his  cousin,  but  of  whom  there  is  no 
surviving  issue. 

5.  Major   George,    married   Catharine,    daughter    of 

James  Sinclair  of  Harpsdale  and  his  third 
wife,  Katharine,  daughter  of  Alexander  Sinclair 
of  Lybster.  He  had  three  sons  and  three 
daughters.  The  sons  were, — Donald,  who  died 
unmarried  ;  James  of  Banniskirk  (which  he 
purchased  in  1862),  who  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  David  Henderson  of  Stemster,  and 
died  in  1865,  leaving  two  sons  ;  and  George. 

1.  Margaret,    who    married    John     Sutherland     of 

Swiney. 

2.  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Home  of  Stirkoke, 

and  had  issue. 

3.  Isabella,  who  married  Capt.  William  Manson,  and 

had  issue. 

4.  Jean,  who  married  Alexander  Paterson  in  Penny- 

land,  agent  for  the  Bank  of  Scotland,  and  had 
issue. 

2  P 


298  THE   WILLIAMSONS   OF   BANNISKIRK. 

The  William-  IV.    COLONEL  BENJAMIN  "WILLIAMSON  OF  BANNISKIRK 

Mrk.0  '"  married  Janet,  daughter  of  James  Sinclair  of  Harpsdale 
and  his  first  wife,  Marjory,  daughter  of  David  Sinclair 
of  Southdun,  through  whom  he  got  the  lands  of  Scarm- 
clett  and  Clayock,  afterwards  named  "  Marlefield."  He 
had  two  sons  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  James,  captain  in  the  94th  Regiment.     He  was 

killed  at   the   storming   of  Ciudad-Rodrigo,  in 
Spain. 

2.  Donald,  major  in  the   42d  Regiment.      He  was 

killed  at  Burgos  in  1812. 

1.  Marjory,    who     married     David     Henderson     of 

Stemster. 

2.  Diana,  who  died  unmarried  in  1872. 

3.  Jessie,  who  married,  first,  John  Macleay  of  Keiss, 

and,  second,  Alexander  Henderson  of  Stemster. 
She  had  no  issue  by  either  marriage. 


THE  TAYLORS  OF  THUEA. 

WILLIAM  TAYLOR,  merchant  in  Thurso,  who,  about  The  Taylors  of 
the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  led  apprisings 
against  th'e  estate  of  Assery,  had  a  son,  John,  who  was  a 
joiner  in  Thurso.     John  got  an  assignation  to  his  father's 
apprisings  in  Asserj.     He  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  Daniel. 

2.  George. 

I.  DANIEL  TAYLOR,  merchant  in  Thurso,  was  infeft  in 

the  Assery  apprisings,  and  in  1754  he  purchased 
Thura  from  John  Sinclair,  last  of  Thura,  and  dis- 
poned  it  in  1759  to  his  brother,  George. 

II.  GEORGE  TAYLOR  OF  THURA  married  Euphemia, 

daughter  of  William  Honyman  of  Graemsay, 
and  had  two  sons  and  a  daughter : — 

1.  John,  his  successor. 

2.  William,  who  died  in  the  West  Indies. 
1.  Jane,  who  married  Lieutenant  M'Beath. 

III.  JOHN  TAYLOR  or  THURA  was  served  heir  to  his 


300  THE  TAYLORS  OF  THURA. 

The  Taylors  of  father  in  1790,  and  was  captain  in  one  of  the  Caithness 
Fencible  battalions.  In  1801  he  sold  Thura  to  William 
Sinclair  of  Freswick,  and  settled  in  Ireland.  He  left 
three  children,  who,  in  1868,  resided  in  Dublin.  They 
were — 

1.  George. 

2.  Arthur. 
1.  Jane. 

A  Mr.  Taylor  of  Phibsboro  House,  Dublin,  who  died 
lately  at  an  advanced  age,  was  a  natural  son  of 
Captain  John  Taylor,  last  of  Thura.  He  was  in 
early  life  a  schoolmaster  in  the  county ;  and  for 
many  years  he  had  been  in  the  habit  of  sending 
communications  to  the  local  papers.  In  1868  a 
notice  appeared  from  Captain  Taylor's  family 
denying  Mr.  Taylor's  pretensions  to  be  con- 
sidered "the  last  of  the  Taylors  of  Thura," — and 
asserting  themselves  to  be  "the  only  legal  repre- 
sentatives of  his  name." 


THE  DAVIDSONS   OF  ACHINGILLS 
AND  BUCK  IE  S. 

JOHN  DAVIDSON,  Commissary  of  Caithness,  who  died  The  Davidsons 
before  1632,  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  William,  who,  in  1632,  was  served  heir  to  Samuel 

Davidson,  residing  in  France,  son  of  the  deceased 
Mr.  Archibald  Davidson,  his  cousin-german,  in 
the  "  Fischill  in  Thurso." 

2.  John. 

JOHN  DAVIDSON  got  a  wadset  of  Achingills  from  the 
Master  ofBerriedale  in  1633.  In  the  same  year  David 
Munro,  then  Commissary  of  Caithness,  got  a  wadset  of 
half  of  Aimster  and  Buckies,  and  in  1659  John  Davidson 
adjudged  this  wadset  from  George,  son  of  David  Munro ; 
and  in  1691  he  got  a  charter  of  adjudication.  He  had 
two  sons  : — 

1.  James,  his  successor. 

2.  William,  who  married  Janet  Scobie.     She  survived 

him,  and  had  a  liferent  of  Aimster  and  Buckies. 

JAMES  DAVIDSON  got  an  assignation  from  his  father 


302        THE  DAVIDSONS  OF   ACHINGILLS  AND  BUCKIES. 

The  Davidsons  of  his  adjudication  of  Aimster  and  Buckies,  and  he  also 

and  Buckles!     succeeded  to  Achingills.     In  1697  he  disponed  the  whole 

to  William  Sinclair  of  Stemster,  third  son  of  William 

Sinclair  of  Dunbeath.     He  was  a  writer  in  Edinburgh, 

and  had  a  daughter. 

In  1675  Buckies  was  occupied  by  George  Davidson, 
who  is  mentioned  in  that  year  in  the  decreet  at  Mey's 
instance  against  the  heritors  and  others  of  Caithness. 
The  family  tradition  is  that  he  was  of  the  Achingills 
Davidsons,  and  if  so,  he  was  probably  the  son  of  William 
Davidson,  whose  widow  had  the  liferent  of  Buckies  and 
Aimster.  In  1682  he  was  admitted  an  elder  by  the 
Bishop  and  Session  of  Thurso.  He  was  succeeded  in  the 
farm  by  his  son,  William.  In  1700  William  Davidson 
married  Isabel  Campbell,  daughter  of  Alexander  Camp- 
bell of  Comliefoot,  her  brothers,  Donald  Campbell  in  Stain- 
land,  chamberlain  to  Lord  Glenorchy,  and  John  Campbell 
in  Comliefoot,  being  parties  to  the  contract  of  marriage. 
James  Davidson  succeeded  his  father,  William,  and  he 
again  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  the  late  John  Davidson, 
and  thus  from  at  least  1675  Buckies  has  been  continuously 
occupied  by  the  Davidsons. 

In  the  Old  Kirk  of  Thurso,  and  in  the  place  where 
once  stood  the  Buckies  pew,  there  is  an  ancient  and 
handsome  gravestone,  now  embedded  in  the  soil.  At  the 
top  there  are  armorial  bearings,  with  the  motto  "  Vivat 
post  funera  virtus,"  and  underneath  the  following  in- 
scription : — 


THE   DAVIDSONS   OF  ACHINGILLS   AND  BUCKIES.       303 

Heir  lyes  ane  famous  man  The  Davidsons 

Adam  Davidsoun  Burgess  of  of  Achingiiis 

T    j      11       •     rru  and  Buckles. 
Inverness  Indweller  in  Ihurso 

who  departed  in  June  1587 
being  6  6  yeires  of  age 

And  heir  lyes  Katharine 
Sinclair  his  Spous  who  departed 
in  May  1592  being  70 
yeires  of  age 

Memento 

Mori. 


THE  GIBSONS. 

The  Gibsons.  THIS  family,   originally   from   Edinburgh,  is   chiefly 

connected  with  Orkney,  where  several  members   of  it 
settled  as  ministers. 

JOHN  GIBSON,  of  Edinburgh,  had  four  sons  : — 

1.  Alexander,  Dean  of  Bower  and  Watten. 

2.  Adam,  minister  of  Shapinsay  from  1665  to  1678, 

when  he  died. 

3.  John,  minister  of  Holm  from  1654  to  1681. 

4.  Archibald,  Writer  to  the  Signet,  1660. 

ALEXANDER  GIBSON,  Dean  of  Bower  and  Watten  from 
1668  to  1682,  married  Katharine,  eldest  daughter  of 
James  Sinclair  of  Assery,  and  had  four  sons  and  a 
daughter : — 

1.  Alexander,  minister  of  Canisbay. 

2.  John,  minister  of  Evie  and  Kendall  from  1700  to 

1724,  when  he  died. 

3.  Archibald  of  Hemisgar. 

4.  George,   a   merchant,     who    married    Katharine, 

daughter  of  Bailie  Rorison,  Thurso.     Before  her 
marriage  to  Mr.  Gibson,  Katharine  Rorison  had 


THE   GIBSONS.  305 

formed  an  attachment  and  engaged  herself  to  The  Gibsons. 
John  Gow  or  Smith,  a  native  of  Scrabster,  whose 
piratical  exploits  in  the  early  part  of  last  century 
suggested  Sir  Walter  Scott's  tale  of  "  The 
Pirate."  At  what  period  of  Gow's  career  this 
love  affair  took  place  is  uncertain,  but  at  any 
rate  the  Bailie  disapproved  of  his  daughter's  choice, 
and  while  Gow  was  absent  at  sea,  obliged  her  to 
listen  to  the  addresses  of  her  future  husband, 
then  schoolmaster  at  Strom  a.  The  marriage  had 
scarcely  taken  place  when  Gow  returned  to 
Thurso,  bringing  bridal  dresses  for  his  betrothed, 
who,  even  as  matters  then  stood,  would  gladly 
have  gone  off  with  him.  Gow  departed  highly 
incensed,  and  after  Katharine  E/orison  had  settled 
down  in  Stroma,  he  visited  the  island  with  the 
intention  of  carrying  her  off,  or  having  his 
revenge,  but  he  left  again  without  doing  any 
mischief.  She  had  two  sons  to  Mr.  Gibson,  and 
after  his  death  resided  at  or  near  Banniskirk,  her 
aunt,  Katharine  Rorison,  having  married  Donald 
Williamson,  the  first  Williamson  of  Banniskirk. 
These  particulars  were  given  to  the  late  Dr.  P.  B. 
Henderson  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Sinclair,  widow 
of  the  Eeverend  Alexander  Smith,  minister  of 
Olrig,  who  died  at  Thurso  15th  October  1831, 
aged  eighty-eight,  and  who  was  personally  ac- 
quainted with  Katharine  Rorison.  In  a  note  to 
2Q 


306  THE   GIBSONS. 

The  Gibsons.  "  The  Pirate  "  Gow  is  mentioned  as  having  been 

a  native  of  Orkney,  but  this  is  believed  to  be 
incorrect.  A  narrative  of  his  piratical  proceed- 
ings will  be  found  in  Johnston's  "  Lives  of  High- 
waymen," and  similar  chronicles.  There  are  other 
interesting  particulars  in  the  Notes  and  Advertise- 
ment to  the  "  Pirate."  In  1725  Gow  and  several 
of  his  associates  were  convicted  at  London  by 
'.''-£ ;J  the  High  Court  of  Admiralty,  and  deservedly 

executed. 
1.  Elizabeth,  who  married  George  Sinclair  in  Brabster- 

dorran. 

Alexander  Gibson,  the  eldest  son,  was  minister  of 
Canisbay  from  1713  to  1747,  when  he  died.  He  mar- 
ried Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  of  Rattar,  and 
widow  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Brabster.  He  had  two 
sons  : — 

1.  John,    sometime    a    writer    in    Edinburgh,    and 

who,  about  1750,  was  appointed  Sheriff-Sub- 
stitute of  the  county  by  Mr.  Brodie  of  Spynie, 
then  Sheriff.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter 
of  James  Murray  of  Clairden,  and  widow  of 
David  Sinclair  of  Southdun,  and  died  without 
issue. 

2.  George,  a  merchant  in  Thurso,  who  married  Janet 

Sinclair,  daughter  of  John  Sinclair  and  Eliza- 
beth Man  son  (vide  Mansons).  He  had  two 
daughters, — Margaret,  who  married  her  cousin, 


THE   GIBSONS.  307 

George     Sinclair    of    Brabster,     and     Barbara,  The  Gibsons. 
who    married    Major    James    Williamson,    and 
had  issue  a  son  (who  died  unmarried),  and  two 
daughters. 


THE  BUDDIES. 

TheBrodies.  I.  IN  the  Matriculation  Records  of  King's  College, 

Aberdeen,  there  is  an  entry  of  "  Alexander  Brodie, 
Moraviensis,"  in  1677,  which  it  is  supposed  refers  to  the 
Reverend  ALEXANDER  BRODIE,  who  was  licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Abernethy  in  1711,  called,  and  ordained 
as  minister  of  Kildonan  18th  September  1712,  and  trans- 
lated to  Reay  in  1723,  where  he  died  in  1730,  leaving  a 
son,  James. 

II.  The  Reverend  JAMES  BRODIE  was  licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Aberdeen,  and  was  settled  as  minister  of 
Latheron  in  May  1734.  He  died  at  Aberdeen  in  1775, 
in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 

In  1735  he  married  Anne,  daughter  of  James  Murray 
of  Clairden  and  his  third  wife,  Margaret,  daughter  of 
George  Sinclair  of  Barrock.  She  died  in  1766.  They  had 
six  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Samuel,  born  1736,  and  died  young. 

2.  Alexander,  born  1737. 

3.  Patrick,  born  1743. 

4.  James,  born  1745,  and  died  young. 


THE  BUDDIES.  309 

5.  George,  born  1747,  and  died  young.  The  Brodies. 

6.  Bichard,  born  1752. 
1.  Margaret,  born  1739. 

III.  ALEXANDER  BRODIE,  the  eldest  surviving  son,  was 
minister  of  Carnbee,  in  Fife,  and  married  Helen  Pitcairn, 
daughter  of  the  Reverend  Joseph  Pitcairn,  Carnbee.  He 
died  in  1804,  having  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters  : — 

1.  James,  Brigadier-General  and  Colonel  in  the  East 

India  Company's  Service,  Madras,  and  Com- 
mander of  the  Bath,  who  was  born  in  1782,  and 
died  in  1831.  He  married  Eliza  Thompson,  and 
had  two  sons:  James,  who  died  in  1849,  un- 
married, and  Alexander  Oswald,  sometime  of  the 
Ceylon  Civil  Service,  who  married  Jessie  Anne 
Spottiswoode,  daughter  of  Colonel  Spottiswoode, 
and  died  at  Edinburgh  6th  November  1874, 
leaving  issue. 

2.  Joseph,   a  merchant    in    Hamburg,  who  married 

Maria  Thomson,  and  died  in  1825,  leaving  issue. 

3.  Alexander  Oswald,  a  merchant  in  America,  who 

married  Eustachia  Griffiths,  and  died  in  Scotland 
in  1856,  without  issue. 

4.  Edward,  who  died  without  issue. 

1.  Janet,  who  married  Duncan  Cowan,  Edinburgh, 
and  left  four  daughters  :  (1)  Marjory,  unmarried. 
(2)  Janet,  who  married  General  Charles  Wahab, 
H.E.I.C.S.,  and  hasfissue.  (3)  Helen,  who  mar- 


310  THE   BUDDIES. 

ried  Henry  Madden,  M.D.,  and  left  issue.  (4) 
Charlotte,  who  married  James  Cowan,  Lord  Pro- 
vost of  Edinburgh,  and  M.P.  for  the  city. 

2.  Elizabeth,  who  died  unmarried. 

3.  Helen,  who  married  Alexander  Cowan,  Edinburgh, 

and  left  issue. 

IV.  PATRICK  BRODIE,  third  son  of  the  Reverend 
James  Brodie,  Latheron,  married,  in  1768,  Jean  Sinclair 
(vide  Hansons),  and  had  three  sons  and  five  daughters  : — 

1.  David,  who  purchased  Sibster,  thereafter  named 

Hopeville,  and  married  Helen,  daughter  of  James 
Sinclair  of  Harpsdale,  and  his  third  wife,  Katha- 
rine, daughter  of  Alexander  Sinclair  of  Lybster. 
He  died  in  1847,  aged  75.  He  had  five  sons 
and  five  daughters. 

2.  James,  who  died  young. 

3.  Alexander,  who  married  Flora,  daughter  of  Bailie 

Kenneth  Sutherland,  Thurso,  and  had  five  sons 
and  five  daughters.  He  died  in  1859,  aged  82. 

1 .  Jean,  who  married  the  Reverend  George  Mackenzie, 

Olrig,  and  had  issue,     She  died  in  1802,  aged  33. 

2.  Janet,  who  died  young. 

3.  Margaret,  who  died  unmarried,  in  1856,  aged  82. 

4.  Anne,  who  was  born  28th  February  1779,  and  who 

died  in  1813.  She  was  married  to  William 
Henderson,  Sheriff- Substitute  of  Caithness,  and 
had  seven  sons  and  five  daughters. 


THE  BRODIES.  311 

5.  Elizabeth,  who  married  William  Manson,  writer  in  ^e  Brodies. 
Thurso,  and  died,  without  issue,  in  1832,  aged  50. 

V.  I)R.   RICHARD  BRODIE,  the  youngest  son  of  the 
Keverend  James  Brodie,  went  to  the  West  Indies,  where 
he  died. 

VI.  MARGARET,    the   only  daughter,    married  John 
Grant  of  Latheronwheel,  of  which  he  was  wadsetter.    She 
died  without  issue. 


THE  HANSONS. 

rhe  Mansons.  THIS  name  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the  county  and 
in  remote  times.  Thus  we  have  Kenneth,  Donald,  and 
William  Manson,  the  three  portioners  of  the  whole  of 
Lyth,  by  charter  in  1524;  and  there  are  Mansons, 
portioners  of  Kirk  in  1531,  at  which  date  John  and 
Magnus  Manson  got  a  charter1  of  confirmation  from 
the  Pope's  Legate,  Silvester  Darius.  In  1576  the 
Mansons  were  of  some  note,  a  number  of  the  name 
having  signed  a  bond  of  manrent  to  George  Sinclair  of 
Mey.  These  notes,  however,  are  confined  to  a  more 
recent  branch  of  the  family,  and  the  pedigree  now  given 
was  proved  in  Chancery  in  1853,  in  a  suit  at  the  instance 
of  Mr.  Anderson,  executor  of  Margaret  Manson  of  London, 
against  her  next-of-kin. 

James  Manson,  who  resided  in  Watten,  had  five  sons 
and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  Alexander. 

2.  William. 

3.  John. 

4.  David. 

5.  Charles,  who  died  at  sea. 

1  Charter,  Andrew,  B.  of  Caithness, 


THE   HANSONS.  313 

1.  Elizabeth.  The  Hansons. 

2.  Christian,  who  died  unmarried. 

I.  ALEXANDER  MANSON  was  a  merchant  in  Thurso, 
and  married  Elizabeth  Munro.     As  appears  from  a  tomb- 
stone to  his  memory  in  the  Oswalds'  burying-ground  in 
Thurso  churchyard,  he  died  in  17 — .     He  had  a  son : — 

James,  a  merchant  in  Rotterdam,  who  was  born  in 
1726,  and  died  in  1788.  He  married  Margaret 
Gay,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  William,  who  died 
at  Cura£oa  in  1801,  without  issue;  and  a 
daughter,  Margaret,  who  died  in  London  in 
June  1849.  She  is  the  person  referred  to  above, 
whose  succession  gave  rise  to  the  Chancery  suit. 

II.  WILLIAM  MANSON  was  a  merchant  in  Eotterdam, 
and  died  a  bachelor  in  London,  in  July  1767.     Under 
his    settlement    the    descendants    of   his   sisters    were 
beneficiaries. 

III.  JOHN  MANSON  was  a  ship -carpenter  at  Rother- 
hithe,  and  married  Ursula  Cobham.     He  died  in  1772, 
having  had  two  sons  and  a  daughter  : — 

1.  Alexander,  a  shipwright  at  Bermondsey,  who 
married  Jean  Bowie,  and  died  in  1828.  He  had 
four  sons  and  a  daughter.  The  sons  were  :  John 
and  Robert,  who  both  died  in  India  in  1818; 
David,  who  died  young,  and  Alexander,  Brigadier- 

2R 


314  THE  MANSONS. 

The  Hansons.  General  in  the  Bombay  Artillery,  who  died  at 

Bombay  in  1862.  Alexander  had  three  chil- 
dren :  Alexander  R  Manson,  major  in  the  4th 
Bombay  Infantry ;  Charles  James  Manson, 
Acting  Political  Agent,  South  Mahratta  Country, 
who  was  killed  in  the  Indian  Mutiny,  in  May 
1859,  at  Ramdroag;  and  Mary  Anne  Jane,  who 
was  married  to  Major  Alexander  Cunningham 
Eobertson  of  the  8th  Eegiment. 

2.  William,  who  married  Mary  Gregory,  and  died  in 
1840,  aged  88.  He  had  a  son,  John  Jasper,  who 
died  in  1826  leaving  issue, — and  a  daughter, 
Mary  Ursula,  who  died  in  1777. 

1.  Mary,  who  married  William  Lang,  and  died  in 
1838. 

IV.  DAVID  MANSON  was  a  merchant  in  Thurso,  and 
married  Jean,  daughter  of  George  Oswald,  minister  of 
Dunnet.     He  died  without  issue. 

V.  ELIZABETH    MANSON   married   John    Sinclair    in 
Watten,  and  had  four  daughters  : — 

1.  Isabella  Sinclair,  who  married  David  Bruce  in 
Hastigrow,  a  descendant  no  doubt  of  the  Bruces 
who  owned  the  lands  of  Hastigrow  and  others  in 
that  locality  in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth 
centuries.  They  had  two  sons,  William  and 
David,  who  both  died  in  America,  and  five 


THE   HANSONS.  315 

daughters,  of  whom  Jean  and  Katharine  died  The  Hansons, 
unmarried;  Janet  Bruce  married  Neil  Suther- 
land, and  had  a  son,  William,  who  married  Miss 
M'Kay,  daughter  of  the  Eeverend  Mr.  M'Kay, 
minister  of  Reay ;  Elizabeth  Bruce  married 
George  Gunn,  and  had  issue ;  and  Isabella  Bruce 
married  Patrick  Andrew,  and  had  a  daughter, 
Isabella,  who  died  unmarried,  and  a  son,  William 
Patrick,  now  Chairman  of  the  Scinde  and  Punjab 
Railway,  who  is  married  to  a  grand-daughter  of 
the  eminent  painter,  Sir  Henry  Raeburn,  and  has 
issue. 

2.  Elizabeth  Sinclair,  who  married  John  Manson,  and 
had  a  son,  William,  and  four  daughters.  William 
Manson  married  Isabella,  daughter  of  Donald 
Williamson  of  Banniskirk.  He  had  issue,  and 
died  in  1846.  Jean  and  Isabella  died  unmarried. 
Elizabeth,  who  died  in  1805, married  Donald  Robe- 
son,  writer  in  Thurso,  and  had  four  sons — John, 
William,  Alexander,  and  Donald,  and  a  daughter, 
Margaret.  John  Robeson  married  in  India  Miss 
Dunbar,  daughter  of  Captain  Dunbar  of  West- 
field,  and  left  a  daughter.  The  other  sons 
died  unmarried.  Margaret  Robeson,  the  only 
daughter,  married  her  cousin,  Lieutenant- Colonel 
Robert  Sinclair  Sutherland  of  Brabster,  and  died 
in  1869  without  surviving  issue.  Anne  Manson, 
fourth  daughter  of  Elizabeth  Sinclair,  married 


316  THE   HANSONS. 

The  Hansons.  Morrison    Snody,    writer   in    Thurso,   and   died 

without  issue  in  1846. 

3.  Jean   Sinclair,    who   married    Patrick    Brodie    in 

Ulbster,  and  had  issue. — Vide  Brodies. 

4.  Janet  Sinclair,  who  married  George  Gibson   (vide 

Gibsons),  and  had  two  daughters — Margaret, 
who  married  George  Sinclair  Sutherland  of 
Brabster ;  and  Barbara,  who  married  Major 
James  Williamson,  and  had  a  son  and  two 
daughters. 

Mr.  Alexander  Brodie  and  his  sister,  Margaret,  the 
only  surviving  children  of  Jean  Sinclair,  stood  in  the 
same  degree  of  relationship  to  Margaret  Manson  of 
London  as  did  General  Manson,  and  the  three  were 
preferred,  as  next-of-kin,  to  Miss  Manson's  intestate 
succession,  but  the  bulk  of  her  estate  was  settled  by 
will. 


THE  NICOLSONS  OF  SHEBSTER 

THE  Reverend  ALEXANDER  NICOLSON,  son  of  Patrick 
Nicolson,  minister  of  Kiltarlity,  was  minister  of  Thurso  ofshebster- 
from  1752  to  1785,  when  he  died,  aged  61.  He  acquired 
Shebster,  which  for  several  generations  had  belonged  to 
the  Munros,  by  purchase.  He  was  twice  married — first 
in  1754,  and  secondly  in  1765.  By  his  first  wife  he  had 
two  sons : — 

1.  Patrick,  his  successor. 

2.  Dr.  James  Nicolson. 

His  second  wife  was  Mary,  daughter  of  Patrick 
Honyman  of  Grsemsay,  who  died  in  1817,  aged  89.  By 
her  he  had  a  daughter,  Jessie,  who  was  twice  married- 
first,  to  Alexander  M'Leod  of  Lynegar,  son  of  Donald 
M'Leod,  sometime  writer,  thereafter  Sheriff- Substitute  of 

Caithness    (son    of M'Leod,   musician    in   Thurso). 

They  had  a  son,  David,  who  died  young,  and  two 
daughters — Mary,  who  died  young,  and  Jemima,  who 
married  Mr.  Hepburn  of  St.  Vincent,  who  died  in  1868, 
leaving  issue. 

Jessie  Nicolson   was  married,  secondly,   to   William 
Sinclair,  writer  in  Thurso,  by  whom  she  had  two  sons — 


318  THE   NICOLSONS   OF   SHEBSTEB. 

Alexander,  accountant  in  Edinburgh,  who  died  without 
issue,  and  Gordon,  who  died  in  the  West  Indies,  also 
without  issue. 

PATRICK  NICOLSON  OF  SHEBSTER  was  minister  of 
Thurso  from  his  father's  death  in  1785  down  to  1805. 
He  married,  in  1787,  Mary  Maxwell,  daughter  of  Captain 
Thomas  D  unbar  of  Westfield  and  his  first  wife,  Janet, 
daughter  of  Sir  William  Dunbar  of  Hempriggs.  She 
died  in  1806,  and  by  her  he  had  two  sons  and  four 
daughters  : — 

1.  Alexander,  who  sold  Shebster  in  1808,  with  consent 

of  his  curators,  and  died  without  issue. 

2.  Major   Malcolm,   who   married   his  cousin,  Jessie, 

daughter  of  James  Moodie  of  Melsetter,  by  whom 
he  had  a  son.  By  a  second  marriage  he  had 
several  children. 

1.  Janet  Dunbar,  who  married  Dr.  Featherstone,  and 

had  issue. 

2.  Mary,  who  married  Major  Jackson. 

3.  Isabella,  who  married  Dr.  Simon  Nicolson,  and  had 

issue. 

4.  Margaret,  who  married  Lieutenant- Colonel  Western, 

and  had  issue. 


THE  GUNNS. 

A  DETAILED  notice  of  the  Clan  Gunn  is  beyond  the 
scope  of  these  notes  :  for  such  we  must  refer  to  Gordon 
and  other*  authorities ;  nor  shall  the  debatable  question 
be  entered  upon,  whether  their  ancestor  was  Gunnius, 
brother  of  Sweyn,  the  Freswick  pirate,  or  Guin,  son  of 
Olave,  king  of  Man.  By  the  most  credible  accounts, 
they  are  of  Norwegian  origin,  and  it  is  at  least  certain 
that  they  settled  in  Caithness  at  a  remote  date,  and  in 
course  of  time  so  increased  in  numbers  as  to  have 
attained  to  the  position  of  "  The  Clan  Gunn."  The  Gunns 
seem  to  have  occupied  chiefly  the  highland  portions  of 
the  county,  although  their  burial-place  was  at  Spittal. 
Their  connection  with  Caithness  as  a  distinct  clan  ended 
about  1619.  It  is  singular  that,  until  the  middle  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  we  find  no  written  evidence  of  their 
tenure  of  land.  Probably,  as  in  the  case  of  Donald  Gunn 
of  Braemore,  noticed  in  "  Ministers  and  Men  in  the  Far 
North/'  what  possessions  they  had  were  "  gained  by  the 
sword,"  and  retained  by  the  same  title  during  their 
period  of  prosperity. 

George  Gunn  was  chief  of  the  clan  in  the  fifteenth 


320  THE   GUNNS. 

The  Gunns.  century,  and  lived  at  the  castle  of  Harberry,  in  Clyth. 
This  chieftain  was  popularly  styled  the  "Cruner  Gunn," 
from  his  holding  the  office  of  "  Cruner"  or  "  Crouner "  of 
the  district,  an  ancient  office  which  empowered  the 
holder  to  attach  the  persons  of  offenders  against  the 
Crown.  By  his  clansmen  and  highlanders  generally  he 
was  known  as  the  "  Nin  Braistack-more,"  from  the  great 
silver  brooch  worn  by  him  as  a  badge  of  office. 

He  is  reputed  to  have  had  seven  sons,  of  whom  four, 
along  with  himself,  fell  in  1464,  in  a  combat  with  the 
Keiths,  their  hereditary  foes.  Of  these  sons,  James 
succeeded  to  the  chieftainship ;  Robert,  the  second  son, 
is  ancestor  of  the  Gunns  of  Braemore  and  other  respect- 
able families ;  from  John,  the  third  son,  are  descended 
the  Gunns  of  Dalmore  and  Dale,  and  others  ;  Henry,  the 
fourth  son,  is  the  traditional  ancestor  of  the  Caithness 
Hendersons  ;  and  William,  the  fifth  son,  of  the  William- 
sons and  Wilsons.  James  has  been  supposed  to  be  the 
fifth  son;  but  it  appears  certain  that  on  his  father's 
death  in  1464  he  took  up  the  chieftainship,  and  that  he, 
along  with  his  brothers,  William  and  Henry,  retired  into 
Sutherlandshire ;  and  at  Killearnan,  in  Kildonan,  the 
succeeding  chiefs  had  their  residence  until  the  accidental 
destruction  of  the  mansion-house  by  fire  in  1690. 

That  there  was  a  "  Crouner"  in  the  county  at  a 
remote  period,  whether  of  the  Clan  Gunn  or  not,  is  shown 
by  part  of  the  names  still  attached  to  certain  localities, — 
for  instance,  the  "  Crouner's  Garden,"  near  Strath,  and 


THE   GUNNS.  321 

the  like  ;  while  in  an  ancient  document,  entitled 
"  Inventar  of  the  Gudes  of  Alexander  Southeiiand,  1456  " 
(father-in-law  of  William  St.  Clair,  first  Earl  of  Caith- 
ness), there  are  entries  proving  the  "Crouner"  to  have 
had  a  son  Henry,  and  a  son  Alexander,  thus:  "Item, 
Alexander  the  Crouner's  son  an  (owing)  me  for  the  teind 
of  Dael,  Thurno,  and  the  begyn,  with  uther  geeds  that  he 
tuk  of  myn  that  comes  to  24  of  Marks  and  mair ; "  and 
"  Item,  Henry  the  Crounars  son  an  me  for  tends  and  ky 
(teinds  and  cattle)  that  he  tuk  of  myn  40  merks  and 
mar,  as  vitail  (victual)  was  sold  in  the  countrie  that 

tym." 

In  1664  John  Gunn  appears  to  have  been  in  posses- 
sion of  Braemore,  under  the  peaceful  title  of  a  written 
lease  from  the  Earl  of  Caithness,  at  a  rent  of  £490  Scots. 
It  is  said  that  a  section  of  the  clan  claimed  the  chieftain- 
ship for  this  John,  but  that,  on  a  formal  discussion  of  the 
question  at  a  meeting  in  Thurso,  the  honour  was  adjudged 
to  a  rival  candidate. 

John  Gunn  in  Braemore  obtained  in  1664  a  wadset 
over  that  estate,  for  1000  merks,  from  John,  Earl  of 
Breadalbane.  He  appears  to  have  lived  down  to  at  least 
1698,  for  in  that  year  his  son  and  successor,  George,  is 
designed  in  a  tack  of  Dirlot  as  "  Younger  of  Braemore." 

In  1715  George  Gunn  got  another  tack  of  Braemore 
from  Lord  Glenorchy,  reserving  the  "  salmond  fishings 
with  the  deer  and  Kae;"  and  in  the  same  year  he 
obtained  a  wadset  for  3000  merks. 

2  s 


322  THE   GUNNS. 

In  1732  George  Gunn  got  a  wadset  for  17,000  merks 
from  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath.  Sir  James  acquired 
Braemore  in  1729  as  part  of  the  Caithness  estate  pur- 
chased by  him  and  Ulbster  from  Lord  Glenorchy. 

The  representatives  of  this  branch  of  the  Gunns 
appear  to  be  the  Gunn-Munroes  of  Poyntzfield.  The  first 
Sir  George  Gunn  Munro  of  Poyntzfield  was  a  son  of  the 
Eeverend  John  Munro,  minister  of  Halkirk,  by  his 
wife,  Janet  Munro,  only  child  of  George  Gunn  of  Brae- 
more. 

The  genealogy  of  the  Gunns  of  Braemore  is  stated  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Gunn  of  Watten,  who  has  given  much 
attention  to  the  subject,  to  be  as  follows  : — 

1.  Robert,  second  son  of  George  Gunn,  "the  Crounar" 

(killed  in  1464). 

2.  Donald,  his  eldest  son. 

3.  David,  his  eldest  son. 

4.  Alexander,  his  eldest  son,  who  married  Christian, 

daughter  of  Donald,  first  Lord  Reay. 

5.  John,  his  eldest  son. 

6.  George,  his  eldest  son. 

7.  Janet,    his    only    child,    married     John    Munro, 

minister  of  Halkirk,  who  died  in  1743  or  1746. 
His  third  son  was  the  first  Munro  of  Poyntzfield. 

8.  Captain  John  Gunn  Munro,  eldest  son  of  Janet 

Munro,  married  Elizabeth  Sutherland  of  Torboll, 
and  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  In  1752 
he  acquired  Braemore  in  fee-simple. 


THE   GUNNS.  323 

9.  William  Gunn  Munro,  eldest  son,  had  no  family,  The  Gunns. 

and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother. 
10.  George  Gunn  Munro  succeeded  his  brother  in 
Braemore,  and  also  inherited  Poyntzfield  under 
an  entail  executed  by  his  uncle,  Sir  George,  in 
1784.  In  1793  Sir  Eobert  Anstruther  pur- 
chased Braemore  for  about  £4000  at  a  judicial 
sale,  and  obtained  a  decreet  of  sale  in  his  favour. 


THE  DOULLS  OF  THUSTER 

The  Douiis  of  JOHN  DOULL  OF  THUSTER,  Wick,  got  a  wadset  of  these 
lands  in  1650,  and  in  a  tack  of  the  teinds  of  Forse  granted 
to  him  by  the  Bishop  in  1685,  he  is  designed  "  Servitor  to 
the  Earl  of  Caithness."  He  married  Grizzel,  daughter 
of  John  Sinclair,  first  of  Assery,  and  had  a  son,  John. 

John  Doullwas,  in  1678,  "Servitor"  to  Sir  Eobert 
Sinclair  of  Longformacus,  advocate,  and  as  such  he  was 
probably  merely  an  "advocate's  clerk."  He  practised  as 
a  writer  for  many  years  in  Edinburgh,  and  had  a  con- 
siderable business  connection  with  the  county.  He  had 
one  son  at  least,  and  two  daughters  : — 
1.  Patrick  Doull  of  Winterfield. 

1.  Mary,  who  was  the  third  wife  of  George,  third 

Lord  Reay,  and  who  is  mentioned  in  "  Burke  "  as 
daughter  of  John  Dowell,  Esq.  They  had  two 
sons  and  four  daughters. 

2.  Margaret,  who   married   Major   William   Sinclair 

of  Thura. 

In  1696  there  was  a  William  Doull,  a  writer  in  Edin- 
burgh, who,  it  is  supposed,  was  a  son  of  John  Doull.  In 
1677  John  had  granted  a  disposition  of  subjects  in  Wick 


THE  DOULLS   OF   THUSTER.  325 

to  Robert  Calder  and  his  son,  John,  by  his  wife,  Anne  The  Douiis  of 
Doull;  and  in  1696  WiUiam  Doull  granted  another  dis- Thuster> 
position  of  the  same  property. 

There  were  other  Doulls  in  Wick  connected,  it 
is  thought,  with  the  Doulls  of  Thuster,  of  whom  several 
intermarried  with  the  Calders  in  Wick. 

Patrick  Doull  of  Oldfield,  near  Thurso,  and  his 
brother,  Benjamin,  Commissary  Clerk  of  Caithness,  were 
also  connected  with  Wick.  Benjamin  died  unmarried 
before  1780.  Patrick  was  a  merchant  in  Thurso,  and 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Robert  Sinclair  of  Geise.  His 
last  surviving  son,  Alexander,  an  officer  in  the  navy  or 
marines,  perished  in  India  in  1781,  by  the  blowing  up  of 
his  ship. 

Patrick  and  Benjamin  Doull  had  at  least  two  sisters, 
— Mrs.  Elizabeth  Doull,  and  Janet,  who  married  James 
Calder,  merchant  in  Wick,  whose  son,  Benjamin,  in 
Mountpleasant,  Thurso,  and  of  the  Customs,  was  father 
of  the  late  General  Patrick  Doull  Calder  of  the  Royal 
Engineers. 

Grizzel  Doull,  a  niece  of  Patrick  Doull  of  Oldfield, 
married  David  Andrew,  and  had  a  son,  Patrick,  whose 
only  son,  Sir  William  Patrick  Andrew,  is  Chairman  of 
the  Scinde  and  Punjab  Railway. 


THE  GOEDONS  OF  SWINEY. 

The  Gordons  of  CHARLES  GORDON,  ancestor  of  this  family,  "  having 
acquired  considerable  means  by  a  long  course  of  industry/' 
purchased  the  estate  of  Pulrossie,  in  Sutherlandshire. 
This  property  he  sold  to  Mr.  Dempster  of  Skibo,  and  in 
1789  he  purchased  the  estate  of  Swinzie  or  Swiney  from 
Captain  Patrick  Sinclair  of  Durran,  as  administrator  for 
his  son,  Patrick  Sinclair  Sutherland  of  Swinzie,  for  £5500. 
The  conveyance  was  taken  to  his  eldest  son,  Lieutenant 
John  Gordon,  who  was  thus  the  first  Gordon  of  Swiney. 
John  Gordon  had  five  sons  and  two  daughters  : — 

1.  Lieutenant  John  Gordon,  who  had  a  son,  John. 

2.  Dr.  M'Kay  Gordon,  who  settled  in  South  America. 

3.  Charles. 

4.  George. 

5.  William. 

'•     1.  Mrs.  Young. 

2.  Mrs.  Gunn,  Bisgill. 

Under  an  entail  executed  by  Mr.  Gordon,  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  natural  son,  Major- General  James 
Gordon  of  Munsary,  who  died  unmarried  in  1867.  Upon 
his  death  the  succession  opened  up  to  John  Gordon's 


THE   GORDONS   OF   SWINEY.  327 

great-grandson,  descended  from  his  eldest  son,  Lieutenant  The  Gordons  of 
John  Gordon. 

John  M'Kay  Gordon  of  Swiney,  grandson  of  Lieu- 
tenant John  Gordon  by  his  only  son,  John,  died  soon  after 
his  succession  unmarried,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother,  George  Montagu. 

George  Montagu  Gordon  of  Swiney  sold  the  estate 
in  1877  to  the  Duke  of  Portland. 


THE  KENNEDYS  OF  STEOMA.1 


The  Kennedys 
of  Stroma. 


IN    1659    John    Kennedy,    designed    as    sometime 
elder   of  Kermucks,  got  from  the  Earl   of  Caithness  a 


1  In  the  MS.  diary  of  Bishop  Robert 
Forbes,  who  visited  Caithness  in  1762, 
there  is  the  following  statement  regard- 
ing Stroma  and  the  Kennedys  : — 

"This  island  is  famous  for  having 
dead  bodies  of  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, above  ground,  entire,  and  to  be 
seen  for  70  or  80  years,  free  of  all  cor- 
ruption, without  embalming  or  any  art 
whatsoever,  but  owing,  it  is  thought,  to 
the  plenty  of  nitre  that  is  there.  The 
bodies  become  very  brownish  with 
length  of  time,  but  so  that  the  visage 
is  discernible  by  any  friend  or  acquaint- 
ance that  ever  had  seen  the  person 
alive.  I  looked  over  the  ferry  of  two 
miles  (from  John  o'  Groat's)  often  to 
the  burial-place  close  upon  the  shore  of 
Stroma,  which  is  a  small  house  like  a 
dovecote,  the  roof  being  now  off  and 
the  door  broken  to  pieces,  for  being 
informed  that  the  bodies  were  now 
under  ground  I  did  not  cross  the  ferry 
to  view  it.  This  little  repository  for 
the  dead  was  built  by  one  Dr.  Kennedy 
of  Cairnmuck,  as  they  term  it  in  Caith- 
ness, but  I  take  it  to  be  Kenmuck,  as 
there  is  such  a  place  in  Aberdeeushire, 


from  which  country  it  is  said  he  fled 
to  Stroma  for  homicide,  having  killed 
one  Forbes  of  the  family  of  Foveran. 
Upon  this  island  the  doctor  made  out  a 
small  habitation  for  himself  by  build- 
ing a  snug  house  of  two  stories  and  well 
slated,  and  he  ordered  his  body  to  be 
deposited  in  the  little  house  which  he 
had  erected  for  that  purpose,  standing 
by  itself.  His  body  was  to  be  seen 
here  for  many  years,  and  would  have 
been  so  still  had  it  not  been  for  his  son, 
Murdoch  Kennedy,  who  played  such 
wretched  tricks  on  the  body  of  his 
father,  for  the  diversion  of  strangers, 
as  in  time  broke  it  to  pieces.  He  used 
to  place  strangers  at  his  father's  feet, 
and  by  setting  a  foot  on  one  of  his 
father's,  made  the  body  spring  up 
speedily  and  salute  them,  which  sur- 
prised them  greatly.  Then  after  laying 
the  body  down  again,  he  beat  a  march 
upon  the  belly  which  sounded  equally 
loud  with  a  drum.  William  Suther- 
land of  Wester  particularly  informed 
me  that  about  forty  years  ago  (about 
1700),  he  was  in  Murdoch's  house,  the 
same  built  by  his  father,  and  with  him 


THE   KENNEDYS  OF   STROMA.  329 

wadset  of  his  lands  in  Stroma,  including  the  Nethertown  The  Kennedys 
of  Stroma,  and  the  family  of  the  Kennedys  remained  inofstroma- 
possession  until  1721. 

John  Kennedy  appears  to  have  been  a  grandson  of 
Lady  Buchollie,  and  to  have  married  Janet,  eldest 
daughter  of  William  Forbes  of  Craigievar.  The  wadset 
of  Stroma  was  taken  to  him  and  his  wife.  He  had 
several  children. 

In  1672  Margaret  and  Jean  Kennedy,  two  of  his 
daughters,  disponed  portions  of  the  wadset  to  "John 
Kennedy,  elder  of  Stroma;"  and  in  1685  John  Kennedy, 
"younger  of  Kermucks,"  disponed  the  Nethertown  of 
Stroma  to  John,  "  elder  of  Stroma,"  and  his  wife,  Jean 
M'Kenzie,  sister  of  Sir  Alexander  M'Kenzie  of  Broomhill. 

The  connection  between  the  three  John  Kennedys, 
namely,  John,  "sometime  elder  of  Kermucks,"  John, 
"elder  of  Stroma,"  and  John,  "younger  of  Kermucks," 
does  not  appear,  but  John  Kennedy,  elder  of  Stroma, 
seems  to  have  acquired  the  whole  wadset  lands,  and  to 
have  conveyed  them  in  1687  and  1688  to  his  brother-in- 
law,  Sir  Alexander  M'Kenzie.  In  1713  Sir  Alexander 
disponed  the  Nethertown  of  Stroma  to  his  nephew,  Mur- 
doch Kennedy,  son  of  John,  and  about  1721  the  lands 
were  acquired  by  William  Sinclair  of  Freswick. 

went  to  the  burying-place,  where  he  wit-  dried  haddocks,  as  he  termed  it. 
nessed  him  thus  beating  a  march,  and  Wester's  son  (John  Sutherland),  a  mar- 
saw  several  other  bodies  entire,  particu-  ried  man,  told  me  that  only  about  twelve 
larly  some  bodies  of  children,  hanging  years  ago  (1750)  be  was  in  Stroma  and 
by  nails  and  pins  upon  the  walls  like  saw  then  Dr.  Kennedy's  body  entire." 

2  T 


THE  SINCLAIES   OF  KIEK  AND 
MYRELANDHOEN. 

Thesinciairsof        I*    1592  Henry  Sinclair  in  Canisbay  got, a  charter 
Kirk  and  Myre-£rom  ^6  Earl  of  Caithness  of  part  of  Kirk  and  Myre- 

landhorn.  .  .          _ 

landhorn.  In  1582  there  is  mention  in  the  Earl  of 
Caithness'  testament  of  Henry  Sinclair,  his  servitor,  WHO 
may  have  been  the  Henry  Sinclair  of  1592.  Henry 
Sinclair  of  Kirk  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  James. 

2.  David  in  Olrig. 

James  Sinclair  got  a  charter  from  his  father  in  1627, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  David. 

David  Sinclair,  only  lawful  brother,  got  a  precept  of 
dare  constat  in  1667,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
John. 

John  Sinclair  got  a  disposition  from  his  father  in 
1669,  and  a  charter  of  novo-damus  from  the  Bishop  in 
1680.  John  Sinclair  was  "  servitor  to  Sir  William  Sharp, 
Keeper  of  the  Signet,"  and  he  seems  afterwards  to  have 
been  a  merchant  in  Edinburgh. 

In  1643  William  Sinclair,  elder,  merchant  in  Thurso, 
got  a  wadset  from  James  Sinclair,  and  had  a  son,  Thomas, 


THE   SINCLAIRS   OF   KIRK   AND   MYRELANDHORN.       331 

who  again  had  a  son,  William.    They  adjudged  Kirk  and  The  sinciain  oi 
Myreland,  and  in  1680  William  Sinclair  disponed  these  landhoru.   yr° 
lands  to  John  Sinclair,  who  sold  them  to  John  Sinclair 
of  Barrock.    Nisbet    mentions   the   arms    of  "  Thomas 
Sinclair,    lawful  son  to  William   Sinclair,    merchant  in 
Thurso,  of  the  family  of  Caithness."     These  may  have 
been  the  same  Sinclairs  who  apprised  Kirk  and  Myreland, 
and   who   may  have  been  connected  with  the  Sinclairs 
descended  from  Henry  Sinclair  in  Canisbay,  who  got  the 
lands  from  the  Earl  of  Caithness. 


THE  SUTHEKLANDS  OF  WESTER. 

TheSuther-  JN  1633  John,  Master  of  Berriedale,  granted  to  Mr 

lands  of  Wester. 

John  Stewart,  minister  of  W ick,  a  wadset  of  the  lands  of 
Wester  or  Westerloch  and  North  Kilimster.  This 
wadset  was  acquired  by — 

1.  William  Sutherland  (of  the  family  of  Sutherland 
of  Forse  and  of  Lang  well),  who  was  the  eldest  son  of 
David   Sutherland  in   Ausdale    (third   son   of  William 
Sutherland  or  M'Ean,  first  of  Lang  well),  and  Catharine 
Poison,  his  first  wife,  as  appears  from  a  bond  of  provision 
in  his  favour  by  his  father,  dated  in  1697.1 

2.  John  Sutherland  of  Wester  succeeded  his  father, 
William,    and    married    Anne,    daughter   of    Alexander 
Innes  (the  younger  brother  of  Harry  Innes  of  Sandside), 
and  died  about  the  end  of  last  century,  leaving  a  son, 
Alexander,  and  five  daughters. 

1  From    the    MS.    diary    of    Bishop  tably  entertained  by  the  "  honest  old 

Robert  Forbes  it  appears   that  on  his  Trojan  and  his  wife,  sister  to  the  Rev. 

visit    to    Caithness    in    1762   he    saw  John   MacLachlan's   first    wife,    Betty 

William  Sutherland  of  Wester,  of  whom  Sutherland."     At  this  period  Wester's 

he  speaks  highly,  describing  him  as  a  son  and  successor,  John,  was  married 

man  of  reading,  who  had  been  bred  to  and  had  children,  two  of  whom  were 

the  sea  and  seen  much  of  the  world,  confirmed  by  the  Bishop. 
He  states  himself  to  have  been  hospi- 


THE   SUTHERLANDS   OF   WESTER.  333 

3.  Alexander  Sutherland  of  Wester  was  in  early  life  The  suther- 
an  officer  in  the  army,  and  his  father   having  left  his 
affairs  in  an  involved   condition,  he  was   reduced   to  a 
state  of  poverty,  and  died  about  1821.     The  reversion 
or  right  to  redeem  the  wadset  had  been  acquired  by 
the    Hempriggs   family,  on  the   sale   of  the   Caithness 
estates,   and   after   much  litigation  with  Sir  Benjamin 
Dunbar,  Alexander   Sutherland   gave   up   possession   of 
North  Kilimster,  and  took  a  lease  of  Wester  at  a  rent 
equal  to  "the   interest  of  the  wadset  sum,  payment  of 
which  was  postponed  for  many  years.     It  was  ultimately 
paid  to  the  Sandside  family,  who  had  come  to  be  in  right 
of  it. 


MAJOK-GENEEAL  ST.  GLAIR. 

Major-General  IN  November  1870  the  late  Dr.  Mill,  then  senior 
magistrate  of  Thurso,  received  a  letter  from  the  Secretary 
of  the  Western  Reserve  Historical  Society,  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  asking  information  regarding  the  early  life  and 
parentage  of  Arthur  St.  Clair,  described  as  a  distinguished 
American  officer,  who  died  in  1818,  and  for  whose  bio- 
graphy the  Society  was  collecting  materials.  The  Secre- 
tary stated  that  the  General  was  born  at  Thurso  in  1734, 
that  he  went  to  America  in  1754  or  1755  with  Admiral 
Boscawen,  that  he  joined  the  army  in  one  or  other  of 
these  years,  that  he  was  the  second  son  of  his  father, 
and  had  received  a  good  education,  and  was  believed  to 
have  studied  medicine,  but  had  abandoned  it.  He  was 
further  said  to  have  corresponded  with  relatives,  includ- 
ing the  late  Sir  John  Sinclair,  of  Ulbster,  in  Thurso  and 
Edinburgh. 

From  a  copy  of  the  New  York  Daily  Tribune,  of  28th 
April  last,  we  observe  that  under  the  title  of  "  The  St. 
Clair  Papers,"  a  memorial  of  the  General,  in  two  volumes, 
has  been  published  containing  lengthened  notices  of  his 
services,  and  of  the  stirring  events  in  which  he  was 


MAJOR-GENERAL   ST.    CLAIR.  335 

engaged  in  America  from  1755  to  1763;  in  the  American 
Revolution,  and  in  the  Indian  wars  of  the  South-west. 

In  regard  to  the  General's  birthplace  and  early  history, 
the  Tribune  states  that  he  was  "  born  of  a  noble  family 
in  the  town  of  Thurso,  Caithness,  Scotland,  in  the  year 
1734.  He  studied  at  the  University  of  Edinburgh  as  a 
preparation  for  professional  life,  and  was  indentured  to 
the  famous  physician,  William  Hunter  of  London.  But 
he  had  inherited  the  martial  temper  of  his  race,  and  at 
twenty-tliree  he  abandoned  medicine  for  an  ensign's 
commission  in  the  Royal  Regiment  of  Foot." 

On  receipt  of  the  communication  to  Dr.  Mill  in  1870, 
referred  to,  an  endeavour  was  made  to  trace  the  General's 
family  in  .Caithness.  In  searching  the  Kirk  Session 
books  of  Thurso,  the  register  of  baptisms  does  not 
record  any  Arthur  Sinclair  in  1734 ;  but  on  24th  March 
1736  there  is  the  following  entry:  " William  Sinclair, 
merchant  in  town,  had  his  son  Arthur  (who  was  born 
about  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  preceding  day) 
baptized  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  William  Innes,  minister  here." 
At  this  period  there  was  in  Thurso  William  Sinclair, 
merchant,  a  grandson  of  James  Sinclair,  second  laird 
of  Assery,  whose  father,  John,  first  of  Assery,  was  a 
son  of  Sir  James  Sinclair  of  Murkle,  of  the  Caithness 
family.  Possibly,  then,  General  St.  Clair  may  have  been 
the  son  of  William  Sinclair,  merchant  in  Thurso.  Admiral 
Boscawen  sailed  for  America  in  1758,  and  if  the  General 
accompanied  him,  as  he  is  said  to  have  done,  and  was 


336  MAJOR-GENERAL   ST.    CLAIR. 

born  in  1736,  he  would  be  then  about  twenty -two  years 
of  age,  and  the  Tribune  states  his  age  to  have  been 
twenty- three  when  he  got  his  commission. 

If  General  St.  Clair  was,  as  is  supposed  above,  of  the 
family  of  Sinclairs  of  Assery,  there  would  be  relationship 
with  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Ulbster,  although  very  distant, 
by  the  marriage  of  George  Sinclair  of  Assery,  the  General's 
grand-uncle,  to  a  lady  of  the  Ulbster  family. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the  article  in  the 
Tribune  above  referred  to  : — 

"  He  was  with  Amherst  at  Louisburg,  where  he  won  by  his 
gallantry  promotion  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  and  under  Wolfe 
the  following  year  he  carried  the  British  colours  on  the  Plains  of 
Abraham.  After  the  siege  of  Quebec  he  married  a  daughter  of 
the  Bayards  of  Boston,  who  brought  him  a  dowry  of  £14,000 
inherited  from  her  maternal  grandfather,  James  Bowdoin.  In 
1764  he  removed  with  his  young  wife  to  a  fine  landed  estate  in 
the  picturesque  Ligonier  Valley  of  Western  Pennsylvania,  where 
several  Scotch  families  of  consequence  had  already  settled.  Here 
he  filled  a  number  of  prominent  civil  positions,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  boundary  disputes  between  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia. 
A  man  like  St.  Clair,  with  a  military  reputation  and  distinguished 
in  civil  life,  could  not  long  remain  in  obscurity  as  the  spirit  of 
resistance  against  the  mother  country  gathered  head  in  the 
colonies,  and  in  December  1775  he  resigned  his  civil  offices,  took 
leave  of  his  wife  and  children,  and  as  the  event  proved,  of  his 
fortune,  and  repaired  to  Philadelphia  on  a  summons  from  President 
Hancock.  In  January  he  raised  a  regiment,  and  in  May  he 
reached  Quebec  at  a  critical  time,  and  covered  the  retreat  of  the 


MA  JOB- GENERAL  ST.    CLAIR.  337 

imperilled  army.  Through  the  disastrous  days  which  followed  Major-General 
Colonel  St.  Clair  rendered  efficient  service  until  the  wearied, Sti  Clair* 
weakened,  plague-smitten  and  demoralised  forces  were  brought 
into  camp  on  the  banks  of  Lake  Champlain.  On  the  9th  of 
August  1776  St.  Clair  was  made  a  Brigadier- General  by  Congress, 
and  later  in  the  year  was  ordered  to  leave  the  Northern  Depart- 
ment and  join  Washington  in  the  Jerseys.  During  the  trials  and 
hardships  of  the  dark  winter  which  followed,  when  the  genius  of 
Washington  shone  out  so  brightly  at  last,  St.  Clair  was  one  of  the 
faithful  and  trusted  advisers  of  the  Commander-in-chief,  and  took 
a  conspicuous  part  in  the  operations  which  were  crowned  with 
triumph  at  Trenton  and  Princeton.  It  was  in  recognition  of  his 
distinguished  services  in  this  campaign  that  he  was  commissioned  a 
Major-General  in  February,  and  assigned  once  more  to  command  in 
the  North.  On  the  1 2th  of  June  he  took  command  of  Ticonderoga, 
and  was  subjected  to  much  cruel  censure  for  abandoning  that  post 
twenty-four  days  later,  when  his  works  were  commanded  by  the 
guns  of  the  enemy  nearly  8000  strong,  against  less  than  half  that 
number  of  his  own  ill  equipped  and  worse  armed  troops.  The 
skilful  retreat  from  Ticonderoga  was  followed  as  a  natural  sequence 
by  the  decisive  victory  at  Saratoga,  and  St.  Clair,  although  sus- 
pended for  a  time  from  command,  became  a  member  of  Washing- 
ton's military  family.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine, 
shared  the  sufferings  at  Valley  Forge,  was  a  member  of  the  court- 
martial  which  tried  Andre*,  and  the  closing  days  of  the  war  found 
him  marching  to  the  support  of  Greene  in  South  Carolina.  Equally 
efficient  in  civil  and  military  life,  he  was  elected  President  of 
Congress  and  Governor  of  the  North-western  Territory,  a  post 
which  he  held  for  fourteen  years,  and  under  his  administrative 
control  the  broad  foundations  of  coming  States  were  securely  laid 
and  established  in  the  freedom  and  education  guaranteed  by  the 

2u 


338  MAJOR-GENERAL  ST.    CLAIR. 

great  charter.  He  was  removed  in  1802  by  President  Madison, 
and  returned  to  Pennsylvania  in  his  old  age,  to  find  his  fortunes 
wasted,  while  the  Government  which  he  had  served  pleaded  the 
statute  of  limitations  to  escape  reimbursing  him  for  money 
advanced  to  prevent  Washington's  army  from  melting  away.  He 
had  become  responsible  while  administering  Indian  affairs  for 
certain  supplies,  and  this  amount  was  also  refused,  at  first  on  the 
ground  of  an  informality  in  his  accounts,  and  when  this  was 
rectified,  the  statute  was  pleaded  once  more.  His  property,  a 
valuable  one  for  those  times,  was  finally  forced  to  a  sale,  and  the 
old  soldier  and  his  family  were  reduced  to  want.  In  a  log  house 
on  a  bleak  ridge  by  the  side  of  the  old  State  road  from  Bedford  to 
Pittsburg,  and  almost  in  sight  of  the  broad  acres  which  once  were 
his,  Lewis  Cass  found  him  at  the  age  of  fourscore  supporting  his 
family  by  selling  '  supplies '  to  the  wagoners  who  travelled  that 
highway.  One  day  in  August  1818,  when  eighty-four  years  old, 
he  was  discovered  lying  insensible  by  the  side  of  a  rough  and 
lonely  road,  where  he  had  fallen  from  his  wagon  while  on  the  way 
to  a  neighbouring  town  to  procure  some  flour  and  other  necessaries. 
He  never  rallied  from  the  shock,  and  died  on  the  last  day  of 
summer." 


LIST  OF  HERITORS  AND  WADSETTERS. 

THE  following  List  of  Heritors  and  Wadsetters  in  the  List  of  Heritc 
county  of  Caithness  in  the  seventeenth  century  is  taken  aE 
chiefly  from  a  Decreet  obtained  in   1675,  by  Sinclair  of 
Mey,    against    the    Heritors    and    Inhabitants   of    the 
Earldom  : — 

William  Budge  of  Toftingall. 

William  Budge  of  Easterdale. 

William  Bruce  of  Stanstill. 

John  Bruce  of  Ham. 

David  Bruce  of  Lyth. 

John  Bruce  of  Hastigrow. 

William  Bruce  of  Seater. 

David  Coghill  of  that  Ilk. 

James  Cunningham  of  Brownhill. 

Donald  Campbell  of  Lybster. 

Patrick  Buey  Campbell  of  Quoycrook. 

Alexander  Campbell  of  Comliefoot. 

Laurence  and  Charles  Calder  of  Lynegar. 

Laurence  and  William  Calder  of  Galshfield. 

Alexander  Calder  of  Newton. 

Alexander  Calder  in  Strath. 

Marcus  Calder  in  Strath. 

Alexander  Calder  of  Holland. 

Andrew  Calder,  Portioner  of  Banniskirk. 


340  LIST   OF   HERITORS    AND   WADSETTERS. 

List  of  Heritors  Donald  Calder  of  Achahoy. 

andWadsetters. 


William  D  unbar  of  Hempriggs. 

John  Davidson  of  Achingills. 

John  Doull  of  Thuster. 

Donald  Groat  of  W  arse. 

Malcolm  Groat,  Portioner  of  Duncansbay. 

Finlay  Groat,  Portioner  of  Duncansbay. 

George  Gunn  of  Braemore. 

William  Henderson  of  Nottingham. 

David  Henderson  of  Gersay. 

John  Henderson,  Portioner  of  Brabsterdorrau. 

Donald  Henderson  of  Achalibster. 

George  Innes  of  Oust. 

Walter  Innes  of  Skaill. 

William  Innes  of  Isauld. 

Kobert  Innes  of  Shebster. 

James  Innes  of  Sandside. 

James  Innes  of  Thursater. 

James  Innes  of  Borrowstown. 

John  Kennedy  of  Stroma. 

James  Murray  of  Pennyland. 

David  Murray  of  Clairden. 

Richard  Murray  of  Scotscalder. 

Robert  Munro  of  Borlum. 

Magnus  Mowat  of  Buchollie. 

Alexander  Mowat  of  Swinzie. 

Donald  Manson,  Portioner  of  Dunnet. 

George  Mearns  of  Occumster. 

George  Sutherland  of  Forse. 

William  Sutherland  of  Langwell. 


LIST  OF   HERITORS  AND   WADSETTERS.  341 

Sir  William  Sinclair  of  Mey.  List  of  Heritors 

Alexander  Sinclair  of  Stemster.  andWadsetten. 

David  Sinclair  of  Southdun. 

William  Sinclair  of  Dunn. 

James  Sinclair  of  Lybster. 

John  Sinclair  of  Brims. 

James  Sinclair  of  Stangergill. 

Eobert  Sinclair  of  Duren. 

George  Sinclair  of  Olrig. 

George  Sinclair  of  Barrock. 

James  Sinclair  of  Freswick. 

James  Sinclair  of  Assery. 

William  Sinclair  of  Forsie. 

William  Sinclair  of  Thura. 

Francis  Sinclair  of  Stirkoke. 

William  Sinclair  of  Dunbeath. 

Alexander  Sinclair  of  Telstane. 

William  Sinclair  of  Gillock. 

James  Sinclair  of  Ausdale. 

John  Sinclair  of  Brabster. 

George  Sinclair  of  Forss. 

John  Sinclair  of  Ulbster. 

Sir  George  Sinclair  of  Clyth. 

John  Sinclair  of  Rattar. 

William  Sinclair  of  Hoy. 

John  Sinclair  of  Murkle. 

John  Sinclair  of  Hollandmake. 

Alexander  Sinclair  of  Dalganachan. 

William  Younger  of  Dwarick. 

Andrew  Williamson  of  Achorlie. 

Donald  Williamson  of  Banniskirk. 


©mfoem'to  13rrss: 

T.   AND  A.    CONSTABLE,   PRINTERS  TO   HER  MAJESTY. 


cs 

4.79 

C3 

1884 


Henderson,  John 

Caithness  family  history 


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