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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01329 4035
THE SINCLAIRS
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Roslln, Caithness, and Goshen
BY
THE REV. A. MACLEAN SINCLAIR.
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CHARLOTTETOWN, 1'. 1'.. ISLAND. THE EXAMINER PUBLISHING CoM'."..nV. 1901. J
£1
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1585658
Copies of this work can be obtained from the author at the rate of S1.00 per copy, post paid. Only one hundred copies have been printed.
PREFACE.
I have written this work simply for the benefit of those now living, and those who may be in existence one hundred years hence, of the descendants of Alexander Sinclair, John Ur Sinclair, and George Sinclair in Goshen. I have con- sequently given a number of minor details which would be unnecessary and out of place in a work of a more general character. The chapters on the Lords of Roslin and the Sinclairs of Caithness should be of interest to those who do not possess Henderson's Caithness Family History. The chapter on the Sinclairs of Goshen can be of interest only to themselves and their relatives. I have had four different searches made in the Register House. Edinburgh, for genealogical facts. I have to thank Mr. George Macbeath, Bighouse, for his kindness in collecting information for me with regard to the descendants of William, Donald, and Ann Sinclair in Strath-hallaciale.
The subscriptions received do not pay the cost of getting searches made in the Register House and print- ing and binding the book. Mr. John H. Sinclair, New Glasgow, has offered to pay the whole of the loss. I cannot accept the whole of it from him. He can, however, have the privilege of paying the half of it for the sake of the Sinclairs of Shurery.
A. Maclean Sinclair. Belfast, P. ]•;. Island,
September 3, 1901.
THE SINCLAIRS OF ROSLIN, CAITHNESS, AND GOSHEN.
CHAPTER I.
The Lords of Roslin.
fT^HE Northmen, or Normans, were originally Scandina- |t vians from Normandy. They settled among the Keltic inhabitants of Gaul in 912 A. D. They con- quered England in 1066, and introduced feudalism into the country. The Normans who settled in England were nut Scandinavians. They were rather Skando-Kelts. or a mixed race formed from the intermingling of Scandinavians and Kelts.
The Saint-Clairs were Normans, and came over to England with William the Conqueror. Richard of Saint- Clair and Brittel of Saint-Clair are both mentioned in Domesday Book. William of Saint-Clair witnessed a charter granted by King Stephen in 1 135.
Saint-Clair was originally the name of a place. The proprietor of it and the members of his family designated themselves as being de Sancto-Claro, <»r of Saint-Clair. In course of time the de, or of, was dropped, and Sauctus- Clarus, or Saint-Clair. adopted as a surname. Through the wear and tear of language Saintclair has, as a general rule, been changed to Sinclair.
About the year [160 Henry of Saint-Clair obtained a charter of the lands ■>;' Herdmanston in Haddingtonshire. Henry is the first Sinclair with whom we meet in Scotland.
6 THE LORDS OF ROSLIN*
It is certain, however, that he was not the first of the name who settled in that country. His descendants arc still in possession of Herdmanston.
Roslin, or Roslyn, is a Gaelic word, and means ros linne, or the promontory of the pool. The place known by this name is about eight miles from Edinburgh. Willielmus- de Sancto Claro, Miles, or William St. Clair, Knight, received in i 280 a charier of the lands and barony of Roslin. This William was the progenitor of the St. Clairs of Roslin and the Sinclair* of Caithness. He was succeeded by his son. Sir Henry. Sir William, son of Sir Henry, was killed in Spain in 1330. Sir William, son of Sir William, suc- ceeded his grandfather in Roslin. He married Isabel, daughter of Malise, the Keltic Karl of Stratherne, Caithness, and Orkney, and had by her one son, Sir Henry, fourth, of Roslin. Sir Henry claimed the Earldom of Orkney through his mother, and received it from Haco, King of Norway, in 1379. He was Admiral of Scotland. He died in i4<>4 and was succeeded by his son, Henry. Sir Henry, fifth Baron of Roslin and second Earl of Orkney, succeeded his father as Admiral of Scotland. He was created Lord Sinclair in the Scottish peerage. He married Egidia, daughter of Sir William Douglas of Xithsdale — the Black Douglas oi his- tory— and had by her two children. William and Beatrix. He died in 1420, and was succeeded by his son. Beatrix, his daughter was married to James, seventh Earl of Douglas. Site was the mother of William, eighth Earl of Douglas, of James, ninth Karl of Douglas, of Archibald, Earl of Moray, and of Hugh. Earl of Ormand.
William St. Clair, sixth Baron of Roslin, third Earl of t Irkney, and second Lord Sinclair, possessed immense estates, and lived at Roslin Castle in a style of the greatest mag- uili eiice. He was Admiral of Scotland in 14;,:'), and High- Ch mcellor in 1454. He receive 1 a -rant of the earldom of Caithness, August ?s, 1 455. He married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of Archibald, Karl of Douglas, and had b\ her one son, William the Waster. He married secondly, Marjory Sutherland, by whom lie had Oliver, William, and uihvi sons. He was deprived of the Earldom of Orkue;
THE LORDS OK ROSUX 7
James III in 1 47 1 . He received as some compensation the lands of Ravenscraig in Fife. He divided his possessions, in 1476, among his three eldest sons. He gave the lands of Newburgh in Aberdeenshire to William the Waster, the lands of Roslin and others to Oliver, and the Earldom of Caithness to the second William. He died in 1480. William the Waster received from his brother Oliver the lands of Ravenscraig, Dysart, and others. He had two sons : Henry, his successor, and William of Warsetter in Orkney. Henry was created Lord Sinclair of Ravenscraig in 1489. John, seventh Lord Sinclair, died in 1676, and was succeeded in his estates by his daughter's son, Henry St. Clair, twenty- fourth Laird of Herdmanston, who was created Lord Sinclair in 1677.
Sir Oliver St. Clair, seventh Lord Roslin, was married three times, and had eight sons : George. William, Henry. Oliver, John, Alexander, Arthur, and James. He died about 1520. William St. Clair, fifteenth Baron of Roslin. sold his estates in 1736. He died without issue in 1778.
James St. Clair obtained a charter of Longformacus in Berwickshire about the year 1390. He seems to have be- longed to the Roslin family. Robert Sinclair of Longfor- niacus was created a baronet in 1664. Sir John Sinclair. the last of the Longformacus baronets, died in Edinburgh in poor circumstances, in 179S.
John Sinclair, a merchant in Edinburgh, purchased the lands of Stevenson in the counties of Edinburgh and Had- dington in 1624, and was created a baronet in 1636. It is maintained that he belonged to the St. Clairs of Longforma- cus. Sir John Sinclair, fourth of Stevenson, had two sons : Robert, his successor, and George, Lord Woodhall. S:r Robert Sinclair, fifth of Stevenson, was succeeded by his son, Sir John, who obtained possession of the estate ol Murkle in Caithness.
03
CHAPTKR II.
The Sinclairs of Caithness.
THE LAND OF THE CATTIANS.
HE fir>t inhabitants of the British Islands were cave- dwellers, and lived by hunting and fishing. They were a short, dark, and wiry people, and were appar- ently of the same race as the Basques and Kskimos. For want of a better name they are sometimes spoken of as Iberians. They were followed by Keltic tribes from Gaul, who conquered them and gradually absorbed them. The Anglo-Saxons began to settle in South Britain in 449 A. I)., and in the southern part of North Britain about 547 A. I). Until Soo A. I)., the Highlands and Islands of Scot- land were wholly occupied by Keltic tribes. These tribes were divided politically into two peoples, the Picts and the Scots. The Picts seem to have been partly real Picts — who were a branch of the same stock as the Britons — and partly Gaidels. The Scots came from Ireland about 506 A. D. They settled in Argyll and became mixed up with the people of that district. They were Gaidels, Gael, or Gaelic- speaking Kelts. About 825 A. D., the Norwegians began to form settlements in the Scottish Islands. In 870 or thereabouts, they took permanent possession of the Shet- land*, Orkneys, and Western Islands, and in a few years made themselves masters of the Isle oi Man, Arran, Bute, Kintyre. and the western coast of Argyll, Inverness, and K"sv. Tiny began to attack Caithness about 8So, and gradually extended their sway over the whole of the north- ern part of Scotland as far as the Beauly Firth. The Scottish king^ kept up a war against them, and finally destroyed their power a: the battle of Largs in 1263.
THE SINCLAIKS OF CAITHNESS 9
The Keltic tribes, north of the Dornoch Firth, were known to the Norwegians as Cataich or Cattians. It is not to be assumed that the whole of these tribes called them- selves by that name ; it is certain, however, that their lead- ing tribe must have called themselves by it. The meaning of the word seems to be cat men, or the men who used the wild cat as an emblem on their standard. The Cattians called the Norwegians Gallaich or foreigners. In course of time the term Gallaich came to be applied to all the people north of the Ord of Caithness, whether they were Nor- wegians or Kelts. Thus, the old name Cataich became restricted to the people of Sutherland proper.
Caithness or Gallaibh contains ten parishes ; Dunnet, Cannisbay, Olrick, Thurso, Bower. Watten. Wick. Reay, Halkirk and Latheron. The parish of Reay was originally partly in Caithness and partly in Strath naver. About the year 1895, the Strathnaver portion of it, or Strath halladale, was united to the parish of Farr. Sutherland proper in- cludes the parishes of Dornoch, Creich, Lairg, Golspie, Rogart, Clyne, Loth and Kildonan. Duthaich Mhic-A< idh. or Lord Reay's country, embraces the parishes of Eddera- chilis, Durness, Tongue, and Farr. It was for a long time known in English as Strathnaver. Assynt is a parish by itself, and belonged for over 330 years to the Macleods. In 1 601, Sutherland proper and Strathnaver were separated from the Sheriffdom of Inverness and formed into the county of Sutherland. To this new shire the district of Assynt was added in 1631.
Caithness contains 455,70s acres, or 712 square miles. Its extreme length is fifty-three miles and its extreme breadth thirty-three miles. The coast is bold and, rocky. The interior, except the south-western portion of Latheron is generally low and flat, full of barren moors, and destitute of trees. South-western Latheron abounds in mountains, hills, and vales. Morven rise^ to a height of 2515 feet, and Scaraben to a height of 2054 feet. Caithness contains a large number of lakes, but there are only three of them which are more than one mile in length. The prim rivers are the Thurso, the Berriedale, and the Wick. The
IO THE SINCLAIRS OF CAITHNESS
Thurso is twenty seven miles in length, the Berriedale sixteen miles, and the Wick nine and a half miles. Suther- landshire contains an area of 1,297,846 acres, or nearly 202S square miles. It is sixty-two miles in length and forty-nine miles in breadth. It contains the large straths of the Naver and the Halladale and a number of pleasant glens. Taken as a whole, however, it is a hilly and moun- tainous country. Ben More is 3431 feet in height ; Ben Klibreck. 3164: Ben Hope, 3061; and Foiuaven, 3015. The rivers, like those in Caithness, are small. The Oikell. which is the largest, is only twenty-three miles in length. In 1S00 Sutherlandshire and the parishes of Reay, Halkirk, and Latheron in Caithness were almost wholly occu- pied by Gaelic-speaking Highlanders. The inhabitants of the other parishes in Caithness were a mixture of Kelts, Scandinavians, and Anglo-Saxons. Many of them, espec- ially in the parishes of Thurso and Wick, spoke Gaelic, but as a general rule they spoke English or rather Broad Scotch. It is certain, however, that a large proportion of those who spoke only English were Kelts rather than anything else. Of the voters in Sutherlandshire in 1SS5, 547 were Mac- kays ; 237, Macleods ; 230. Sutherlands ; 177, Rosses : 170, Mackenzies ; 126, Munros ; 1 19, Macdonalds ; 117. Mnrrays; 92, Mathesons ; 82, Campbells ; 62, Gunns ; 62, Morrisons : 44, Grants ; 41, Gordons ; 23, Sinclairs ; 19, Macleans ; 19, Kerrs ; and 18 Bannermaus. Of the voters in Caithness in 1892, 320 were Sutherlands ; 202, Mackavs ; 171, Sinclairs ; 137, Gunns; 105, Hendersons; 102, Campbells ; 98, Swan- sons ; and 24 Keiths, The Swansons are of Norwegian origin, and have probably even at the present day a L;ood proportion of Norwegian blood in them. It is clear, how- ever, from th.e other names, that the present Caithnessians are to a very large extent a Keltic people. Many of the Sutherlands and Mackays who were evicted from their own lands between [812 and [820 settled in Caithness. It was in consequence of this fact that the Sutherlands and Mac- kays became more numerous in Caithness than the Sinclairs. There must always, however, have been quite a number of Sutherlands north of the Ord.
THE SINCI.AIRS OK CAITHNESS II
The principal clans which really belonged to the land of the Cattians were the Mackays, the Gunns, the Hender- sons, the Sutherlancls and the Sinclairs. The Keiths, the Murrays, the Gordons, the Macleods and the Campbells were numerous in the country, but their chiefs by blood belonged to other parts of Scotland.
Hugh Mackay of Farr. chief of the Mackays, had four sons — Donald of Scourie, John Beag, Hugh, and William of Bighouse. Hugh, his third son, succeeded him in the chiefship and also in his estates. Hugh had two sons ; Sir Donald, his successor, and John of Dilred and Strathy. In 1 6 1 4 Sir Donald purchased Reay, Downreay, Borlum and Brubster. He was created Lord Reay in 162S. Owing to pecuniary difficulties, he had some time afterwards to part with his estates in Caithness. He was succeeded by his son John, who was succeeded by his sou George. George, third Lord Reay, had four sons, Donald, Hugh of Bighouse, and George of Skibo. Kric, sou of George of Skibo, was the seventh Lord Reay, and the last Lord Reay who ruled over Mackay's country.
William Mackay, first of Bighouse, had five children : Angus, second of Bighouse. Hugh of Golval, Donald, Ann and Marion. William, third of Bighouse, married Agnes, daughter of John of Dilred and Strathy, and grand-daughter of James Sinclair of Murkle. Angus, fourth of Bighouse, married Jane, daughter of Patrick Sinclair of LTbster. George, sixth of Bighouse, married Catherine Ross, by whom he had Elizabeth and other daughters. Col. Hugh Mackay, son of the third Lord Reay, married Elizabeth Mackay, and got the lands of Bighouse with her. Janet their only daughter, was married in 1749 to Colin Camp- bell of Glenure. and had by him Louisa and other daugh- ters. George Mackay of Handa married Louisa Campbell in 176S, and obtained the Bighouse estate with her. He was colonel of the Reay Fencibles, ami was a very popular man. He died in September, [798, and was succeeded by his son, Colin-Campbell. The Mackays of Bighouse held the land< of Strath-ballade under their chiefs.
It is said that Guin or Gunn, the progenitor of the
12 THE SINCLAIRS OF CAITHNESS
Gunns, was the son of a Scandinavian father and a Keltic mother. George Gunn, chief of the elan in 1450, lived at the castle of Halbtiry in Clyth. He was crowner of Caith- ness and was known as am Braisteach Mor, or the big man of the brooch. He had at least six sons : James, his heir : Robert of Braemore : John of Dalmore : Henry, ancestor of the Mackendrieks or Hendersons of Caithness ; William, ancestor of the Williamsons and Wilsons of Caithness ; and Torqnil, of whose descendants we have no account. He was treacherously slain by the Keiths of Ackergill about 1464. James, his eldest son, removed to Sutherland, and settled at Killearnan. James was succeeded in the chief- ship by his son William, who was known as Uilleam Mac Sheumais or William Mac Kamish. Robert Gunn of Ach- aneccan near Kinbrace was chief of the Gunns in 1800.
Hugh Freskin received a grant of the district of Suth- erland in 1 197. He was the first chief of the Sutherlands. William his son was created Earl of Sutherland about 122S. John, ninth chief of the clan Sutherland and eighth Karl of Sutherland, died in 1505, and was succeeded in the estates by his son-in-law, Adam Gordon, second son of the earl of Huntly. Alexander Sutherland, of Kilphedder, succeeded him as chief of the clan. William Gordon, eighteenth Earl of Sutherland, married Mary Maxwell, by whom he had Elizabeth, who was born in 1765. He died in 1766. He was an excellent man, and the last Highlander who was Earl of Sutherland. He was succeeded in his estates and title by his daughter. George Gower, afterwards Earl Gower, married Elizabeth Gordon, Countess of Sutherland. in 1785. On the death of his father he became Marquis of Stafford. He was created Duke of Sutherland in [833, and died in the same year. His wife died in [839. He was not chief of the Sutherlands ; he was simply a land-owner and a duke. The Sutherlands of Kilphedder became ex- tinct about [835. Sinclair of Forse in Caithness seems to be the present chief of the Sutherlands as a cian.
The Caithness portion of the parish of Reay contained 44,747 acres ; the Sutherlaudshire portion of it was much smaller. The lauds were owned chiefly bv the Sinclairs,
THE SINCLAIRS OF CAITHNESS 1 3
Inneses, and Mackays. In 1604 William Innes, a native of Morayshire, purchased Sandside, an estate which included the lands of Sandside, Fresgo, Borlum, Rear, New Reay, Dachow and Shurery. In 17S7 Major William Innes be- came proprietor of these lands. He died in 1842, and was the last Innes of Sandside. John Sinclair of Murkle. eighth Earl of Caithness, held in the parish of Reay the lands of Downreay, Borrowston, Lybster and Acharaskil. Alex- ander of Murkle, the ninth Earl, obtained the lands of Isauld in 1723 and of Brubster in 1726. John Sinclair of Assery, a son of James first of Murkle. obtained a charter of Brawl- bin in 1 63 1. Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster purchased Brawlbin in 17S4. At the present time Brawibin, and also Lambsdale, belong to the estate of Sinclair of Forss. The Mackays of Bighouse held the lands of Strath-halladale. In 1S29 Lord Gower purchased all the lands then held by the Mackays for /' 300, 000.
The inhabitants of Caithness and Sutherlandshire were in a fairly happy condition until the beginning of the last century. It is true that they were in the discouraging and unpleasant position of being tenants; at the same time their rents were comparatively small. About the year 1S00 the landlords began to discover that sheep and deer would pay them better than men, and also began to conclude that they had a perfect right to depopulate the country in their own interests. In 1S07 Mrs. Colin-Campbell Mackay of Big- house — a daughter of Patrick Cruikshanks of Stratheathro — evicted eighteen families from the upper part of Strath- halladale. They had been paying between them a rent of ,£iS5 a year, but that was deemed too small a sum. Mrs. Mackay gave their lands to a sheep-grazier, who agreed to pay her .£400 a year for them. In the same year in which the people of upper Strath-halladale were removed from their homes, Lord Gower and his wife, the Countess of Sutherland, evicted ninety families from the parishes of Farr and Lairg. In 1809 the same couple evicted hundreds of families from the parishes of Dornoch, Rogart, Loth, Clyne, and Golspie. Their principal agents in carrying <>n their nefarious work were William Young, Patrick S/.lar,
14 THE SINCLAIRS OF CAITHNESS
James Loch, Francis Slither, John Horseburgh, Captain Kenneth Maekay, and Angus Leslie. If we can credit tradition, Sellar was the most active and the most cruel of all ; he was certainly the most detested. About 1810, Major William Innes of Sandside and John Patterson, his sheep farmer and factor, evicted a large number of families from Isauld, Skaill, Borrowston, Lybster. Skinnet, Shurery, and other parts of West Caithness. In 18 12 Lord Gower and his wife drove away from their lands scores of persons who were compelled to seek a home among the Indians and bears of the Red River settlement. In 18 15 they turned more of their tenants — more of the parents of the men who had been fighting against Napoleon — out of doors, espec- ially in the parishes of Farr and Kildonan. On this occa- sion the selfish and tyrannical Sellar found enjoyment and pleasure in setting fire to the houses of those whom he was removing. In 1819 and 1820 the whole parish of Kildonan, parts of the parishes of Rogart and Golspie, and the dis- tricts of Strathnaver and Strathy were cleared almost wholly of their inhabitants and sheep put in their place. In the statistical account of the parish of Reay, written in 1840, we find the following statements : — " The distress at present existing in the parish is extreme. The most of the parish has been converted into sheep-farms and co;>e- quently the poor people have been ejected from their houses and lands, many of them reduced to indigence and misery, and others necessitated to emigrate to a foreign land."
Lord Gower, Marquis of Stafford and Duke of Suther- land, was an 'Knglishman. lie was to a large extent re- sjxmsible for the Sutherland clearances and their horrible cruelties. It is of no use to try to throw the whole blarae 011 his wife. The factors were bad enough, but they were only agents. John Patterson came to Caithne.>s from Rox- burgh in 1S04. He was then only a moneyless shepherd. At the time of his death, which took place in 1853, he was tenant of several large well-stocked farms and had ,£39,000 in cash.
THE SINCEAIKS OF CAITHNESS
THE EARLS OF CAITHNESS.
Walter, sixth high steward of Scotland, married Marj- ory, daughter of King Robert Bruce, and had by her Robert II. , the first of the Stewart kings. John Macdonald, first Lord of the Isles, married Margaret, daughter of Robert II., and had by her Donald, his successor. Donald, second Lord of the Isles, married Margaret Leslie, by whom lie had Alexander, Angus and Mariot. Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath married Mariot, daughter of Donald of the Isles, and had by her Marjory and others. William vSt. Clair, first Earl of Caithness, married as his second wife, Marjory, daughter of Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath, and had by her William and other children. He gave the earldom of Caithness to William in 1476.
William Sinclair, second Earl of Caithness, married Mary Keith, by whom he had two sons : John, his suc- cessor, and Alexander, first of Dunbeath and Stemster. He was killed at the battle of Flodden in 1573. About three hundred of his followers fell with him. He was the first chief of the Sinclairs of Caithness considered a.- a Highland clan. John, second earl, invaded Orkney in 1529 with five hundred men, and was killed at the battle of Summerdale. The most of his followers perished with him. He was succeeded by his son, George. George, sixth earl, was appointed justiciar of Caithness in 1566. lie married Elizabeth, daughter of William Graham, Earl of Montrose, and had by her three sons : John Garbh, Master of Caith- ness ; William, first of Mey ; and George, second of Mey. He was a wily and ambitious man. He turned against John Garbh, his heir, and imprisoned him in Girnigo castle, where he was murdered in 1576. The fourth earl died in 1582.
John Garbh married Jean, daughter of Patrick Hep- burn. Earl of Bothwell, and had by her three sons : Get 1 James of Murkle, and John of Rattar. George succeeded his grandfather. James of Murkle was succeeded by his son Sir James. Sir James had two sons, John and Davit! of Broy- nach. John became Earl of Caithness in [785. David of
1 6 THK SINCLAIRS OF CAITHNESS
Broynach was married twice. He had one sou, James, by his first wife ; and two sons, David and Donald, by his sec- ond wife. Donald had a son named William, who was tacksman of Isauld from 1755 to 1760. The Rev. John Sinclair, Kinloch-Raunoch, is descended from William and claims to be the representative of the Sinclairs of Broynach. William, first of Mey, had two sons, Patrick and John, both of whom were legitimated in 1607. John was the progenitor of the Sinclairs of Ulbster. Sir John, eighth of Fibster was a man of great ability and energy. He was created a baronet in 1786. He raised the Rothsay and Caithness Fencibles in 1794, and the Caithness Highlanders in 1795. He published several valuable books, and hun- dreds of pamphlets. He died in 1S35. George, second of Mey, had three sons : William, John of Geanies, and Alex- ander of Latheron. James, fourth of Mey, was created a baronet in 1631. He had three sons: William. Robert of Durran, and George of Olrick. James, third of Durran, had a son named George. John-Sutherland Sinclair, son of this George, was a lieutenant-colonel in the army.
George, fifth earl of Caithness, married Jean, daughter of George Gordon, fifth earl of Huntley, and had by her two sons : William, known as Lord Berriedale, and Francis of Xorthfield. John, son of Lord Berriedale, signed the National Covenant in 163S, and supported the cause of Presbyterianism and civil liberty most loyally. He died in 1639, leaving one son, George. Francis of Xorthfield mar- ried Elizabeth Fraser, by whom he had George of Keiss. George, the fifth earl, died in 1643. He was Karl of Caith- ness for the long period of sixty-one years. He is known in history us the Wicked Earl. He was succeeded by his great-grandson, George, son of John, son of William. George, the sixth earl, died without issue in [676. He was deeply in debt and sold his estates to John Campbell of Glenurchy, afterwards Earl of Breadalbane. He also tried to convey the title of Earl of Caithness to Glenurchy. He was not a wicked earl, but he was a very foolish earl. Georgt Sinclair of Keiss was an active ami patri tic man. He had a bitter struggle with Campbell of Glenurchy
THE SINCLAIRS OF CAITHNESS I 7
for some of the lands which the latter claimed, and also for the title of Karl of Caithness. In 1681 the Privy Council acknowledged his right to the lands of Northfield, Tister, and Keiss, and also to the title of Earl of Caithness. He died without issue in 169S, and was succeeded by John Sinclair, third of Murkle. John, the eighth earl, died in 1705, and was succeeded by his son Alexander. Alexander, the ninth earl, was born in 16S4. With amazing indiffer- ence to the interests of his clan, he willed his estates to George Sinclair. Lord Wood hall, a man who had no con- nection with the Sinclairs of Caithness. He died in 1765.
William Sinclair, sixth of Rattar, was acknowledged Earl of Caithness in 176S, and confirmed in his claim to that title in 1772. He was the tenth earl. He died in 1779 and was succeeded by his son John. John, the eleventh earl, died unmarried in 1789. and was succeeded by Sir James Sinclair, tenth of Mey. James of Mey, the twelfth earl, died in 1825. and was succeeded by his son Alexander. Alexander, the thirteenth earl, died in 1855, and was suc- ceeded by his son James. James, the fourteenth earl, was noted for his scientific attainments. He died in Xew York in 1SS1, and was succeeded by his son George. George of Mey, the fifteenth earl, died unmarried in 18S9. He was succeeded in the title of earl, but not in his estate, by James- Augustus Sinclair, son of Lieut. -Colonel John-Sutherland Sinclair of the Durran family. James-Augustus, the six- teenth earl, was for a' number of years agent in Aberdeen for the bank oi Scotland. He married in 1855, Janet, daughter of Dr. Roderick Macleod in London, and had by her John-Sutherland and other sons He died in 1S91.
John-Sutherland Sinclair, seventeenth Earl of Caith- ness, was born in 1S57. He was educated at the Univer- sity of Aberdeen. He emigrated to the L'nited States. He- has a farm called Berriedale at Lacota in North Dacota. He has no land in Scotland. But that is not a matter of any great consequence ; he is chief of the Sinclairs of Caithness.
1 8 THE SINCLAIRS OF CAITHNESS
ARE THE SINCLAIRS A HIGHLAND CLAN t
As the Normans and the Lowlanders ha'd a good deal of Keltic blood in their veins, it would be folly to look upon the Lords of Roslin as Scandinavians. Sir Henry Sinclair, fourth of Roslin. was the son of a Keltic mother. William Sinclair, second Earl of Caithness and progenitor of the Sinclairs of Caithness, was also the son of a Keltic mother. The Scandinavians who settled in Caith- ness occupied only parts of the country. They did not slay the whole of the original inhabitants It was indeed quite a common thing for a Norwegian to marry into a Keltic family. Leod, the progenitor of the Macleods, was the son of a Scandinavian father. He married a Highland girl and had two sons by her, Torquil of Lewis and Tormod of Dunvegan. These sons were only half Scandinavians. Tormod of Dunvegan married a Keltic girl and had a son named Malcolm by her. Malcolm was very far from being a half Scandinavian. He was certainly a Kelt rather than a Scandinavian. Before a Sinclair, a Macleod, or a Gunn talks about his Scandinavian origin, it would be wise for him to calculate with some degree of care to what extent his blood is Scandinavian blood. Patrick Sinclair, third of Ulbster, was the son of Jane Chisholm. John, fourth of Ulbster, was the son of Elizabeth Mackay. John, fifth of Ulbster, was the son of Janet Sinclair. John, sixth of Ulbster, was the son of Jane Munro. George, seventh of Ulbster, was the son of Henrietta Brodie. Sir John Sin- clair, eighth of Ulbster, the most eminent man that Caith- ness ever produced, was the son of Janet Mackay. Was S;r John a Scandinavian? He believed himself that lie was a Highland chieftain.
The Gaelic form of the name Sinclair is Singlear. The Sinclairs of Argyleshire call themselves Clann-na-Cearda, or the children of the craft or trade. It is probable that this name was given them by their neighbours, who would naturally take for granted that Singlear meant shingler or 1. ax-dresser. The Sinclairs of Argyleshire are out-and-out Highlanders.
THE SINCLAIRS OF CAITHNESS 1 9
The Earls of Caithness held their lands of the Crown, and were in no way subject to the Saintclairs of the Low- lands. They lived in the Highlands, they were chiefs of the Sinelairs of Caithness, they ruled over a large number of Gaelic-speaking Highlanders, and they were to some extent Kelts by blood. They had thus a perfect right to regard themselves as Highland chiefs and to wear tartans and bonnets, and use bag-pipes, if they saw proper. The Sinelairs of Caithness are thus a Highland clan just as much as the Sutherlands, Gunns and Macleods are Highland clans ; but they are not Kelts to the same extent.
THE SINCLAIRS OF SHURERY.
William Sinclair in Shurery was married and had by his wife six children : George, baptized January 22nd, 1757 ; Alexander, February 16, 1759 ; Janet, February 23, 1763; William, March 17, 1765; Catherine, September 4. 1765 ; Margaret, February 19, 176S ; and Elizabeth, who was born probably in 1771. George Sinclair, in Shurery, had William, baptized in 1759. Donald Sinclair in Shurery had Christy, baptized in 1759, John in 1761, Elizabeth in 1763, and Janet in 1767. It is probable that the three Sinelairs in Shurery, William, George and Donald were brothers. There were fifteen tenants in Shurery in 1794. The}' were paying- between them a rent of ^100.
THE SINCLAIRS OF STRATH-HALLADALE.
Alexander Sinclair in Strath-halladale entered into a contract of marriage with Mary Mackay in Thurso, December 23rd, 1728, George Sinclair, merchant in Thurso, being cautioner for the latter. George Sinclair in Dal- halvaig had his daughter Ann baptized in 1752. John Sinclair in Golval had his son John baptized in 1756. Donald Sinclair in Golval had Janet baptized in 1764, Beatrice in 1767, and John in 1769. It is possible that George, John and Donald were brothers. It is at any rate fairly certain that John and Donald were brothers.
John Sinclair in Golval had four children : William.
20 THE SIXCLAIKS OF CAITHNESS
John, Ann, and Donald. William must have been born as early as 1755. John was baptized Dec. 21st, 1756. Ann was born probably in 1759. and Donald, probably in 1761. John was born in Golval ; the other children may or may . not have been born there. The Christian name of John Sinclair's wife was Catherine. It is said that she was a Cameron.
I. William, eldest son of John Sinclair in Golval. married Catherine Campbell, by whom he had nine children : Colin, Alexander. Catherine. John, John, Ann, Henrietta, Christy and Hugh. According to the inscription on his tombstone, Alexander was born in 177S. Catherine was baptized in 17S5, the first John in 17SS, the second John in 1 79 1, Ann in 1794, and Hugh in 1799. William Sinclair lived at Clarville in 17S8. He became tenant of the farm of Kirkton some time afterwards. He was removed from Kirkton by the tyranny of landlordism in 1S07. He went then to live at Achrarnisgag near Melvich, where he passed the remainder of his days.
Colin, son of William Sinclair in Clarville, married Mary, daughter of James Innes of the Reay Inn, and had by her Donald, James, William, Alexander. Peter, John, Jane, Margaret, Catherine the elder, Catherine the younger, and Marjory. Donald was baptized in January, 1S03 ; James in December, 1S04, and William in November, 1S06. Colin Sinclair lived at Kirkton until 1S07. He lived after- wards at Melvich for a number of years. He died at Dunn in the parish of Watten. Donald, his eldest son. married Jane Mackenzie, by whom he had David, Colin, Barbara, Hugh, and Mary-I^nes. Colin was Free Church minister at Invergordon William, third son of Colin Sinclair and Mary Innes, lived at Port Skerray. He married Jane Munro, by whom lie had Donald, Alexander, Colin., and three daughters. Colin was for some time minister of Ripley, Ontario. Three of the sons of Colin Sinclair and Mary Innes, — James, Alexander and Peter — emigrated to Australia.
Alexander, sen of William Sinclair in Clarville, was for a few vears in the Reav Feneible-s. Pie entered into
THE SINCLAIRS OF CAITHNESS 2 1
business as a merchant in Thurso about 1S03. He married Catherine Waters in September, 1S06. and had by her nine- children : William, Benjamin, Daniel. Alexander, Catherine. Jane, Henrietta, Elizabeth and Margaret. He died July 13, 1852, aged seventy-four. He was a man of deep piety and sound sense. The Rev. Mr. Auld gives a very interesting account of him in his excellent work, " Ministers and Men of the Far North."
Catherine, eldest daughter of William Sinclair in Clar- ville, was drowned at Thurso. Ann was married in Decem- ber, 1814, to John Murray, merchant, Thurso. Henrietta was married to Hugh Macpherson in Strath-halladale, and Christy to Robert Macdonald in Trantlemore.
2. John, second son of John Sinclair in Golval, entered into a contract of marriage with " Janet Sinclair in Shur- ery" on May 22nd, 17S7. He is described as "John Sin- clair in Bighouse." He lived at Breckrow, am Breacradh. which is about half-way between Trantlebeg burn and For- sinain burn. He was removed from Breckrow in 1S07, by Mrs. Colin Mackay of Bighouse. to make room for sheep, dogs and shepherds. On being expelled from Strath- halladale he went to Strathy. and settled on the croft of Dal-Giobag, about a mile from the mouth of the Strathy river. For this croft he was paying an annual rent of £ 13. In 1820 he was driven from his home a second time to make room for sheep. Among those turned out of Strathy along with him was John Grant, one of the famous " men" of the far North. As Sutherlandshire would not give him leave to toil any longer within its bounds, he removed to Caithness, the land of his forefathers. He settled at Clachbhuail, or Clachvul. about two miles from Brubster, and was allowed to spend the rest of his days there in peace. He is buried in the Reay churchyard.
3. Donald, third son of John Sinclair in Golval, lived in Cargarry. He married Elizal eth Mackay. and had by her ten children : John. Jane, Catherine, Augustus, Angus, Barbara, Farquhar, Ann, Janet, ami Donald. He is de- scribed as Donald Sinclair in Cargarry from 17S4 to 1799, and afterwards as Donald Sinclair in Forsinain. He was
22 THE SINCLAIRS OF CAITHNESS
removed from Forsinain in 1707, and went to live at Trantle- more. John, the eldest son, was baptized in February, 1784. He entered the army when quite young, and died there. Angus married Jane Macleod, by whom he had six children. He died at Achnavast in the parish of Thurso. Donald was born in 1804. He married Barbara Mackay, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. He died at Trautlemore, Sept. 1, iSSS. Jane, eldest daughter of Donald Sinclair in Cargarry, was married to Hugh Mackay in Trantlemore ; Catherine, to James Ross ; Barbara, to William Cooper ; Ann, to John Munro in Durness ; and Janet, to Donald Macdonald.
4. Ann, only daughter of John Sinclair in Golval, was married, first to George Campbell in Cargarrymore, and by him had four children, Catherine, George, John and Hugh. She was married, secondly, to George Mackay, by whom she had two sons, George and William. Hugh, her third son, was baptized in June, 1783. George, her fourth son, was baptized in August, 17SS. She died at Brubster. She was noted for her earnest piety.
""^2^
CHAPTER III.
The Sinclair? of Goshen.
THE DESCENDANTS OF ALEXANDER SINCLAIR IN SHURF.RY.
aLEXANDER. second son of William Sinclair in Shur- ery, married Isabel Sutherland in Caryside in 1 79 1 , and had by her nine children : Elspet, baptized April 26, 1792 ; William, June 24, 1794 : Robert, August 5. 1796 ; John, April 9, 1797 ; Christy, July 5, 1S01 ; Alexander. April 4, 1S06 ; Robert, probably in 1808 : and Donald, November 7, 181 1. Isabel Sutherland. Alexander Sinclair's wife, was baptized May 20, 1770.
Alexander Sinclair lived in Lambsdale —which is quite near Shurery — when Elspet, William, and the first Robert were baptized. He lived in Backlass in the parish of Hal- kirk, when John, Christy and Alexander were baptized. The baptism of John was witnessed by Farquhar Macdonald in Achscorclet and Mary Macdonald in the same place ; the baptism of Christy, by John Sutherland in Acharennie and William Sinclair in Scoraclct ; and the baptism of Alexander, by John Gunn and Barbara Sutherland in Backlass. Alex- ander Sinclair removed from Backlass to Uag of Dunbeath in the parish of I. at heron, where the second Robert and also Donald were born. The first Robert died young.
Alexander Sinclair left Latheron and sailed for Amer- ica in the spring of 1816, the year after the battle of Wat- erloo. He landed in Halifax in June, and came h) a schooner to Sherbrooke. He lived for a few years about half a mile below the foot of Lochaber Lake, <>n a farm which he rented from Wentworth Taylor, and which at a later period became the property of Matthew Taylor. About 1S20 he removed with his family to the district then known
24 THE SIXCI.AIRS OF GOSHEN
as the Backlands of St. Mary's, but now as Goshen. He died on May 13th, 1S41. His wife died on May 4th, 1S54.
I. William, eldest son of Alexander Sinclair, settled on a lot of land beside his brother John's lot. He was married, about 1S21, by the Rev. Thomas Trotter, to Isabel daughter of John Maedonald, Beaver Meadow, Antigonish and had by her thirteen children : Agnes, born in 1822 Isabel, in 1S24 ; Grace, in 1S26 ; John-Alexander, in 1828 Robert in 1S30 ; William-Hill in 1832 ; Archibald in 1834 Donald-Macconnachie in 1S36 ; Lewis in 1838 ; Angus in 1840 ; James D., in 1S43 ; Ranald in 1845 ; and Mary, in 184S. He died August 4, 1862. His wife died September 19, 1883.
John Maedonald in Glencoe, married Grace, daughter of Angus Maedonald, and had by her five children : Lewis. Margaret, Isabel, Ann and Mary. He came to Nova Sco- tia about 1S02, and settled at Beaver Meadow about 1S05.
John-Alexander, eldest son of William Sinclair, married Eunice Macquarrie, by whom he had Florence, Mary, Grace- Isabel, Eunice-Ann, Christy and Alexander-Xeil. He lives in Boston. Alexander Neil, his only son, died at Leadville.
Robert, second son of William Sinclair, lived in Goshen. He married Jane Pushie, by whom he had thirteen children. He died March 8. 1894. The most of his children died young. There are only three of them now living ; Leonard- Archibald, Robert-Edwin, and Roberta.
William Hill, third son of William Sinclair, married Mary-Jane Mason, by whom he had William-Angus. Hugh- Kenneth, Iliram-Blanchard, Abner, Isabel and Mary. He lives at Port Dufferin in the county of Halifax. His eldest son was born May 12, 1863.
Archibald, fourth son of William Sinclair, died at Lon- donderry, Nova Scotia. He was married and left a family.
Donald-Macconnachie, fifth son of William Sinclair, married Sarah Cameron, by whom he had six children. He lived at Light Island Lake. He died some years ago.
Lewis, sixth sou of William Sinclair, died in New- foundland. He was married and left children.
THE SIXCLAIRS OF GOSHEN 25
Angus, seventh son of William Sinclair, lives at Salt Springs, Pictou County. He is married and has one son, William.
James D., eighth son of William Sinclair, lives on a part of his father's farm. He married Ella J. Fraser, of Thorburn, and had by her two children : Margaret-Alice, born in November, 1S73, and William-Adrian, born in June 1877. His daughter died Feb. 5, 1S90. His wife died in March, 1900.
Ranaid, ninth son of William Sinclair, lives on a part of his father's farm. He married Mary, daughter of Dougald Macdougall, East River, St. Mary's, and had by her two sons ; Fraser, born November 30, 1884, and Arthur born in April, 1S86.
II. John, second son of Alexander Sinclair, settled in Goshen on a lot of land beside his father's. He was mar- ried by the Rev. Alexander Lewis, on June 30th, 1S25, to Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, Forks, St. Mary's, and had by her the following children : Alexander, born October 23, 1826 ; William, November 5, 1S28 ; John- Thomas, August 13, 1S30 ; Robert-Angus, July 4, 1832 ; Daniel-Macgillivray, May 17, 1834; Simon, May 8, 1836; James, June 9, 1838 ; Hugh-Kenneth, Oct. 17, 1840 ; Isabel February 10, 1843 ; Ebenezer, June 9, 1845 ; Joseph, May 28, 1847 ; and Samuel-Henry, March 12, 1851. He was a magistrate and was known as John Sinclair, Squire. He died July 11, 18S0, aged eighty-three. His wife died Aug- ust 1, 1873, aged sixty-seven.
Alexander, eldest son of John Sinclair, married Eliza- beth Murray, with issue two sons, John-Abner and Alex- ander-Robert. He died in 1S57.
William, second son of John Sinclair, studied for the ministry. He was ordained Nov. 7, 1865, and settled over the congregation of Mabou, Cape Breton. He died Febru- ary 4th, 1S70.
John-Thomas, third son of John Sinclair, married Euphemia, daughter of the Hon. William Mackeen, Mabon, Cape Breton, and had by her two daughters, and a son
26 THE SIXCLAIRS OF GOSHEN
named Francis. He lives in Yakima, Washington, U.S.A. His wife died in 1878. His daughters died young.
Robert-Angus, fourth son of John Sinclair, removed to New York, and engaged there in a bakery business. He died in 1S94.
Daniel-Macgillivray, fifth son of John Sinclair, married Janet Smith, of Mabou, in 1S65, with issue — William, born in 1866 ; Hedley- Vicars, in 1875 ; a daughter who died young; and Lyman, born in 1879. He lived for some time in Mabou. He removed to Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, about 1 88 1. He died in 1894.
Simon, sixth son of John Sinclair, lives in Goshen. He married Mary M. Scott, of Guysborongh, in 1870, by whom he had the following children : — Kl la-Louise, born November 7, 187 1 ; Walter-Hugh-Stanley, born September to, 1873 ; Harold-Scott, August 2S, 1875 ; Jairus-Cariton, October 23, 187S ; Hattie-Maude, October 4, 18S2 ; and Jessie-Winifred, October 12, 18S5.
James, seventh son of John Sinclair, lived on the old homestead in Goshen. He married Jessie Henderson, of Merigomish, in 1867, and by her had five children : Eliza- beth-Ktta, born in 1869 ; Maria, in 1873 ; William-Henry, in 1S76 ; John-Alfred, in 1879 ; and Robert-Ernest-White, in 1888. He died in 1S95.
Hugh-Kenneth, eighth son of John Sinclair, married Frances Bishop, of Antigonish, by whom he had Emma, born in 1S65 ; Alfred, in 1S6S ; Clara, in 1S70 ; and Minnie- Frances, in 1873. He left Goshen in 1879, and went to live in Yakima, Washington Territory. Emma, his eldest child, died at the age of eleven months.
Ebenezer, ninth son of John Sinclair, died in 1S57, aged 13 years.
Joseph, tenth son of John Sinclair, married in May, 1877, Jessie M. Forbes, by whom he had four children : Kirtley. John, Gertrude and Karl. He removed to Yakima in 1879. He entered the American army in 1863 and was engaged in several battle^ of the civil war. He held the rank of lieutenant-colonel at the time of his retirement. He died in 1S95.
THE SINCLAIRS OF GOSHEN 27
Samuel-Henry, eleventh son of John Sinclair, married Annie, daughter of Alexander Maclean, of Lime Brook, East River, Pictou. He lives at Ridgley, Maryland, U.S.A.
Isabel, only daughter of John Sinclair, was married in 1870 to John Macphie, South River, Antigonish. Mr. Macphie removed with his family to Yakima in 1SS2.
III. Alexander Sinclair, third' son of Alexander Sinclair and Isabel Sutherland, lived in Goshen beside his father's farm. He married, in 1S30, Elizabeth, daugh- ter of John Bruce and his wife, who was a Mackay, and had by her five children : Isabel, born May 22, 1S52 ; Margaret. May 23, 1833 ; Elizabeth, February 18, 1S35 ; John-George, March 26, 1837 > an^ David, January 14, 1S39.
Alexander Sinclair died April 22, 1S76. His wife, Elizabeth Bruce, was born in Latheron, October 26, 1796, and died in Goshen April 18, 1SS6.
John-George, elder son of Alexander Sinclair, lives in Country Harbour, Guysborough County. He married, March 27, 1S66, Annie, daughter of Donald Cameron, Lochaber, Antigonish, and Flora Cameron his wife, and had by her nine children: John-Wesley, born January 1, 1867 ; Christy-Bell, January 14, 1868 ; Alexander-Bruce, December 24, 1869 ; Flora-Maude, May 2, 1S71 ; Daniel Wickliffe, March 31, 1873 ; Fvlizabeth-Jane, November 13, 1874; Mary-Catherine, December 1, 1876; David George- Whitefield, August 7, 1S7S ; and William-H. -Howard, June 22, 1891. His wife was born November 13,1836. Christy- Bell, his eldest daughter, was married, October 24, 1900, to Captain William M. Swasey, Salem, Massachusetts.
David, second son of Alexander Sinclair, lives in Goshen. He married, in November, 1889, Annie, daughter of Hugh Macmillan and his wife Barbara Sinclair.
Isabel, eldest daughter of Alexander Sinclair, was married in July, 1S56, to Alexander Poison, Altaniore, or Big Brook, South River, Antigonish, and had seven children. Isabel, her second daughter, is married to A. W. Reid, Port Hillford. Margaret, second daughter of Alexander Sinclair, was married in June. 186S, to John A.
28 THE SIXCLAIKS OF GOSHEN
J ordain, St. Mary's. Elizabeth, the third daughter, was married in 1864 to Alexander Langly.
IV. Robert, fourth son of Alexander Sinclair, lived near the Cross Roads, St. Mary's. He married, August 2, 1S52, Catherine Sutherland. He died without issue, December 20, 1888. The writer of this work taught school in St. Mary's about a year and a half, and found Robert Sinclair and his wife exceedingly kind. They were a very happy couple. His widow is still living and resides in Sherbrooke.
V. Donald, fifth son of Alexander Sinclair, married, December 24, 1S41, Jane, daughter of Donald Macneil, and had by her six children : Alexander, born November 18, 1842 ; Mary-Macneil, August 30. 1S44 ; Daniel, May 30, 1846; John-H., May 27, 1S4S ; Catherine, May 13, 1S50; and Jane, March iS, 1S53. Donald Sinclair was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was ordained December 28, 1853. He died January 11, 1S85. His wife died April 30. 1S76.
Donald Macneil, Domhnall Mac Iain, lived in Kilmo- nivaig, Lochaber. Scotland. He married Catherine Cameron. by whom he had Donald. Hugh, John, Allan. Mary, Jane, Christy and Janet. He was drowned in the Caledonian Canal, October 30, 1S2S. His widow and children came to Nova Scotia in 1S30 or 1S31. Jane, his second daughter, was Donald Sinclair's wife.
Alexander, eldest --on of Donald Sinclair, lives in Goshen on the old homestead He is Warden of the Municipality of St. Mary's, Guysborough County. He married in August, 1 ^77 , Janet, daughter of Alexander Fraser, New Glasgow, and had by her two daughters : Marion-Jane, born July 2, 1878 ; and Janet-Louise-Kenned}-, November 30, 1S80. His wife died November 9, [896.
Daniel, second son of Donald .Sinclair, settled in U] per Natchez. Washington, in October. 1879. He married Annie-Margaret, daughter of Duncan Cameron. Lochaber; by his wife Jessie Murray. He had three children : Jean, born December 10, 1886: Jessie- Margaret-Carmichael, born
THE SINCLAIRS OF GOSHEN 29
November 13, 1S92 ; and Malcolm, who died at the age of two years.
John-H., third son of Donald Sinclair, was educated at the common school in Goshen, at the Guysborotigh Acad- emy, and at Ualhousie College. He took a law course in the Halifax University, and received the degree of LX.B. He was called to the bar in January, 1SS0, and began to practise in New Glasgow, N. S., in March, 1SS1. He married, July 13, 1S86, Jessie, daughter of James-William Carmichael, New Glasgow, now the Hon. Senator Car- michael, and has by her one child, Donald-Carmichael. He was Mayor of New Glasgow in 1S90 and 1891.. He was elected to the Legislature of Nova Scotia for Guysborotigh County on March 14, 1894, and again on April 20, 1897. Donald-Carmichael was born in New Glasgow December 10, 1888. Mrs. Sinclair was born February 5, i860. Her mother, Maria-Jane MacColl, was a daughter of Duncan MacColl, Guysborotigh, a native of Argyllshire.
Mary-Macneil, eldest daughter of Donald Sinclair, left Nova Scotia with her brother Daniel in October, 1S79. She was married in San Francisco, October 22, 1884, to Charles H. Bishop, of Sacramento, California, who removed to Port- land, Oregon, in 1S89, where they now reside. Catherine, second daughter of Donald Sinclair, was married February 5, 1880, at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to Daniel Macbain. Jane, the youngest daughter, left Goshen in 1S79. She was married in Chicago, May 6, 1893, as his second wife, to Joseph Cowgill, of North Manchester, Indiana.
Elspet, or Elizabeth, the eldest of Alexander Sinclair's family, was married to John Murray, Lochaber, Antigonish, in 1 S 1 7 , and had by him eleven children: Jessie, born February 6, 1820; Isabella, September 16. 1822 ; Christy, June iS, 1824; Alexander, March 31, 1826: William, March 1, 1828; John, November 7, 1830: Elizabeth, No- vember 27, 1 83 1 ; Robert, January 29, [833 ; Margaret, October 27, 1834 ; Daniel. July 9, [836 : and James, August
27. *837-
Alexander married Margaret Henderson ; William
married Jessie, daughter of Kenneth Cameron, Barney's
30 THE SINCLAIRS OF GOSHKN
River ; John married Mary Mackinnon ; James married Catlierine J. Hattie. Jessie was married to Duncan Cameron. Lochaber ; Isabella to Alexander Hulbert, Lochaber ; Christy to William L. Mackeen, Cross Roads, St. Mary's : Elizabeth to Alexander Sinclair, Goshen ; and Margaret to John D. Cameron, Glen, Lochaber.
John Murray was born in the parish of Ken Edward, Aberdeenshire, in 1785. His wife died March 6, 1SS3.
Christy, second daughter of Alexander Sinclair, was married to Alexander Sutherland. She had six children : James, born in 1S26 ; Alexander, in 1S2S : John, in 1831 ; Jane, in 1833: Elizabeth, in 1835 ; and Margaret, in 1S37. James lives at Eight Island Lake. He married Eliza Poison, by whom he had six children: Alexander-C. , James-\\\, John-R., Elizabeth, Jane and Christy. Alexan- der lives in Goshen. He married Elizabeth Murray, widow of Alexander Sinclair, and by her had four children : Murray. Russell, Albert, and Edith.
THE DESCENDANTS OF JOHN BAN SINCLAIR.
John Ban Sinclair was born in the parish of Reay, Caithness. He came to Nova Scotia in 1S1S, and settled in St. Mary's, near the Two Mile Lake. His father's name was Donald Sinclair. It is said that his mother was a sister of Alexander Sinclair in Goshen.
John Ban Sinclair married Jane Macdonald, April 4. is 16, and had by her four children : Donald, Catherine, Barbara, and Ann. He died in April, 1849. Donald, his only son, died without issue. Catherine was married to Alexander Chisholm. and Barbara to Hugh Macmiilan. Ann was born in St. Mary's June 16, 1S24. She was married November 20, 1845, to William M. Clark, 1:1 St. Mary's. She emigrated with her husband and family to Rtishford, Illinois, in May, 1S70. She had ten children. 1 wo of them died of diphtheria in St. Mary's. The others emigrated to Illinois with their parents. The family re-
'd to Minneapolis in 1S74. Mrs. Clark died December ' ,s9.i One of her sons, J. S. Clark, is a professor in the l nivcrsity of Minnesota.
THE SINCLAIRS OF GOSHEN 31
THE DESCENDANTS OF JOHN SINCLAIR IN BRECKROW.
John Sinclair in Breekrow. Strath-halladale, was born in 1756. He was about five years in the army, probably in the 1st Sutherland Fencible Regiment, which was embodied in February 1799 and disbanded in 17S3 He married in 17S7 Janet, eldest daughter of William Sinclair in Shurery, and had by her five children : William, baptized May 21, 1792 ; Catherine, January 20, 1795 ; John, May 20, 1797 : Christy, November 14, 1799 ; and George, who was born in 1 801. He was 76 years of age at the time of his death.
I. William, eldest son of John Sinclair in Breekrow. came to Nova Scotia in 1S43. He taught school for sev- eral years. He purchased a lot of woodland in Goshen and settled on it. He died February 14, iSSo. He was never married. He left his farm to his nephew, Andrew Sinclair.
II. John, second son of John Sinclair in Breekrow. came to Nova Scotia in 1S31 on the ship industry, which belonged to Dundee and was commanded by Capt. Carr. Along with him came Xeil Gunn in St. Mary's and Donald Gunn in Country Harbour. The Industry sailed from Cro- marty, July 6, 1831, and arrived in Pictou on Sabbath morn- ing, October 9th. It had thus a passage of three months and three days. But then it was better to be tossed about on the deep blue sea for three years and three days than to live under a landlord and feel like a voluntary slave. John Sinclair and Xeil Gunn left the vessel on Monday morning, October 10th, and went to the Three Mile House, where they stayed during the night with John Henderson. On Tuesday night they stayed at John MacRae's, Maclennau's Mountain, and on Wednesday night with John Forbes, Pensioner, at Blue Mountain. On Thursday night they were at Alexander Sutherland's. East River, St. Mary's. Xeil Gunn remained at the East River. John Sinclair went on to the Backlands, where his maternal uncle. Alexander Sinclair, was living. He took up a woodland lot there, and settled on it. He had only seven pence half-penny in lv.s pocket : but he was a free man, he had health and strength, and he knew how to work. As he was a new comer and a.-
32 THE SINCLAIRS OF GOSHEN
there were two Sinclairs of the same name before him, he came to be known as Iain Ur, or New John.
John Sinclair married first, early in 1833, Mary, daugh- ter of John Inglis in Lochaber and his wife Maria Lam- bert, and had by her three children, Janet, John and George. His wife died of measles December 29, 1857, in the 22nd year of her age. He married, secondly, in the spring of 1S39, Christy, daughter of John Maclean, the poet, in Glenbard, Antigonish County, and had by her one child, Alexander- Maclean, who was born in Glenbard, at the home of his maternal grandfather. Janet was born Decem- ber 1, 1S33 ; John, August 11, 1835 ; and George in Septem- ber, 1S37. Alexander-Maclean was born March 1, 1840. John Sinclair died June 27, 1875. aged seventy-eight years. His second wife died March 7, 1887. He was succeeded on his farm by his eldest son, Iain Og, or Young John as he was commonly called.
Neil Gunn, son of William Gunn and his wife Cather- ine Sinclair, was born at Achins in the parish of Reay, Caithness, in 1806. Shortly after his birth his parents re- moved to the parish of Halkirk. He died in 18S6.
1. John, eldest son of John Sinclair, married July 6. 1859, Isabel, daughter of James Ban Stewart, Lochaber, by his wife Janet Stewart, and had by her nine children : James-Alexander, born April .6, i860; Mary-Jane. Sep- tembers, 1S61 ; John-Robert, March 20, 1863 : Janet-Helen, February 7, 1S65 ; Christy-Catherine, December 12, 1866; Margaret-Isabel, December r3, 1868 ; Graeie-Ann, Septem- ber 4, 1871 ; George-William, February 17, 1874; and Peter-Stirling, January 23, 1877.
James lives with his father on the old homestead. He married, November 22nd, 1893, Isabel-Jane, daughter of Peter Mackintosh, Argyll, by his wife, Diana-Grace Smith. He has two children : John-Roy, born April 15, [897, and Peter-Stirling, born October 14, 189 ..
John is a conductor on a passenger train and has his home in Spokane, Washington, V. S. A. He married July 22. 1S96, Alice L. Roberts, by whom he had two children :
THE SIXCLAIRS OF GOSHEN 33
Harry-John, born July n, 1897; and Frank-Robert, June 18, 1899. Harry died January iS, 1S9S.
George lives at Roxbury, Massachusetts. Stirling was killed by the falling of a tree, June 19, 1899, in Nicaragua, Central America.
Mary was married June 7, 1893, to Stewart I. Camp- bell, and has one child, John Ellsworth, born February 4, 1S95. She lives in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Janet was married January 3, 1899, to John Young. She lives at Easton, Massachusetts. Catherine was married, September 20, 1899, to Daniel-Charles Nicholson. She lives in Rox- bury, Massachusetts. Maggie lives in Boston, Massachu- setts. Gracie died February 24, 1S80.
2. George, second son of John Sinclair, settled at Lochaber, Antigonish County, in January, 1863. He mar- ried, December 20, 1865, Maria, daughter of John Inglis in Lochaber. and his wife Cecilia Maclachlan. and had by her eight children : Mary- Alice, born December 15, 1S66 ; Cecilia, December ir. 186S ; John-Franklin, October 31, 1870; Elizabeth-Emma, April 14, 1874; Maria. June 9. 1876 ; George-Herman, May 22, 1877 ; Alexander-Maclean, June 3, 1SS0; and Frances-Roberta, July 19, 1883. Maria died June 19, 1S76 ; and George-Herman, May 26, 1879.
John-Franklin lives in Bisbee, Arizona. He married Grace-Isabel, daughter of Robert Stewart, Lochaber. and his wife, Christy Stewart. He has one child, Roberta- Sweet, born August 12, 1898. Alexander-Maclean also lives in Bisbee. Mary-Alice was married in 1898 to Thomas Keizer at Wine Harbour, Guysborough County, and ha* two children. Cecilia was for some time a missionary teacher in Trinidad. She was married, November 14, 1900, to Capt. Edward-King Perry, of Glasgow, Scotland.
3. Alexander-Maclean, third son of John Sinclair, was educated at the common school, Beaver Meadow, the Pictoii Academy, the Free Church College, Halifax, the Normal School, Truro, and the Presbyterian Seminary. Truro. He entered the Theological 1 [all of the Presbyterian Church, Halifax, in 1863, and m the same year attended the Chemistry
34 THE SINCLAIRS OF GOSHEN
and Political Economy classes in Dalhousie College and Uni- versity, which had then been just opened. He completed his course in theology in April, 1S66. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Pictou, May 2, 1866. He was ordained, and inducted into the pastoral charge of the con- gregation of Springville and Sunny brae, East River, Pictou, July 25, 1S66. He was inducted into the pastoral charge of the united congregation of East River, Pictou, November 10, 1875. He was translated to Belfast, Prince Edward Island, Mav 16, 18S8. He published "The Anglo-Israel Folly" in 1880 ; " Clarsach na Coille" in 1881 ; "Gaelic Hymns by John Maclean and others " in 18S1 ; " The Glen- bard Collection of Gaelic Poetry," in 1890; " The Gaelic Bards" in three volumes, in 1890- 1896 ; " The Peoples and Languages of the World" in 1894 ; " John Lom's Poems" in 1S95 ; "The Maclean Bards, " in two volumes, in 189S- 1900 ; " The Clan Gillean, or History of the Macleans," in 1899; " Mactalla nan Tur" in 1901. and " Filidh na Coille" in 1901. He married. August 1, 1S82, Mary -Ann, only daughter of John-Macrae Campbell. East River, Pictou, and his wife, Margaret-Ann Eraser : and has by her five children : Charles-Maclean, born November 26, 18S5 ; John- Maclean, April 9, iSSS; Christy, May 30, 1S91 ; George- Maclean, August 16, 1895; and Donald-Maclean, April 16, 1S99. Charles and John were born at Springville. Pictou county. Christy, George and Donald were born in the manse, Belfast. Mrs. Sinclair was born February 25, 1S61. John Maclean, the poet, was born in Tiree, Argyle- shire, January 8th, 1787. He was fourteenth in descent from Lachlan Bronnach Maclean, Lord of Duart and chief of the Macleans. He married. July 19th, 1808, Isabel, daughter of Duncan Black and his wife, Elizabeth Mac- kenzie, with issue: Christy, Charles, Archibald. John, Allan, and Elizabeth. He published his poems in 1818, and came to Nova Scotia in 1819. Christy, the eldest of his children, was born December 25th, 1809, and baptized Dec. 26th. Charles was born July 7th, 1S13, and baptized July 13th, Archibald was born May nth, 1815, and baptized May 13th. These dates show quite clearly that
1585658
THE SINCLAIRS OF GOSHEN 35
as a general rule children were baptized in Scotland a few days after their birth.
4. Janet, only daughter of John Sinclair, was mar- ried in March, 1853, to Robert Poison, Altamore, South^ River, Antigouish, and had by him eleven children : Mary, Margaret-Isabel, Elizabeth-Ellen, William-James ; Janet, Catherine, Nellie, Ann, Maria, Grace, and Gordon-Alex- ander-Robert. He died August 1, 187S. His wife died June 5, 1896.
William-James, elder son of Robert Poison, was born August 7, i860. He married Catherine, daughter of Dan- iel Goodwill, by whom he has one son and five daughters. Gordon- Alexander-Robert, younger son of Robert Poison. was born June 18, 1877. He lives in Holyoke, Massa- chusetts. Mary, the eldest daughter, was married to William Sinclair ; Margaret-Isabel, to Owen Sheffield : Janet, to Alexander Cameron ; Catherine, to Charles Whalen ; and Nellie, to Peter Cousins. Elizabeth-Ellen died in 1868. Ann died in Boston, August 3, 1898. Maria died April 1, 1900. Grace lives in Boston.
William Poison was born in Caithness in 17S8. He married Elizabeth Sutherland about 1804, and had by her Ellen, William, John, Margaret, Alexander, Peter, Robert, Hugh, James, and Eliza. He came to Nova Scotia in August, 1820, and settled at Altamore, or Big Brook, in the county of Antigonish. He died December 15, 1S4S.
III. George, third son of John Sinclair in Breckrow, married Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Begg, and had by her ten children : John, William and Peter, George, James M., Andrew, Janet, and Robert-Begg. He came to Nova vScotia with his wife and family in 1847, and settled on a woodland lot in Goshen. He died January 15, 1871. His wife died August ri, 1893.
Peter Begg was born in 1784. He married in 1810 Catherine Gow, by whom he had seven children, Robert, Barbara, Elizabeth, Catherine, William, Jane, and Peter. He lived in Toftingall, Watten, at least from 1810 until 1828. He removed shortly after that date to Houstry,
36 THE SIXCLAIRS OF GOSHEN
Watten, where he died in 1848. His wife was born in 1788 and died in Houstry in i860. Elizabeth, his second daugh- ter, was born in 18 15.
John, eldest son of George Sinclair, was born at Berrie- clale in Latheron on the 26th of March, 1839, and baptized on the 31st of March. He lives in Goshen on his father's farm. He is married and has one child.
William Sinclair, second son of George Sinclair, lives in Goshen. He married, December 16, 1S80, Mary, daugh- ter of Robert Poison and Janet Sinclair, his wife, and had by her the following children : George-Robert, born Octo- ber 19, 1 SS 1 ; Bessie-Janet-Begg, January 5, 18S2 ; Cassie- Blanche, September 26, 1SS4 ; Mary-Ethel-Berta, February 10. 1S86; Gertrude- Melissia-Fraser, February 10, 1886; William-John-Gordon, April 7, 1S88 ; Peter Arthur-Mac- lean, May 4, 1890 ; Andrew-Ed ward-Fiaser. August 23, 1891 ; Charles-Haden-Spurgeon, April 23, 1S93 ; Grade- Bell, December 20, 1895 ; and James-Alexander-Murray, April 10, 1S98. MaryE. B. died April 20, 18S6, Gertrude M. F. died April 16, "1S87.
Peter Sinclair, third son of George Sinclair, lives in Isaac's Harbour, Guysborough County. He married, De- cember 13, 1865, Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Bezanson. His wife died October 26, 1S66. He married. February 2^, 1868, Grace, daughter of William Maclean, Fraser's Mountain. She died July 23, 1901.
George, fourth son of George Sinclair, was born in the parish of Halkirk. He went to Scotland about thirty-five years ago, and for the last twenty-one years has been bank messenger in the British Linen Company Bank, Glasgow. He married in Kirkintilloch, January 18, 1876, Agnes. daughter of James Fisher, and his wife, Maiy Graham : and had by her the following children : George- Fisher, born October 27. 1876 : Malcolm. March 7, 187;-; ; Mary- Graham, June 4, 1879; Elizabeth- Begg, January 27, 1882; Agnes, June 12, 1883 ; Janet, March 27, 1885 : James, September 21, 1886; William-Begg. August 25. 1890; Robert-John, August 30, 1892 ; and Elizabeth-Jane, March
THE SIXCLAIRS OF GOSHEN 37
24, 1S97. Malcolm died in childhood. Elizabeth -Begg
died in 1S90. Mrs. Sinclair was born in Kirkintilloch in 1855.
James M., fifth son of George Sinclair, lives in Goshen. He married Annie, daughter of James Clyburn, in Country Harbour, and had by her twelve children : Elizabeth-Adelia, born February 4, 1864 ; Gracie B., Nov. 15, 1870 ; Christina, September 13, 1872 ; George-Geddie, December 30, 1874 ; Maclean, March 30, 1876 ; William H., March 19, 1879 ; James-Robert, Jure 22. 1S81 ; Janet-Maclean, November 17, 1SS3 ; Maclean, May 4, 18S5 ; Albert S., September 6, 1887 ; Janet-Mable, April 6, 1S90 ; Alice-Gretta, June 1, 1892 ; and Gertrude- Bed, September 18. 1S94. The first Maclean died in 1881. Janet Maclean died June 10, 1884.
Andrew, sixth son of George Sinclair, lives in Gcshen. He married, July 16, 1875, Christy, daughter of Duncan Stewart and Janet Stewart his wife, and had by her the following children : George-Duncan, born October 20, [S76; Andrew-Sterling. April 30, 1878 ; Angus-Hugh, March 21, 1880 ; Jennie-Bell, March 22, 18S2 ; William- Alexander, May 17, 1884 ; Robert-Stewart, April 26, 1886 ; Elizabeth- Christina, April 26. 1886 ; Gracie Maclean, December 23, 18SS : John-Huntley, August 5, 1891 ; Nellie-Jane, Decern ber 12, 1893 ; James- Peter, January 12, 1895 ; and Donald- Howard, July 10, 1S96. James P. died January 29, 1895.
Robert-Begg, seventh son of George Sinclair, lives at Stony Mountain, Manitoba. He married first, December
25, 1S85, Mary-Ellen, daughter of Jacob Williams, Wavy Bank, Manitoba, and his wife, Esther Lister ; and by her had six children : George-Milton, born December 22, 1886 : Robert-Stanley, February 27. [S89 ; Janet-Ethel, January 5, 1891 ; James-Gordon, November 27, 1802; and Mary- Jane, October 17, 1893. His wife died October 24, 1X93, aged twenty-nine years. He married, secondly, August 9, 1894, Jennie-Lister Williams, a sister of his first wife, and had by her three children : William-Lawrence, born August 14, 1893 ; Esther-Adeline-Ellen, December 14, [897 : and Elizabeth-Irene, September 2^>, 1899. James-Gordon died in childhood.
33
THE SINCLAIRS OK GOSHEN
Catherine, daughter of John vSinclair in Breckrow, was married to James Murray in Brubster, and had six children: Janet, Alexander, Johan, Catherine, Christy and Donald. We called to see her August iS, 1S69. She died January 3, 1S93, aged ninety-eight.
Christy, second daughter of John Sinclair in Breckrow, came to Nova Scotia in the ship Osprey in 1S40. She died in Goshen, in her brother William's house, June 14, 1S73.
ADDITIONS 39
ADDITIONS.
Page 6. — The first six earls of Strathern were un- doubtedly Kelts. It is possible, however, that Malise, the 7th earl, belonged to a different family by his father. Be- that as it may, he married Marjory, daughter of Hugh, Earl of Ross, who was a thorough Kelt, and had by her Isabel. Sir William St. Clair, third of Roslin, married Isabel and had by her Henry, the first Sinelair earl of Orkney. A book published at Venice in 155S asserts that the latter made a voyage to America. Walter, sixth High Steward of Scotland, married Marjory, daughter of Robert Bruce, by whom he had one son, Robert. Robert became King of Scotland, and was the first of the old Stewarts. The Black Douglas married his daughter Egidia and had by her Egidia. wife of Henry St. Clair, second Earl of Orkney. William St. Clair, first Earl of Caithness, was thus descended from the Black Douglas and King Robert Bruce.
Page 12. — The statement that Robert Gunn in Aeha- neccan was chief of the Gunns in 1800 may or may not be true. The chief authority for it is the Rev. Donald Sage in his valuable and interesting work "Parish Life in the North of Scotland." When I made that statement I had not read Mr. Thomas Sinclair's history of the Gunns, a work which every Gunn who has any respect for himself or his ancestors should purchase and study. The Mansons, or Magnus' sons, are apparently a branch of the Hendersons.
Page 19. — The full-dress tartan of the Sinclairs has a large proportion of red in it. The hunting tartan has also a good deal of red in it, but the chief colour in it is green. It is a very handsome tartan. The badge of the Sinclairs is clover. Whin or furze is also used. The motto of the Earls of Caithness is. " Commit thy work to God."
Page 19. — Thomas Sinclair, tacksman of Shurery. was the progenitor of the Sinclairs of that district. It is likely that he belonged to the Sinclairs of Dunbeathand Stemster.
40 ADDITIONS
He had apparently three sons, William, George and Alex- ander. He had at least five grandsons, William, Alexan- der, William, George and Donald. The first William con- tracted for marriage with Christy Gunn in Cattack, December i, 1751. He had six children ; George, Alexan- der, Janet, William, Catherine, Margaret, and Elizabeth. Alexander contracted for marriage with Elizabeth Gunn in Dalnacletan, June 22, J 754. The second William was a son of Alexander, son of Thomas. He contracted for marriage with Barbara, daughter of William Campbell in Ausdale, February 17, 1758. He removed to Brawlbin shortly after his marriage, and is described as a merchant there in 1763. He had four children ; Catherine, baptized June 16, 1762; William, October 24, 1763; Alexander, October 13, 1765 ; and Donald, April 4. 1770. He leased a farm in Brawlbin, June 20, 1796, for eighteen years, at a rent of £9. 11. 4^4 a year. It is stated that he kept open house, during a time of great scarcity, for all the poor in the district in which he lived.
The Sixclairs of Sherbrooke. — Donald Sinclair, son of William in Brawlbin, son of Alexander, son of Thomas tacksman of Shurery, held a tack of the farm of Isauld and at the same time carried on business as a mer- chant in Thurso. He married Margaret Campbell, Thurso, a first cousin of the Rev. Alexander Campbell in Lochaber. Nova Scotia. He had five children, William, Alexander, Barbara, Annie and Margaret. His wife died about 1S06. He was emigrant agent for a ship, known as " Long Mhor America," which sailed from Scrabstcr Roads, Thurso, in 1807, and was wrecked on the coast of Newfoundland, with the loss of nearly all on board. He came to Nova Scotia towards the end of that year, and took with him his two sons. He left his daughters with their mother's people in Thurso. He settled at Sherbrooke in Guysborough county. William, his eldest son. married Caroline-Louisa Maclean, of Bermuda, and had by her five children ; Alexander. Harry, Louis. Martha and Caroline. Alexander married Margaret Ramsay, of Edinburgh, and had by her ten chil- dren ; Donald-Smith, Robert- Ram say, William-Lithgow,
ADDITIONS 41
Marshall, Margaret-Campbell, Barbara-Dunnet, Isabella- Crichton, Anna-Smith, Helen-Lithgow, and Catherine- Campbell. Barbara, eldest daughter of Donald Sinclair, was married to George Dunnet in Thurso ; and Annie, the second daughter, to George Smith in Geise Little. Mar- garet, the third daughter, died unmarried about a year ago.
Page 19. — John Sinclair in Stemster had his son Wil- liam baptized March 21, 1755. It is possible that this is the John Sinclair who appears in Golval in 1756. But even if it could be proved that such was the case it would not follow that he was born in Stemster. It is admitted that all the Sinclairs in Strath-halladale had a common origin. As then the Alexander Sinclair who married Mary Mackay in 172S is the first Sinclair found in Strath- halladale, it is fairly probable that he was the father of the John Sinclair who lived in Golval in 1756, and also of the Donald Sinclair who lived there in 1764. According to Mr. Hugh Campbell in Reay, the Sinclairs of Strath- halladale are descended from Alexander Sinclair, tacksman of Strubster in Canisbay. A Reay tradition affirms that the Donald Sinclair who was tenant of Achvarisdale, and died there in 1S03, was a grandson of Alexander Sinclair, ninth Earl of Caithness. The same tradition asserts that Donald was born in Strath-halladale and that he lived there for a number of years. Mr. Thomas Sinclair, the well- known Caithness historian, maintains that the Alexander Sinclair who married Mary Mackay in 172S was a son of the ninth Earl of Caithness, ami thus belonged to the Murkle family, that he was born about 1705, that his mother was a Mackay. that he was brought up with his mother's people in Strath-halladale, and that he became tacksman of Lambsdale some time before 1740, and tacks- man of Strubster in 1756. William Sinclair in Stemster seems to have been a brother of the Strubster tacksman. David Sinclair, merchant, Thurso, is the present represent- ative of the Sinclairs of Strath-halladale.
Page 21. --In [810 there were four families in Kirk ton eight in Bighouse, six in Golval, live in Korkal, and six in Dalhalvai&f.
42 ADDITIONS
Page 25. — Isabel Sutherland was a daughter of John Sutherland in Baillie. She lived at Caryside, on the edge of Loch Calder, at the time of her marriage. She had a brother who settled in Ohio.
Page 27. — Samuel-Henry Sinclair in Ridgely has four children : Bessie Macdougall, born March 24, 1883 ; James- Huntly, October 7, 1884 ; Alma-Isabel, July 20, 1S90 ; and Henry-Maclean, May 7, 1899.
Mrs. Swasey has one child, Bruce-Cameron-Sinclair, born August 20, 1901.
Page 30. — John Ban Sinclair lived in Uag of Dunbeath at the time of his marriage. His wife lived at Dalvaich. Uag and Dalvaich are only a short distance apart. They are about six miles inland from Dunbeath.
Page 33. — Mrs. Nicholson has one child, William- Stirling, born February 18, 1902.
Page 35. — William and Peter, twin sons of George Sinclair, were born in the parish of Watten, July 15, 1S41. Janet their sister was born in Goshen, November 25, 1S51, and died August 22, 1901.
Marriages and Baptisms. — Robert Sutherland in Upper Downreay and Janet Sinclair in Isauld contracted for marriage September ;o, 17S5 ; George Sinclair in Shurery and Margaret Campbell in Brubster, January 11, 178S ; John Sinclair in Shurery and Janet Gunu in Dalnacietan. December 29, 1788; John Mackay in Shurery and Janet Sinclair in Shurery, December 2., 179S ; and William Gunn in Corrish, Kildonan, and Catherine Sinclair in Shurery, December 20, 1799. Catherine Sinclair was a daughter of Neil Sinclair. She was born in 1775 and died in 1861. As a general rule the marriage took place about four weeks after the contract.
Alexander Sinclair in Brawlbin, or Braalbin, entered into a contract of marriage with Christy Sutherland in Dar- gary, Thurso, July 18, [762. He had John baptized in 1763; Barbara in 17^4: and William in 1766. He had George baptized June 17, [767. On the same day Francis Sinclair in Lambsdale had Alexander baptized ; and G< Mackay in Fresgo had Jean baptized. John Sinclair in
ADDITION'S 43
Brawlbin had George baptized in 1776. George Sinclair in Brawlbin had George baptized in 1770. John Sinclair in Brawlbin married Christy Campbell. He had Barbara bap- tized in 1784 and Betty in 17S6. George Sinclair in Brawlbin married Christy Cormack in Brubster, December 2S, 1795. The Sinclairs of Brawlbin seem to have been closely related to the Sinclairs of Shurery.
Donald Sinclair in Rear and Ann Mackay in Achremie contracted for marriage June 17, 174S ; James McKay, cooper, and Janet Sinclair in Golval, June 11, 179S ; Wil- liam Sinclair, in Clayoek, Bower, and Ann Macdonald in Korkal, Strath-halladale, August 19, 179S. William Sin- clair settled in Korkal. He had George baptized in 1792 and Neil in 1794.
William Sinclair in Stemster belonged to the Murkle branch of the Sinclairs. He was born about 1707 He was known as Uilleam Mor, or Big William, and was in the latter part of his life an elder under the Rev. Mr. Pope. He contracted for marriage with Elizabeth Miller in Forss. November S. 1729, William Sutherland in Knockglass, near Baillie, and Donald Miller in Forss, being caution- ers, the latter for the woman. James Sinclair in Stem- ster, William's son, had John baptized in 1754 and William in 1756. John Sinclair in Stemster had William baptized March 21, 1755. William Sinclair in Stemster had John baptized March 2, 1756. James Sinclair in Isauld had William baptized March 11, 1769. On the same day Donald Sinclair in Golval had John baptized, and John Sinclair in Crockurray had a daughter baptized.
Names. — There seems t<» be a tendency at the present day to ignore old family names, and also to burden children with more names than they can easily bear. To discard an old name, simply because it is old and not because it has an undesirable meaning, cannot be regarded either as a sign of superior intelligence or of due respect :'"r our ancestors. It may perhaps be useful in some instances to have two Christian names as marks of distinction from other persons; at the same time we should not forget that William Wallace, Robert Bruce, Martin Luther, John Knox, Oliver Crom-
44 COR RKCT ION'S
well, Isaac Newton, George Washington, Napoleon Bona- parte. Arthur Wellesley, Thomas Chalmers, Waltei Scott and Abraham Lincoln got along very well with only one Christian name.
CORRECTIONS.
Page 1 6, line 2, for David and Donald read Donald and David ; 16, 22, for Huntley read Huntly.
Page 18, line 5, for a Keltic mother read a mother with a large share of Keltic blood.
Page iS, line 29, for Janet Mackay read Janet Gordon.
Page 19, line 32, for Janet read William.
Page 27, line 3, for Ridgley read Ridgely.
Page 29, line 8, for in March 1881 read in March 1SS0.
Page 31, line 17, for industry read Industry.
Page 35, line 32, for 1871 read 1874 ; 35, 36, for Jane and Peter read Jane, Andrew, Margaret and Peter.
Page 36, 12, for 1882 read 1883; 36, 17, for Iladen read Haddon.
Notk. — Seventy copies of this work were published in September, 1901. Owing to some facts ascertained since then, I have had thirteen pages reprinted. The copies now published, thirty in number, are as full and correct as it is possible for me to make them. I feeldeeph obliged to .Mr. Thomas Sinclair, the Caithness historian and antiquarian, for assisting me promptly and heartily, indeed enthu* tically, in collecting the information I required.
March 22, 1902.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS
William H. Sinclair. Port Dufferin, Halifax Co One copy.
James I). Sinclair, Goshen, Guysborough Co One "
Simon Sinclair. Goshen One ' '
Hugh K.Sinclair. Yakima, Arizona, One "
Henry Sinclair, Ridgely, Maryland One "
John George Sinclair, Country Harl>our, Guysborough.. .Three copies.
Wm. H. II. Sinclair, " i% " One copy.
Mary C. Sinclair, " " " One "
Mrs. W. M. Swasey, 45 Leach St., Salem One "
Mrs. A. W. Reid, Port Hillford, Guysborough One '•
Mrs J. A. Jonlain, Aspen, St. Mary's One ''
John D. Cameron, South Lochaber One "
Alexander Sinclair. Goshen Two copies.
Daniel Sinclair, North Yakima Two
John H. Sinclair, New Glasgow Three
Mrs. C. F. Bishop, 3,61 Yamhill St., Portland, Oregon One copy.
Mrs. Joseph Cowgill. North Manchester, Indian 1 One copy.
William Murray, Fairview, Halifax Co Two copies.
Mrs. Elizabeth S. Hiuds, Stormont, Guysborough Co One copy.
Alex. C. Sutherland, Eight Island Lake, Guysborough Co. ..One '"
John Og Sinclair, Breekrow Farm, Goshen One '*
James A. Sinclair, Goshen, One "'
John R. Sinclair, E. 7 Baldwin Aw, Spokane, Washington. .One " George W. Sinclair, 7 Codman Hill St.. Roxbury, Mass. . . . .One "
Mrs. S. G. Campbell, 225 Dwight St., Holyoke, Mass One "
Mrs. John Young, Easton, Mass One '"
Mrs. I). C. Nicholson, 7 Codman Hill St.. Roxbury, Mass ..One
Margaret I. Sinclair. 745 Mass Aw. Roston One "
George Sinclair. North Lochaber, Antigonish C<> Four coj ies.
William J. Poison, Altamore, Antigonish Co Oiu
Gordon Poison, 2^1 DwightSt, Holyoke, Mass One
Mrs. C. Whalen, 1 Hadpen Terrace, Roxbury One
William Sinclair, Goshen .....<>
Andrew Sinclair, South River Lake One
James M. Sinclair, Goshen One
Robert B. Sinclair, Stony Mountain, Manitoba One
George Sinclair, Malpeque, P. E. I, One
23: