Person:John Sinclair (61)

John Sinclair, 1st of Assery

• Henderson, John. Caithness family history. (Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1884), Pages 31, 32.

James Sinclair, first of Murkle, had a son 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 Sinclairs 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, Janet Gordon, widow of James Sutherland of Forse.

John Sinclair's second wife was Margaret Davidson, who is traditionally supposed to have been of the Davidsons in Achingillis 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 Ulgrimore. 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.

2. Isabell, who married, first, Arthur Forbes, merchant 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 Davidson'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.

1.   Henderson, John. Caithness family history. (Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1884)
   Pages 31, 32.

   James Sinclair, first of Murkle, had a son 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 Sinclairs 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, Janet Gordon, widow of James Sutherland of Forse.
   John Sinclair's second wife was Margaret Davidson, who is traditionally supposed to have been of the Davidsons in Achingillis 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 Ulgrimore. 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.
   2. Isabell, who married, first, Arthur Forbes, merchant 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 Davidson'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.