Person:James Sinclair (42)

James Sinclair, First of Murkle

• Henderson, John. Caithness family history. (Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1884), Pages 24, 25.

I. James Sinclair, First of Murkle, was the second son of John, Master of Caithness, and grandson of George, 4th 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 Carnabiund, Lybster, and Borrowstone, all held of the Earl of Caithness; one-half of Ormilie, held of the Bishop of Caithness; Downreay, held of the Bishop of Orkney; and Broynach, held of the Earl of Sutherland. Subsequently the following lands were acquired by the family, 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 1621 he had returned to Scotland, and married Janet, daughter of Alexander 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.

3. Agnes, who married John M’Kay of Dirlot and Strathy.

James Sinclair had also a natural son, JOHN SINCLAIR, FIRST of ASSERY. – Vide Assery.

1.   Sir James Sinclair, in Lundy, Darryl. The Peerage: A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe.
2.   Henderson, John. Caithness family history. (Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1884)
   Pages 24, 25.

   I. James Sinclair, First of Murkle, was the second son of John, Master of Caithness, and grandson of George, 4th 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 Carnabiund, Lybster, and Borrowstone, all held of the Earl of Caithness; one-half of Ormilie, held of the Bishop of Caithness; Downreay, held of the Bishop of Orkney; and Broynach, held of the Earl of Sutherland. Subsequently the following lands were acquired by the family, 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 1621 he had returned to Scotland, and married Janet, daughter of Alexander 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.
   3. Agnes, who married John M’Kay of Dirlot and Strathy.
   
   James Sinclair had also a natural son, JOHN SINCLAIR, FIRST of ASSERY. – Vide Assery.