He was succeeded by John Sinclair of Murchill (Murkle) 8th Earl, his cousin. The link of the name Sinclair to Caithness and He was later reappointed for his life. Orkney was established in the mid 14th century when Sir William St www.valleybreeze.com. Clan Sinclair in Caithness. This is the American contingent at an early evening lawn party and reception hosted by Viscount John Thurso in 2005 (fellow in kilt and red sweater second row left) at his estate of Thurso East. . Then we intersperse countries such as Norway, Normandy, England, and Scotland with events such as the battles of Hastings, Rosslyn. the late 9th Century was a Norwegian, Rognvald, Jarl of Moeri, [18] In 1750, Sir William Sinclair of Dunbeath founded the Baptist church at Keiss.[8]. If your Surname spelling is close, but missing, we'll be glad to add it. The Clan Sinclair Project. Castles Sinclair and Girnigoe. Sinclair Family History. Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, Wick, Caithness (Adjacent to the North Coast 500 Road) Occupying a dramatic location on the Caithness coastline, ‘history’ suggests that this was once two castles – Castle Sinclair and Castle Girnigoe. Earl of Caithness. The Patron of these companion associations is the Right Honorable Malcolm Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness, Hereditary Chief of the Clan Sinclair. interest than that of St. Clair” [7] Richard of Saint-Clair and Brittel of Saint-Clair are both mentioned in the Domesday Book. [8] George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness later imprisoned his son, the Master of Caithness, for making peace with the Morays. The Clan Sinclair Commissioner of Rhode Island passed away recently. The chiefs were originally Barons of Roslin, Midlothian and William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness and Baron of Roslin founded the famous Rosslyn Chapel in the 15th century. Amazon.com: Goar of the Clan Sinclair - Scottish Clan & Sept 11x17 History Print - Tartan, Buckle, Crest, Last Name Surname Meaning, Genealogy, Family Tree Research Aid, Roots, Ancestry, Ancestors and Namesakes: Posters & Prints [7] William of Saint-Clair accompanied Saint Margaret of Scotland, daughter of Edward the Exile to Scotland in 1068, where she eventually married Malcolm III of Scotland. higher antiquity, a nobler illustration, or a more romantic [8], In 1650 Major Sinclair assisted James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose at the Battle of Carbisdale where they were defeated. [6] William St Clair was a candidate for Grand Master and promptly became the first elected Grand Master after offering to surrender his hereditary rights. } The print is supplied in an Soft White quality mount, 8 inches x 8 inches, ready to fit into a standard frame of the same size. [8], On 21 October 1601, Henry 5th Lord Sinclair died and was succeeded by grandson Henry. relative of William the Conqueror, was given the life barony of GET STARTED. Saved from thefullwiki.org. [6] After the battle Robert the Bruce gave William Sinclair his sword. Legend has it that they hold the key to the discovery of the Holy Grail and that they founded a colony in North … document.onmouseup=right; later Caithness and was created Jarl or Earl. On 11 December William Sinclair of Mey was knighted by King James VI of Scotland. Sinclair History. [8] When Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden was forming the 18 Independent Highland Companies to oppose the Jacobite rising of 1745 the Sinclairs were not offered a company. A Scottish clan is an association of people with kinship, genealogical, or other interest in a name and group of people originating in Scotland. This summary of Sinclair history and future was received in February 1999 from Ian Sinclair iansinclair@clansinclair.freeserve.co.uk. Origins of the Sinclairs in Scotland Like many other clans and families Sinclairs have had to rely on ‘old’ works and books usually printed in the 1800’s when researching family history. was established in Scotland in 1057 when William St Clair, a close This is the official, recognized DNA study of the Sinclair family worldwide. Early Sinclair Genealogy and History: (Excerpt from "The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans", James Grant, 1906)The Clan Sinclair, it has been maintained, are not strictly speaking, a Celtic clan, the surname being originally of French origin. [8][note 1] They escaped to Ardvreck Castle, but there they were betrayed by MacLeod of Assynt and were executed. … of the family in Norway, Sweden, France and Germany. Equally, The entire diploma, in Latin, is transcribed here ^ a b Johann Reinhold Forster, History of the Voyages and Discoveries Made in the North, Printed for G.G.J. [8] The Sinclairs of Roslin (Rosslyn) laid claim to be hereditary Grand Master Masons of Scotland. Use the search engine provided here to locate further … Last updated Saved by Patricia Patscheck. CLAN SINCLAIR TRUST - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity 25 January 2010 14:02:32. This period includes the Battle of Flodden and the Battle of Altimarlach in the Last Clan War. CSAC Engrailed Cross. Septs of Clan Sinclair: Caird, Clyne. name Sinclair probably comes from St Clair-sur-Lo in Normandy and Mar 7, 2012 - This Pin was discovered by peggy larsen. In 1379, the family obtained the Earldom of Orkney, and in the 1455 received land in Caithness.The earldom or kingdom of Orkney was later resigned by order of James III. Each STEAMY novel in the series is a standalone, … Sinclairs have played and are still playing a prominent role in The main Scottish branches of the Clan Sinclair in Caithness. The Sinclair clan motto is "Commit thy work to God". Einar succeeded to the title and established the line of Norse [6] He had been granted the earldom of Caithness in 1455. Although Caithness and Orkney is considered The chiefs of Clan Sinclair (formerly St Clair) were the Barons of Roslin and later the Earls of Orkney and Earls of Caithness. your own Pins on Pinterest the history of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and [17] However, the Clan Sinclair was strongly Jacobite, but after hearing the news of the Jacobite failure at the Battle of Culloden, this apparently made them "sneak home again". and maintained by Iain Laird and all rights donated to the Clan Sinclair Trust. “No family in Europe beneath the rank of royalty boasts a The team of people responsible for the establishment of CSA were lead by our founding President Margaret Sinclair Stokes. [8] Henry, his son, was also captured and later sent to St Briavels Castle,[8] and in 1296 he swore fealty to Edward I of England. © Clan Sinclair Research is continuing and I would like to thank Nina Cawthorne for her new contributions to the study of the Scottish Sinclair … [6] In 1391, he conquered the Faroe Islands. They came from Normandy to England during the Norman conquest of England, before arriving in Scotland in the 11th century. Long time members of Clan Sinclair may be familiar with the Battle of Summerdale, but for newer members the sad story may be instructive. return true; Sinclair was the 79th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995 - but in Orkney it … [8], Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney was taken prisoner by the English at Battle of Homildon Hill in 1402 but was soon released. [8] On 16 April 1746, at the Battle of Culloden, he commanded the Royal Scots regiment on the British-Hanoverian Government side. Richard of Saint-Clair and Brittel of Saint-Clair are both mentioned in the Domesday Book. [6], In 1303 the Battle of Roslin took place where Scots under Henry Sinclair of Rosslyn and the Clan Comyn defeated an English force. [6], During the Scottish–Norwegian War, Haakon IV of Norway invaded Scotland. [8], In 1680 a feud took place between George Sinclair of Keiss and Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy over the right to the lands and title of the earldom of Caithness. Rosslyn, near Edinburgh, and in England, by others of his family, [13] On 3 April 1593, George, 5th Earl of Caithness resigned his earldom in return for novodamus and remainder to his son William Sinclair. [8] General Monck sacked Rosslyn Castle but the Chapel was spared. This allows Niven Sinclair to demonstrate the Clan's lineage back to a Norse raider called Hrolf the Ganger who invaded Normandy in the 10th Century. Sir Walter Scott He contacted Stan St. Clair and they both completed the test. All rights reserved. [7] However the earldom of Orkney was later resigned by order of James III of Scotland. Early Sinclair Genealogy and History: (Excerpt from "The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans", James Grant, 1906) The Clan Sinclair, it has been maintained, are not strictly speaking, a Celtic clan, the surname being originally of French origin. Buy Clan Sinclair Family History Research Journal: Record your Ancestry and Genealogy findings in this Scottish Clans and Tartans Notebook (Tangled Tartan) by Publishing, Tangled Tartan (ISBN: 9798683764623) from Amazon's Book Store. No certain record exists but it is likely that the Sinclairs came from Saint-Clair in Normandy. "He was … History of Clan Sinclair We start with medieval history, with the Norse and Norman origins of the Sinclairs.Then we intersperse countries such as Norway, Normandy, England, and Scotland with events such as the battles of Hastings, Rosslyn.Then we move on to early modern history with events such as the Battle of Altimarlach in the Last Clan War. The Sinclair DNA Project is a global project and open to all who are interested in this family's genealogy. Malcolm Ian Sinclair The 20th Earl of Caithness Gaelic Name: Mac na Ceardadh or Singlear Crest Badge: A cock rampant Plant Badge: Whin Motto: Commit thy work to God War Cry: Its purpose is to promote and perpetuate family tradition within the context of Scottish history and culture. However, given its history it is not surprising to find branches The clan’s rich and colorful history, as represented by such iconic works in stone as Sinclair Girnigoe Castle and the chapel at Rosslyn, is a legacy for which the family of Sinclair today can be rightfully proud. [6], In 1588 Castle Sinclair Girnigoe withstood a siege by the Earl of Sutherland and in 1590 George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness invaded Sutherland which resulted in the Battle of Clynetradwell. The basis of a clan is the relationship between those ‘at the top and those at the bottom’. Finally we have modern history, … [8], In 1708, Chief John, Master of Sinclair (Son of Henry Lord Sinclair) after killing two men in duels was exiled to Prussia but later pardoned by Anne, Queen of Great Britain. [8] The Battle of Neville's Cross took place in 1346 where Sir John Sinclair of Herdmanston was taken prisoner[8], In 1379, Sir Henry Sinclair, who was also Admiral of Scotland claimed the Earldom of Orkney through his mother and received it from Haakon VI of Norway. family are headed by the Earl of Caithness, Earl of Rosslyn, Lord [8], On 4 June 1745, Sir James Sinclair of Rosslyn, a lieutenant general with the Royal Scots regiment, was appointed the commander of the British Forces in Flanders. (Originally published in the Sept. 15, 2001 issue of Yours Aye, the newsletter of Clan Sinclair Association, Inc.) Author’s Foreword: My grandmother was the great-great granddaughter of James St. Clair, the Revolutionary War soldier mentioned in Leonard Allison Morrison's book The History of the Sinclair This allows Niven Sinclair to demonstrate the Clan's lineage back to a Norse raider called Hrolf the Ganger who invaded Normandy in the 10th Century. [7], The chiefs of Clan Sinclair, the Earls of Caithness, descend from Sir William St Clare who was sheriff of Edinburgh and who was granted the barony of Roslin (Rosslyn) in 1280. We accept anyone with any variant spelling of the name. He is also alleged to have voyaged as far as the Americas in 1398 (being hypothetically identified with Zichmni, who travelled with the Zeno brothers, for the first time by Johann Reinhold Forster in 1784[9]); believers in this hypothesis claim he possibly landed in both Massachusetts and Nova Scotia. His descendant Sir William became guardian to the heir of Alexander III and gained the Barony of Rosslyn in 1280. The name Sinclair is of Norman origin from "Saint-Clair-sur-Elle" and was established in Scotland in 1162 when Henry de St Clair of Roslin was granted lands in Lothian. [8] In 1736, Sir James Sinclair glazed the windows for the first time of Rosslyn Chapel, relaid the floor with flagstones and repaired the roof of the chapel. During the Jacobite rising of 1715 the Sinclairs supported the Jacobite cause, but during the Jacobite rising of 1745, while the clan largely had Jacobite sympathies, their chief, the Earl of Caithness, supported the British-Hanoverian Government. Clan Sinclair Australia (CSA) was established in 2000 with the support of our Patron, Malcolm, Earl of Caithness. Sinclair was the 79th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995 - but in Orkney it is easily the most frequently found surname.. Normandy, William the Conqueror, who became King of England. Only a few clans seem to have an 'official' list of septs. [8] In 1264, William St. Clair was ordered by King Alexander of Scotland to support the forces of the king of England at the Battle of Lewes. Malcolm Ian Sinclair. They have helped crown kings and also to dispose of them.They have fought in many battles, sometimes being the victor and sometimes the vanquished. Clan History; See Caithness in The Scottish Nation; Sinclairs of Roslin, Caithness, and Goshen (1901) (pdf) Clan Sinclair Association USA; Clan Sinclair Association Canada; Clan Sinclair; Prince Henry Sinclair; Use our Site Search Engine There are many references to clans within the hundreds of historical pages on our site. Castle Sinclair was built in the 15th Century and Castle Girnigoe was built in the 17th Century, both were built by the Sinclair family. [7][8] At the Battle of Solway Moss in 1552, Scots commanded by Oliver Sinclair of Pitcairns were beaten by the English. … I have … notes From Stirnet's "Sinclair01" page (link below): " BP1934 (Sinclair) reports that 'Two important families bearing the name of Sinclair (or St. Clair ) co-existed in the 12th century, distinguished as of Rosslyn, in Midlothian, and of Herdmanstoun , in East Lothian. The power of Sinclair family was based on feudal dominance of those on their land rather than a family, or clan, relationship. The Saint-Clairs first went to England (before they came to Scotland) with William the Conqueror during his invasion of England. [8], During the Wars of Scottish Independence, Sir William Sinclair of Rosslyn was captured at the Battle of Dunbar (1296) and died later, probably in the Tower of London. Clan Sinclair is a Highland Scottish clan who held lands in Caithness, the Orkney Islands, and the Lothians. window.onmousedown=right; Scottish Monarchs until 1470. [8] In 1570, John Sinclair, Master of Caithness, son of George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness burned the local Cathedral in pursuit of the Morays who had taken refuge in the steeple. William of Saint-Clair accompanied Saint Margaret of Scotland, daughter of Edward the Exile to Scotland in 1068, where she eventually married Mal… [6] In 1739 forty-four Scottish Freemasons' Lodges met in Edinburgh to found the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Jarls, most of whom owed allegance to both the Scandinavian and [8] In 1657, George Sinclair 6th Earl of Caithness was present when Oliver Cromwell was proclaimed Chief Magistrate of the three nations in Edinburgh. Although Niven Sinclair may have exaggerated in writing that the battle was “perhaps the greatest tragedy to befall the Clan,” it was certainly a low point in Sinclair family/clan history. Malcolm Ian Sinclair P.C. Isla St Clair, singer and musician, is far right on second row. window.onmouseup=right; (Normandy) in France and his direct descendent was the 7th Duke of the Peerage and Baronetage’ The great stronghold of Girnigoe Castle is the most spectacular ruin in the north of Scotland and is built on a high peninsular rock with precipitous cliffs to the sea on three sides. THE SINCLAIR CLAN Written by: The Rt. The word ‘clan’ derives from the Gaelic word clann, meaning “children”. [8] The Jacobite rebel, John Mackenzie, Lord MacLeod, tried raising the Sinclairs in arms but had little success: only about thirty men under Sinclair of Scotscalder arrived at the place of muster, and Sinclair of Scotscalder's estates were later forfeited. We're growing rapidly and are adding important members of the clan with known paper documentation dating back over 400 years and more. Early Modern History of Clan Sinclair We continue here with Sinclair history, in the early modern period, which we define as the fourteenth through eighteenth centuries. A goe derives from the … Journey through time with a professional genealogist and STGA Tour Guide - follow the Sinclairs the Earls of Caithness. return false; (event.button == 2 || event.button == 3)) { [8], In 1736, Sir James Sinclair of Rosslyn resigned his office as hereditary Grand Master Mason of Scotland to the Scottish Lodges on their foundation. Clan History and Origins It is likely the Sinclairs came from St Clare in Normandy.