Henry Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair

Biographical Summary

"Henry, fifth Lord Sinclair, born in 1527, had, on his father's resignation, two charters of the baronies of Dysart, Newburgh, Ravenscraig, and others, as son and apparent heir of his father on 24 November 1549. He supported the Reformation, was one of the barons and gentlemen of Fife who, on 12 September 1565, at St. Andrews, signed a bond to serve the King and Queen. He was one of the Lords of Convention at Perth 27 July 1569, and voted against the Queen's divorce 30 July 1569. He was a member of the Privy Council before 1573, supported King James VI. on his escape from the Ruthvens, and was one of the Barons of the North who signed the bond to that monarch on 2 September 1574. A pedigree of the family, purporting to be drawn up by him in 1590, is preserved in the Lyon Office. He died 21 October 1601. He married, first, Janet, daughter of Patrick, Lord Lindsay of the Byres. She died 8, and her testament was confirmed at Edinburgh 15, April 1569. He married, secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of William, seventh Lord Forbes. She had a charter from John, Master of Forbes, of the lands of Idvies and Auchlyne, to her and Elizabeth her daughter, confirmed under the Great Seal on 16 August 1591, of the lands of Crosbie in Elgin September 1600, and of a tenement in Dysart 20 February 1601. He had issue by his first wife :

• James, Master of Sinclair, had charters as son and apparent heir of his father, of the baronies of Ravenscraig, Dysart, Newburgh, and others on 24 July 1577, and of the barony of Dysart 5 July 1592. He was present at the Privy Council 26 February 1592-93, and died vita patris 9 May 1593, aged thirty-six. He married Isabella Leslie, daughter of Andrew, fourth Earl of Rothes. She had a charter of one-sixth of the lands of Wester Lochore and others 22 May 1595. He had issue.
• Patrick of Balgriggie, admitted burgess of Dysart February 1580, married Catherine, daughter of James Boswell of Balmuto, who survived him and married, secondly, before 25 June 1628, Patrick Murray of Williamston. He was ancestor of the Balgriggie family, which failed in the male line in the person of John Sinclair of Balgriggie, and is now represented in the female line by Aytoun of Inchdairnie.
• Sir Andrew, member of the Danish Rigsraad, died 1625, married Kirstine Kaas, a Danish lady, and had issue.
• Magnus.
• Helen, married (contract dated 5 November 1570) to Andrew Kinninmont of that Ilk, and died before 19 March 1580, without issue.

Issue by second marriage :

• Henry, buried at Dysart 17 May 1589.
• Captain Laurence, served heir to his mother Elizabeth Forbes in property in Dysart 7 January 1626, complained to Privy Council of intended assault on him and his wife by Patrick, Lord Sinclair, 20 May 1613.
• William, mentioned as a creditor in the testament of Grissel Meldrum, spouse to John Melville of Raith, 26 September 1598 ; slain at Ostend 1608.
• Elizabeth, married (contract dated 7 and 20 October 1597) to Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy, and died in October 1654.
• Jane.
• Barbara, who with her sister Jane and their mother entered into a contract, on 26 March 1588, for purchase of the lands of Corskie and others, with John Innes of Leuchars."

SOURCE: The Scots peerage, Vol. VII, page 573