William Sinclair of Saba

WILLIAM SINCLAIR OF SABA (aka WILLIAM SINCLAIR OF TULLOPE)

William Sinclair of Tullope is the son of John Sinclair of Toab and his wife Mary Stewart According to Roland William Saint-Clair, William Sinclair of Tullope is the same person as William Sinclair of Saba. The Saint Clairs of the Isles, p. 140

Charter Witness

On 30 June 1618 William Sinclair of Tolhoip witnessed a charter issued by James Sinclair of Gott. Orkney and Shetland Records, iii, Orkney Sasines, 1617-21, p. 71

On 7 July 1620 William Sinclair of Tolhoip witnessed a charter in favour of Hew Halcro, fiar of that Ilk. Orkney and Shetland Records, iii, Orkney Sasines, 1617-21, pp. 114-15

Bailie for Alexander Paplay

On 15 March 1620 William Sinclair of Tolhoip, acting as bailie for Alexander Paplay, merchant burgess of Kirkwall, gave sasine of a three merkland in Sands, Deerness, to William Irvine of Grind. Orkney and Shetland Records, iii, Orkney Sasines, 1617-21, p. 91

The Lands of Saba

13 November 1624: Records of the Earldom of Orkney, note on p. 96

Records of the Earldom of Orkney, pp. 454-55

The Last Will and Testament of James, Lord Eythin

1. Page First
2. Page Second
3. Page Third

Death

William Sinclair of Saba (aka William Sinclair of Tolhoip) died before 23 April 1657. Calendar of the Laing Charters: 2502

First Marriage

According to Roland William Saint-Clair's account of the Sinclair Nobles in Sweden and Alsace, William Sinclair, Master of Seba and Brobster, married: "Barbe, daughter of Sir Hugh Halcro," by whom she had two sons: - John Sinclair and David Sinclair, both of whom are reported to have gone to Sweden in 1641. The Saint-Clair;s of the Isles, p. 372

Children of First Marriage

1. Colonel John Sinclair
2. David Sinclair

Second Marriage

William Sinclair of Saba married Jean Gordon. She is noticed as his wife on 18 Ocrober 1615. NRS: GD106/137

Children of Second Marriage

1. Robert Sinclair of Saba
2. Edward Sinclair
3. James Sinclair of Grottsetter
4. Marie Sinclair

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

18 October 1615: Obligation by Mr Wm. Sinclair of Tullope narrating that whereas James Bishop of Glasgow and afterward Bishop of Orkney did by Charter of Feufarm dated (blank) sett to him and Jeane Gordoun, his spouse, the lands of Cowbister and Smowgrow in parish of Orphir, without reservation of liferent of either of the said two roumes to Marie Stewart, mother of said Wm., nevertheless he obliges himself to submit to arbitration with his mother and David King of Worbister, her spouse, anent what right, title or security he should give to them of the said lands National Records of Scotland, James Brown Craven bequest relating to local and ecclesiastical history on Orkney, reference GD106/137

                   2

28 May 1618: Discharge by David King and Marie Stewart, his spouse, in favour of Wm. Sinclair, son of said Marie, of 10 meills malt and £3:6:8d in respect of assignation thereof to Jas. Baikie, merchant in Kirkwall National Records of Scotland, James Brown Craven bequest relating to local and ecclesiastical history on Orkney, reference GD106/118

                   3

29 April 1622: Charter a me by William Irwing of Saba to William Sinclair of Tolhoip of 20 merkland of Burwik, 9 merkland of Soulsetter, 9 merkland in Forswall, 2½ merkland in Hindertoune, 1d. land in Fea in Newger, Qouyis in Newger, in parish of Sandwick under reversion: with procuratory of resignation, sasine Rec. P.R.S. Orkney, 29 April 1622. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Scarth Family of Breckness, Orkney, reference GD217/148

                   4

9 May 1622: Bond by William Sinclair of Tolhoip to George, bishop of Orknay, not to transfer confirmation by said George to said William of alienation by William Irwing of Saba to him, of 20 merkland in Burwik and others in parish of Sandwick, back to said William Irwing or to anyone else, except to said George National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Scarth Family of Breckness, Orkney, reference GD217/149

                   5

1623-24: Compt of Expenses against (?) Sinclair of Saba 1623, 1624. National Records of Scotland, James Brown Craven bequest relating to local and ecclesiastical history on Orkney, reference GD106/272

                  6

10 July 1628: Williame Sinclair of Tolquhop is nominated as one of the Commissioners of the Teinds in Orkney and Shetland. The Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, Second Series, Volume II, A.D. 1627-1628, pp. 357-58

                  7

26 February 1629: Williame Sinclare of Sybo nominated as one of the Commissioners of the Teinds for Orkney and Shetland. Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. Second Series, Volume III, A.D. 1629-1630, pp. 70-4

                   8

22 November 1630: Discharge by Rev. Robert Stewart in favour of Wm. Sinclair of Sabba of byrun annuals National Records of Scotland, James Brown Craven bequest relating to local and ecclesiastical history on Orkney, reference GD106/8

                   9

17 March 1635: Charter by George Bellenden of Midhous whereby, in implement of M/C between him with consent of Adam B., elder of Stanehous, his f., and of Adam B. younger, fiar of Stanehous, his brother, on the one part, and William Sinclair of Tolhoip, and Marie S., his daughter, with consent of her said f., and of Jean Gordoun, her m., on the other part, said George grants to said Marie, his future spouse, liferent of his sixpenny land of Midhous and halfpenny land Bishop's land in Howa lying in Utter Costa, parish of Evie and Sheriffdom of Orkney, together with one penny udal land in Howa, one penny udal land in Brek, and his sixpenny land Bishop's land called Flaw-is lying in said parish and sheriffdom National Records of Scotland, James Brown Craven bequest relating to local and ecclesiastical history on Orkney, reference GD106/167

                  10

6 August 1635: Power of Factory by General Major James King in favour of Col. Wm. Bailzie, Wm. Sinclair of Saba, his brother, Mr James King, Advocate, and Jas. Lesly, merchant burgess of Edinr., relating to his affairs, and in particular to the sum of 30,000 merks owing to him by Wm. Dick of Braid, Merchant burgess of Edinr National Records of Scotland, James Brown Craven bequest relating to local and ecclesiastical history on Orkney, reference GD106/119

                  11

2 May 1636: Notarial Instrument narrating that Wm. Sinclair of Tolhoip compeared before Mr. Patk. Watterstoun, younger, minister of Deirnes and St. Andrews in Orkney and there the said Wm. having received a charge of horning at the instance of said Mr Patk. for his vicarage teinds of the lands of Saba and Brabuster for year 1635 offered payment National Records of Scotland, James Brown Craven bequest relating to local and ecclesiastical history on Orkney, reference GD106/141

                  12

11 June 1636: Fragment of a summons at the instance of his Majesty's Advocate and William Sinclair of Saba against Harry Stuart of Grinsay and others, to compear before the Council on 28th July next; and also against the following as witnesses, Thomas Bawhanane, sheriff depute of Orkney, William Stewart of Maynes, Patrick McDowgall, his servitor, George Smyth, servitor to the said sheriff depute, Patrick Smyth of Braco, Robert Ballendene, servitor to Adam Ballendene, elder of Stamhous, John Cromertie of Ske, Patrick Kincaid, and Henry Aitkine; dated at Edinburgh, 11th June, 1636, and signed Ja. Prymrois. The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, Second Series. Vol. VI. A.D. 1635-1637, p. 585

                   13

2 August 1636: Complaint by Sir Thomas Hope of Craighall, King's Advocate, and William Sinclair of Saba, as follows: - The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, Second Series. Vol. VI. A.D. 1635-1637, pp. 307-08

                   14

2 August 1637: Supplication by William Sinclair of Saba, as follows: - Their Lordships have appointed William Stewart of Maynes and Patrick Smith of Brako to shear, lead and sequestrate the corns growing upon his lands of Over Sandie for this present crop, but these gentlemen, for some special considerations, refuse to undertake the charge. He therefore craves that their Lordships would add to the commissioners for this purpose Adam Bannatyne, elder and younger of Stennes, and Thomas Buchanan, sheriff depute of Orkney. The Lords, after advising, adjoin the said Thomas Buchanan to the said commission, and ordain him and the first two appointed commissioners, jointly and severally, to shear, lead and sequestrate the said corns and stack them in some neutral place; prohibiting all person from hindering them herein, and commanding the lieges to assist the commissioners with their work. The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, Second Series. Vol. VI. A.D. 1635-1637, p. 506

                  15

2 July 1640: Kirkwall. Precept from the moderator and presbytery of Orkney to their officers to charge [blank] to appear before them as witness touching the bill of complaint given against Patrick Waterston (Waterstoun), younger, minister at Rowsay, by Patrick Smythe of Braco and William Sinclair of Saba. Papers of the Smythe Family of Methven, Perthshire, reference GD190/1/12

                  16

17 January 1652: Order by James Stewart [of Gremsay] on Wm. Sinclair of Saba for payment to the latter's son, Robt., of £80, in respect Wm. is due Jas. the like sum for tack duty of teinds National Records of Scotland, James Brown Craven bequest relating to local and ecclesiastical history on Orkney, reference GD106/143

                  17

13 February 1652: Discharge by Mr Patk. Grahame of Rothisholme to Robt. Sinclair, fiar of Saba, for £24 being annualrent of 600 merks from Marts. 1650 to Marts. 1651 paid by said Robt. for himself and on behalf of his father National Records of Scotland, James Brown Craven bequest relating to local and ecclesiastical history on Orkney, reference GD106/142

Evidence from the Laing Charters

                   1

10 July 1620: Instrument of Sasine following on a precept of clare constat for infefting William Grott, as eldest son of William Grott of Tankerness . . . . . Witnesses to the precept, William Sinclair of Tothorp . . . . . Calendar of the Laing Charters, A.D. 854-1837, https://archive.org/details/calendaroflaing00edin/page/587to the University of Edinburgh. Edited by The Rev. John Anderson, Assistant Curator of the Historical Department H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh. Published by Authority of the University (James Thin, Edinburgh, 1899), charter number 1836 on p. 443

                   2

23 April 1657: Charter by which Mr. Patrick Graham of Rothisholm confirms that he has given to his son James, the lands of Rothisholm and the twenty-four penny land of Aeth, together with the towmale that formerly belonged to the late William Sinclair of Tolhoip. Ibidem, charter number 2502 on p. 587

Genealogy

1. The Saint Clairs of the Isles, pp. 139-141 for the Sinclairs of Tohop and Saba
2. Records of the Earldom of Orkney, p. 468 for J. Storer Clouston's drop-line pedigree chart for Sinclair of Warsetter
3. The Sinclairs of Tohop and Saba