William Sinclair of Underhoull

WILLIAM SINCLAIR OF BREW

The County Families of the Shetland Islands: Sinclair of Brew

Quoted from Grant's Book

William Sinclair, of Underhoull, had a Charter under the Great Seal, as one of the heirs of his father of 57½ merks land, including Busta and Weathersta, in the parish of Delting, 32 in Nesting, 21 in Whalsay, 44¼ in Yell, 241¾, including Underhoull and Uyea, in Unst, 5¾ in Fetlar, 2 in Bressay, 3 in Aithsting, 6 in Burra, 37 in Whiteness, 48 in Sandsting, and 6 in Dunrossness - in all 504¼ merks, on 5th March, 1578.

As deputy of Cultmalindie he is charged, together with his nephew Robert of Ness, in 1575, with oppressing the inhabitants of the Isles of Unst and Yell, and on 15th February of that year he was ordained to find caution and lawburrows to the parishioners of Unst in presence of Barthol Strang of Voesgarth, Mr. William Lauder, Vicar of Yell, Andrew Hawick of Scatsta, and Mr. John Denoon, Vicar of Delting.

On 7th February, 1579, he granted a Charter to his eldest son Francis, of the lands which belonged to his deceased father Olave Sinclair of Brew. He married Margaret, daughter of John Stewart, prior of Coldingham, who after his death married William Bruce of Sumburgh.

- Norman Sutherland