William Sinclair of Warsetter

SIR WILLIAM SINCLAIR OF WARSETTER

Sir William Sinclair of Warsetter was the son of "William the Waster", the disinherited Master of Orkney (ancestor of all subsequent Lords Sinclair of Ravenscraig). In the 1497 "Rental of my Lord Sinclair that died at Flodden", William Sinclair, my Lord’s brother, is recorded as holding many lands in Westray, while in 1502 he appears a large owner of lands in Sanday, and is styled Sir William Sinclair. Sir David Sinclair, the Foud of Shetland, in 1506 bequeathed to Sir William Sincler, the Knight, his "doublet of cloth of gold and my gray satin gown with three ostrich feathers". He acquired the lands of Tohop from Nicol Fraser, and the purchase was confirmed in 1514 by an adjudication of the Orcadian Lawting. The decree refers to him as "a noble and potent man Sir William Sinclair of Warsetter, knight". About the same time he took by storm Noltland Castle in Westray, to which he probably had a possessive right, but was required to restore it to Dr. Stewart, the then episcopal owner. He married Helene, daughter of George, second Earl of Huntly, by Annabella, Princess of Scotland. In the Register of the Great Seal there is on the 13th May 1527, entry of a charter to Lady Helene Gordone, relict of quondam [the deceased] Sir William Sinclair of Warsetter, knight, now spouse of David Hepburn - lands in Newburgh. The St. Clairs of the Isles: The Sinclairs of Warsetter, p. 138

Death

Sir William Sinclair of Warsetter died before 13 May 1527. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1513-1546, charter number 457 on p. 103

Genealogical Accounts

1. The St. Clairs of the Isles: The Sinclairs of Warsetter, pp. 138-39
2. Fiona's Finding Service: The Sinclairs of Warsetter
3. Records of the Earldom of Orkney, drop-line pedigree chart on page 468