Henry (Sinclair) Sinclair IInd of Roslin (abt. 1265 - bef. 1336)

Born about 1265 in Rosslyn Castle, Roslin, Edinburghshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 28 Jan 1336 before about age 71 in Scotland [uncertain]

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Biography

Henry (Sinclair) Sinclair IInd of Roslin is a member of Clan Sinclair.

Henry Sinclair, also known as Saint Clair and St. Clair, was born sometime before 1270, most likely in the early 1260s. (See research notes) He was the eldest son of William St Clair and his wife, Amicia. He appears with his father and brother, also named William, in the Homage Rolls of 1292 in which he is recorded as "Sancto Claro, Dominus Henricus de (miles)." ^[1][2] He appears of age and already a Knight.

Capture and Prison

In 1296, he was taken prisoner as part of the garrison at Dunbar Castle following the Battle of Dunbar.^[2] Henry was held at St Briavell's castle (which is in Gloucestershire).^[3][2] Provision was made for him and his fellow Knights in 1297;^[4] by Edward I., after pleadings from "Mary" the wife to William Fitzwarren, empowered Anthony Bek, Bishop of Durham, to negotiate for a prisoner release. Henry Sinclair was part of this trade being exchanged for Fitz Warren himself.^[2] This took place soon after 7 April 1299 with the exchange apparently occurring at Berwick near to 16 July.^[5][6] They were moved under escort from Gloucester to York to Newcastle and then exchanged at Berwick.^[7]

In Service to England

Sir Henry Sinclair was appointed Sheriff of Lanark^[2] on the decree of the Settlement of Scotland which took effect shortly after 15 Sep 1305.^[8] In this position he replaced none other than Robert the Bruce.

In 1307, presumably still as Sheriff, he, along with Robert de Keeth and Adam de Gordon, were held surety for Walter bishop of St Andrews who had been released by Edward I.

Following the death of Edward I in July 1307 he continued to serve Edward II. Henry Sinclair and a large number of local nobility were tasked with marching on Robert the Bruce, in September 1307^[2] and assist the local force under John de St John, Donegal Makedouel, Donegall le filz Can.^[9] He was amongst those nobles requested to keep the peace in Scotland while Edward II was in France in December 1307.^[10] He was still in England's service in 1310 when Edward II send him a gift of wine.^[11]

In Service of Scotland

At some point between 1311 and 1314 he joins Bruce and the drive for Scotland's independence from England.

He is often represented as being under Bruce's banner at the Battle of Bannockburn^[2] on the 24 June 1314 and the later evidence certainly bears this out as Bruce grants him the Royal lands on the Pentland Moor in recognition for his service.^[2]

He was one of the nobles that signed the "Barons Letter" (Declaration of Arbroath)^[2]. Unfortunately his seal was not one of those that survived.

Death and Legacy

He was alive in 1328 when he receives a pension from the Crown (Scotland). He, like many of his peers, especially in the Lothians, suffered when Edward Balliol returned to take the Crown of Scotland and was fined and forfeit in one third of the barony of Rosslyn. His wife, Alicia, must have held the barony jointly. She is named as Alicia de Fenton.^[2] They had two known children.^[2]

Known Children

• William
• John

Henry died sometime prior to 28 January 1336^[2] and his wife outlives him being alive on 10 September 1336 when her dower was forfeit and given to Geoffrey de Mowbray.^[2]

Research Notes

• Birth date calculation: 1292-21=1271 or earlier

Some Legend and Myths

Sir Henry Sinclair and the Battle of Rosslyn

The Battle of Roslin occurred on 24 February 1303, near the village of Roslin.^[12] It was a significant battle during the First War of Independence and was a huge win for Scotland. The myth associated with this, is that Henry Sinclair had been Knighted by Sir Symon Fraser under the watchful gaze of Sir William Wallace in 1297. There is no documented evidence that this occurred. In fact, in 1297, Sir Henry Sinclair was still loyal to the English. Further, it would be highly unlikely that Edward I would make Sir Henry Sheriff of Lanark if he had been on the side of William Wallace. Even though the battle took place on Sinclair lands, along with others, there is no evidence of a Sinclair being at the battle.

Sinclairs and the Knights Templar at the Battle of Bannockburn

The Sinclair family is often mentioned in the myths and legends pertaining to the Knights Templar in Scotland. There is no surviving evidence that this Henry Sinclair was part of the order. A search of the People of Medieval Scotland records shows no Sinclair associated with the Knights Templar during this period.

There is no historical record that the Knights Templar fought at the Battle of Banockburn. It is certainly possible that members of the Order, fleeing the destruction of the Order in October 1307, sought refuge under Bruce and, individually, contributed to Bruce's force at Bannockburn but it is highly improbable, if not impossible, that they fought under the banner of a banned Order bearing in mind that Bruce was about to seek surety of Independence from the Pope. An order issued by King Edward in 1309 commanded the arrest of the remaining Templars still at large in Scotland.^[13]

There is no record of a Sir William Sinclair from this family being alive that could serve with the Order let alone be a Commander in the Order prior to 1307.

Sources

1. ↑ Thomson, Thomas; Instumenta Publica Sive Processus Super Fidelitatibus Et Homagiis Scotorum Domino Regi Angliae Factis, AD. 1291-1296; (Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, 1834); In Latin, Pg 9
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12} Balfour-Paul, James; The Scots Peerage; (Douglas, D.; Edinburgh, 1904-1914); pg. 566
3. ↑ Bain, Joseph; Calendar of Documents; (HM General Register House, Edinburgh, 1881;Vol. ii) no. 742
4. ↑ Bain, Joseph; Calendar of Documents; (HM General Register House, Edinburgh, 1881;Vol. ii);no. 901
5. ↑ Bain, Joseph; Calendar of Documents; (HM General Register House, Edinburgh, 1881;Vol. ii);no. 1062
6. ↑ Bain, Joseph; Calendar of Documents; (HM General Register House, Edinburgh, 1881;Vol. ii); no. 1077
7. ↑ Bain, Joseph; Calendar of Documents; (HM General Register House, Edinburgh, 1881;Vol. ii);no. 1086
8. ↑ Bain, Joseph; Calendar of Documents; (HM General Register House, Edinburgh, 1881;Vol. ii);no. 1691
9. ↑ Bain, Joseph; Calendar of Documents; (HM General Register House, Edinburgh, 1881;Vol. iii);no. 15
10. ↑ Bain, Joseph; Calendar of Documents; (HM General Register House, Edinburgh, 1881;Vol. iii);no. 15
11. ↑ Bain, Joseph; Calendar of Documents; (HM General Register House, Edinburgh, 1881;Vol. iii);no. 121
12. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Battle of Roslin," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed January 5, 2022).
13. ↑ Document 1/28/0 (Foedera, ii, I, 94) PoMS Record; accessed 12 Sep 2020

See also:

• The Peerage.com
• Robert the Bruce (Wikipedia)