Oliver Sinclair (abt. 1491 - bef. 1560)

Born about 1491 in Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Katherine (Bellenden) Sinclair — married before 12 Jan 1538 in Scotland

Descendants

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Biography

Oliver was the third son of Oliver Sinclair and Margaret Borthwick.^[1][2][3]

He did not marry until some time between 1530-1537 incl., Katherine, daughter of Patrick Bellenden of Auchnoule, relict of Adam Hopper, Provost of Edinburgh and Francis Bothwell, Provost of Edinburgh.^[3][4] They had issue:

1. Oliver, b. aft. Jan 1538/39, succeeded his father, m/ Beatric, daughter of Robert Rollo of Duncrub^[3]
2. Isobel, m. James Menzies, Burgess of Edinburgh^[5]

He had a natural son:

1. James^[5]

Oliver Sinclair of Pitcairns (in Stratherne, Perthshire) resigned (or sold) that feudal barony and its lands to Henry Drummond of Ricarton and his spouse Jonete Creighton on 13th January 1544. John Sinclair was one of the witnesses.^[6]

in a new Crown charter of Roslin and all other hereditary holdings to Sir William Sinclair of Roslin, Oliver Sinclair of Pitcairns is given as brother-german to both William and Alexander. This charter was not confirmed until 25 Aug 1542.^[7]

A Sasine (following a Precept dated at Edinburgh 28 Mar 1550) was given by Oliver with the consent of his wife, for infefting Oliver Sinclair, son of William Sinclair of Roslin, the granter's brother-german, in the lands of Killeith, or Kildeleith, in the barony of Kirkliston, regality of St.Andrews, and sheriffdom of Linlithgow. Sasine was given on 31 Mar 1550 by John Finlason and James Sinclair, baillies for Oliver & Katherine. Witnesses included Alexander Sinclair, brother-german of 'said Oliver.'^[8]

Oliver died was still living on 6 Nov 1556 but died before Oct 1560.^[3]

Research Notes

The date had been previously set to circa 1510 in this profile. He married before 12 Jan 1537/38^[3] so one can be certain that his birth was prior to 12 Jan 1523/24. His father, however, was long dead by then having passed away between 14 Jan 1512 and 31 Dec 1512,^[3] His birth, then, was no later than Sep 1513.

His marriage to Katherine was before 12 Jan 1537/8^[9], when already married, and obviously after the death of her second husband, so before then but what is needed is to determine a date after which he was deceased. Unfortunately. there is insufficient information to determine this. That she had at least one child with her second husband gives no assistance as that child could have been conceived on their wedding day and his death could have been moments later.

Nisbet writes: "Sir Oliver St Clair, the third son, was styled of Whitekirk & Pitcairns, This was the gentleman that King James V held in so great esteem for his skill in military affairs, that he pitched on him to command the Scot's army at the battle of Solway, anno 1542; which, without reason, gave so great disgust, that, however just the choice might be, the army behaved very ill on that occasion, and was thought by some to hasten the king's death. Sir Oliver's lineal heir female was married to Captain William Ramsay, and was mother by him to William the present Earl of Dalhousie."^[10] Nisbet seems to have ignored George, the eldest son, in recounting the children of Oliver Sinclair and Margaret Borthwick.

In the archives is an Instrument of sasine in favour of Oliver Synclare (Sinclair) of Quhitkirk, of the island of Ethay. The instrument recites (1) letters of attorney by Oliver Sinclair of Quhitkirk appointing Gilbert Tulloch, burgess of Kirkuall (Kirkwall), his attorney to receive sasine, dated at Kirkwall, 23 October 1560, before Mr. Peter Houstown, subdean of Orknay (Orkney), and sir John Reyd (Reid), vicar of Fetlar; (2) precept by the bishop directed to Henry Phara, indweller in Ethay, dated at the cathedral of Orkney, 21 October 1560, "in the first year of our consecration", before Gilbert Balfour, the bishop's constable, Mr. Francis Bothwell, prebendary of St. Augustine, and Gilbert Fulse, the bishop's secretary. Dated 24th October 1560. Witnesses to sasine: William Scot (Scott), Nicholas Barin, Thomas Barin, Patrick Mansoun (Manson), John Virk, John Murray and William Borthuik (Borthwick). Notary - William Lauder, clerk of Glasgow diocese and notary by apostolic authority.^[11]

In the archives is a Procuratory of resignation by Henry Sinclair, lawful son of Oliver Sinclair in Whitekirk, of half the lands and barony of Whitekirk with the mill of Linton in the hands of Walter Callender of Bordie in favour of Margaret Murray, wife of Adam, Bishop of Orkney, Commendator of Holyrood House, in liferent and to their son, John Bothwell, and his heirs male in fie. Dates 29th July 1576.^[12]

In the National Archives of Scotland (GD18/1498) are Discharges (2) by Henry Home of Moreistoun [Morriston], Margaret Sinclair, his spouse, Henry Sinclair of Quhytkirk [Whitekirk], John Sinclair, Mr. Oliver Sinclair, Janet Sinclair and John Halyburton [Halliburton] of Mertoun, her spouse, brothers-in-law and sister-in-law of said Henry, to Mr. John Nicolsoun [Nicholson], of sums of money specified for the crops of lands of Lesuaid [Lasswade] sown by Beatrice Rollok [Rollock], mother of said Henry and his brothers and sisters

Sources

1. ↑ Nisbet, Alexander, A System of Heraldry Edinburgh, 1722 [1984 facsimile], vol.1, pps:119-120, vol.2, appendix, p.165.
2. ↑ Douglas, Sir Robert, Bt., The Baronage of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1774, p.247.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} MacGregor, Gordon, The Red Book of Scotland, Scotland, private, 2022, Ed. 3, Vol. VIII, p 1046.
4. ↑ Paul, James Balfour. The Scots Peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1905, Vol. II, Archive.org, p. 62
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} MacGregor, Gordon, The Red Book of Scotland, Scotland, private, 2022, Ed. 3, Vol. VIII, p 1048
6. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland no.3046, confirmed at Edinburgh 14 Jan 1544/5.
7. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland no.2768.
8. ↑ Anderson, John, Calendar of the Laing Charters, A.D. 854-1837, belonging to the University of Edinburgh., Edinburgh: James Thin, 1899, Archive.org, p. 147, No. 564
9. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland no.1743, date of confirmation.
10. ↑ Nisbet, Alexander, System of Heraldry, Speculative and Practical, Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1816, Vol. II, Archive.org, Appendix p. 165
11. ↑ National Records of Scotland, GD96/80.
12. ↑ National Records of Scotland, GD236/2/72.