Tour Scotland travel video clip, with Scottish music, of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, located about three miles north of Wick, on visit to the East Coast of Caithness in the North Highlands. This is considered to be one of the earliest seats of Clan Sinclair. The earlier Castle Girnigoe was built by William Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Caithness, probably sometime between 1476 and 1496, but certainly before his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. There is some evidence to suggest that the castle was built on the foundations of an earlier fortalice. In 1577, George Sinclair, the 4th Earl of Caithness imprisoned his own son John, Master of Caithness in this Scottish castle, on suspicion of rebelling against his rule. He was held there for seven years, after which his father fed him a diet of salted beef, with nothing to drink, so that he eventually died insane from thirst. Expansion occurred in 1606 when Castle Sinclair was built, comprising a gatehouse and other buildings, along with a curtain wall. These were connected to the earlier castle by a drawbridge over a ravine. The same year George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness, requested the Scottish Parliament to change the name to Castle Sinclair, but because the names Castle Sinclair and Castle Girnigoe were both written down in 1700, both names have been in use since. In 1672, George Sinclair, 6th Earl of Caithness, was in heavy debt to his fourth cousin, John Campbell of Glenorchy, and transferred the castle to Campbell as payment. When Sinclair died four years later with no heir, Campbell claimed the title Earl of Caithness and married Sinclair's widow. However, Sinclair's first cousin, George Sinclair of Keiss, challenged Campbell's title. This resulted in the Battle of Altimarlach in which Campbell defeated Sinclair in 1680. Glenorchy and some of his troops remained in Caithness for some time and levied rents and taxes on the people, subjecting them to the most grievous oppression. He sent the remainder home immediately after the battle. However, George Sinclair of Keiss continued his opposition and laid siege, with firearms and artillery, to Castle Sinclair Girnigoe which he took after feeble resistance from the garrison. As a result, he and his three friends who had assisted him, Sinclair of Broynach, Sinclair of Thura and Mackay of Strathnaver were declared rebels. The political current having turned in favour of Sinclair of Keiss however, this was quashed. Having failed to regain his inheritance by force, Sinclair of Keiss then turned to the law. Through the influence of the Duke of York and afterwards King James II, he took his place as 7th Earl of Caithness on 15 July 1681, and his lands were restored on 23 September. Campbell of Glenorchy was made Earl of Breadalbane by way of compensation.
The surname Sinclair was first found in the barony of Roslyn, Midlothian where King Alexander I of Scotland granted a parcel of land to William de Sancto Claro in 1162. They were originally from St Clare, Pont d'Eveque, Normandy, and are descended from Walderness Compte de Saint Clare who arrived in England with William the Conqueror..
Spelling variations of this family name include: Sinclair, Saint Clare, Sancto Claro, Singular, Sinclaire, Seincler, Sanclar, Sincklair, Sinclear, Sincler and many more.
James Sinclair, a Scottish convict was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for life, and transported aboard the ship Champion on 24th May 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia;; William Sinclair, a Scottish convict was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, and transported aboard the ship Burrell on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales; Marion Sinclair, a Scottish convict from Perth, Perthshire, was transported aboard the ship Arab on December 14, 1835, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia; John Sinclair, a Scottish convict was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, and transported aboard the ship Augusta Jessie on 10th August 1838, arriving in Tasmania; Alexander Sinclair, landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840; Samuel Sinclair landed in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1750; Mary Sinclair arrived in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1839; Angus Sinclair landed in Maryland, America, in 1674; Duncan Sinclair arrived in New Jersey, America. in 1685; William and James Sinclair settled in Virginia, America, in 1716; Patrick Sinclair landed in South Carolina in 1716; Peggy Sinclair arrived in Brunswick, North Carolina in 1767. Anthony Sinclair landed in Pennsylvania in 1773; Alex Sinclair, aged 36, landed in North Carolina in 1774.
Clan Sinclair, Scottish Gaelic: Clann na Ceàrda, is a Highland Scottish clan who held lands in Caithness, the Orkney Islands, and the Lothians. The chiefs of the clan were the Barons of Roslin and later the Earls of Orkney and Earls of Caithness.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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