SINCLAIR OF QUENDALE in the Parish of Dunrossness

1. MALCOLM SINCLAIR, lay vicar, and reader of Dunrossness, was presented on 20th December 1565. He had a brother Laurence, probably identical with the reader of that name, who appears to have succeeded him. Father Hay in his “Genealogie of the Saintclaires of Roslin”, quoting a Danish writer called Van Bassan, says he was the son of James Sinclair “of Stive”. He was ordained by the Privy Council to find security for £1000 Scots, on 6th June 1597. He was appointed a Commissioner of Peace, 28th November 1609, and to apprehend rebels who may proceed to Zetland, on 10th August 1614. He died on 6th January 1618, and was buried in the old Churchyard of Cross, at the head of Quendale Bay. By his wife Margaret, daughter of Hugh Sinclair of Brugh, he had a large family,
   1. James, his heir
   2. William
   3. George, of Craigends and Rapness, in Orkney
   4. Malcolm
   5. Michael
   6. Elizabeth, married Patrick Forbes
   7. Margaret, married 1593, Michael Balfour of Garth, Orkney
   8. Isabel, married 1600, Andrew Bruce of Muness, and (second) Duncan Scollay of Hermansgarth
   9. Helen, married Mr. Robert Swinton, minister of Walls, from 1607, to his death in June 1612, and had issue: Malcolm, Thomas, James, and Robert
   10. Janet, married John Neven of Scousburgh
2. JAMES SINCLAIR of Quendale [2nd of Quendale], was a witness against the Earl of Orkney, at his trial before the Privy Council in 1610, and was appointed a Commissioner of Peace, 15th March 1614. He was served heir to his father on 6th September 1631, and died 21st September 1647. By his marriage with Barbara, daughter of James Stewart of Graemsay, who survived him, he had issue:
   1. John, his heir
   2. Laurence
   3. Harrie
   4. Robert
   5. Margaret, died March 1645, married James Mouat of Garth
   6. Helen, married Patrick Umphray of Sand
   7. Jean, married Laurence Gifford of Weathersta
3. JOHN SINCLAIR of Quendale [3rd of Quendale], was a Commissioner of Supply for Zetland, 1661, and 1667. He married in 1628, Barbara, daughter of Adam Sinclair of Brew, and had,
   1. Laurence, his heir
   2. John
   3. Robert
   4. George
   5. Barbara, married 24th May 1662, Hector Bruce of Muness, and died 22nd May 1675
   6. Helen, died 1706, married 14th December 1692, Ninian Neven of Scousburgh
   7. Margaret, married (first) 1656, William Bruce of Sumburgh; and (second) the Rev. John Gauden, minister of Tingwall
   8. Jean
4. LAURENCE SINCLAIR of Quendale [4th of Quendale], was a Commissioner of Supply under Acts of Parliament 1675, 1689, 1690, 1696, and 1704. He married Jean, daughter of Laurence Stewart of Bigtoun, and had issue:
   1. Robert, his heir
   2. Lilias, married James Mitchell of Girlesta
   3. Margaret, married (first) Andrew Bruce of Muness; and (second) Robert Baikie of Tankerness
   4. Andrew
5. ROBERT SINCLAIR of Quendale [5th of Quendale], a Commissioner of Supply, 1705, succeeded his father in the estates, which at that time comprised 1311 merks land in Dunrossness, 309 merks land in Dunrossness, 309 in Sandwick, and 368 in Aith, Cunningsburgh, with the Island of Mousa. He was Cashier of Excise, and from a report by George Drummond, the Accountant-General, afterwards Lord Provost of Edinburgh, dated 16th June 1713, it is found that he had embezzled a sum of £847 2s 91/2 to his own uses. He was a Jacobite in politics, and an Episcopalian in religion. In 1750, his estate was sequestrated. He died in 1767. He married (first) Barbara, daughter of John Montgomery of Wrae, and relict of Robert Sinclair of Scalloway, and had issue:
   1. John, his heir.
   He married (second) at Fair Isle, 17th July 1740, Mrs. Jacobina Mackenzie.
6. JOHN SINCLAIR of Quendale [6th of Quendale], served heir to his mother, 1743. The estate was sold on 26th February 1770, and was purchased principally by John Bruce of Sumburgh, and Mr. James Grierson.