XII THE HON. JAMES ST.CLAIR, rightful 12th Lord Sinclair, never assumed the title. He was a General in the army and a distinguished diplomatist.
In 1735 he or his brother purchased the ancient ancestral Castle of Rosslyn from the last heir of that cadet branch, and added it to the other baronial estates of the family, of Ravenscraig, Dysart, etc., which were settled by deed of entail 31st October 1735, failing issue of the body of the granter, upon the heirs-male of his sisters.
Dying without issue in 1762, General St.Clair was succeeded in the estates and representation of the Sinclair family by his nephew, Colonel James Patterson St.Clair; while the claim to the title of Lord Sinclair devolved, according to the remainder in the new patent of 1677, granted by King Charles II to Henry, 11th Lord Sinclair, on the son of Mathew Sinclair (youngest paternal uncle of that Baron), viz.-
XIII CHARLES ST.CLAIR OF HERDMANSTON, rightful 13th Lord.
He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Andrew Hume of Kimmerghem, a Lord of Session, 1773.
He was succeeded in his claim by his son
XIV ANDREW ST.CLAIR OF HERDMANSTON, rightful 14th Lord.
He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Rutherfurd, younger of Edgerton and grand-daughter of Sir John Rutherfurd of Edgerton, and had issue -
XVI JAMES, LORD SINCLAIR, a Scottish representative peer, and captain of the Grenadier Guards.
He married 14th September, 1830, Jane, eldest daughter of Archibald Little, of Shabden Park, Surrey, and had issue -
XVII CHARLES WILLIAM SAINT CLAIR, 31st Lord of Herdmanston, 17th Baron St.Clair or Sinclair in the peerage of Scotland, and a Representative Peer, born 8th September 1831; succeeded, 1880; educated at Royal Military College, Sandhurst; entered the Army in 1848, and retired as Colonel, having served with 57th Foot in the Crimean Campaign of 1854-55, and as A.A.G. to the Forces on the Bosphorus 1855-6 (medal with three clasps and Sardinian and Turkish medals), and in New Zealland War, 1861-62, as Acting Assistant Military Secretary and A.D.C. to Sir Duncan Cameron (medal); D.S.O., 1896; is a J.P. and a D.L. for County Berwick.
It will be observed that while St.Clair is the family surname, the title has succumbed to the leveling process of the ages, and become assimilated to the corrupt Scots vernacular, and in conformity thereto the present Baron appends to all State and other documents the signature "Sinclair".
Lord Sinclair married, 6th October 1870, Margaret Jane, youngest daughter of James Murray, of 16 Bryanstone Square, London W., and has issue as undernoted -
XV CHARLES ST.CLAIR OF HERDMANSTON, rightful 15th Lord, had his claim to this peerage confirmed on the 25th April 1782.
He married, first, on 13th February 1802, Mary Agnes, only daughter of James Chisholme of Chisholme, by whom he had issue
He married secondly, 1st July 1854, Anne Crawfurd, fourth daughter of Sir John Pringle, 5th Baronet, and died 8th February 1863, having by her had -
His Lordship married, secondly, 18th September, 1816, Isabella Mary, youngest daughter of Alexander Chatto of Mainhouse, County Roxburghshire, and by her had -
Lord Sinclair was one of the Scottish representative Peers.
He entered the British Army in 1784, and was Lieut.-Colonel of the 15th Foot.
He retired at the peace of 1802, and was afterwards appointed Lieut.-Colonel of the Berwickshire Militia.
He died on the 30th September, 1863, and was succeeded by his eldest son
His lordship died 24th October 1880.
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