David (Sinclair) Sinclair Ist of Dun (abt. 1510)

Born about 1510 in Caithness, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Calder) Sinclair — married about 1530 in Caithness, Scotland

Descendants

Died [date unknown] in Caithness, Scotland

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Biography

David (Sinclair) Sinclair Ist of Dun is a member of Clan Sinclair.

David was born about 1510 as an illegitimate son to John Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Caithness, his mother is unknown.^[1] He first appears on record in 1556 as brother to George, Earl of Caithness, and bailie to the Bishop. He is also referred to at the same time as David Sinclair of Dun, and was the ancestor of the Sinclairs of Dun by his wife, Margaret Calder, heiress of Dun.

He had besides John, heir of Dun, other sons, William (of Forss), Alexander, Henry, John, Archdeacon of Caithness, George, and David. There is also a daughter noticed; Christian Sinclair.

While there is some debate regarding his lineage the key rests is in the marriage to the Heiress of Dun. The Sinclair family did not own Dun until after the marriage to Margaret Calder. This was known to have been David Sinclair.

The family historian^[2] makes this point further: "In the above-mentioned charter granted to David Sinclair of Dun, in 1560, the Earl of Sutherland gives to him in liferent, and to "his sons", William, Alexander, and Henry, in succession, and to the "heirs-male of their bodies lawfully begotten", in fee, the lands of Forss and Baillie. It appears that in 1586 a Henry Sinclair, who unquestionably was the brother of Christian, the laird of Dun's daughter, was killed in a fight with the Clan Gunn, then under command of Hutcheon McKay, who was a son of Christian Sinclair, and therefore Henry's own nephew. As no other Henry Sinclair is mentioned about the same period, except Henry, the son of David of Dun, it may be that. Christian Sinclair's brother was the same Henry Sinclair who is named in the charter, and thus that she was a daughter of David Sinclair of Dun.

Sources

1. ↑ #S-1 Balfour Paul; Vol 2, page 338
2. ↑ Sinclairs of Dun

• Source S-1Sir James Balfour Paul, Editor. The Scots peerage, founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom. Vol. VII. Edinburgh: D Douglas, 1904. archive.org