Sinclair Genealogy

The family crest of the St. Clairs of Rosslyn from c.1500, as depicted in a carving or moulding in the ceiling of the withdrawing or dining room at Rosslyn Castle when building work was being completed by Sir William St. Clair of Pentland in 1622. It was described by Hay as 'Argent a Cross ingrailed sable; for supporters, a Mermaid on the Dexter, and a Griffin on the Sinister; a Helmet befitting his quality; above which is a Dove Argent, beaked and membered, Gules. Motto, Credo. The Mermaid has a comb in the right hand, and in the left a branch of some sea weed'.

The following descendant chart of the Rosslyn St. Clairs is based on the assumption that the first of their name arrived in Scotland in 1174 with William the Lion, king of Scotland, after his release by the English king, Henry II. The following is recorded in Scalacronica by Sir Thomas Gray of Heton, kt. (1272-1363), a chronicle of England and Scotland from 1066 to 1362:

Pur quoi il enprist od ly en Escoce plusours dez fitz pusnes dez seygnours Dengleterre qi ly estoient beinuoillauntz, et lour dona lez terres dez autres qy ly estoient rebelis. Si estoint ceaux dez Baillolse, de Bruys, de Soulis, et de Mowbray, et les Saynclers; lez Hayes, lez Giffardis, lez Ramesays, et Laundels; lez Bifeys, lez Berkleys, lez Walenges, lez Boysis, lez Mountgomeris; lez Vaus, lez Coleuyles, lez Frysers, lez Grames, lez Gourlays, et plusours autres;

The only St. Clairs in England who would have had foreknowledge of William the Lion attending Henry II's court on his way back to Scotland would have been the sons and grandsons of Hugh de St. Clair. Henry de St. Clair, who founded the Herdmanston St. Clair line, may well have been one of his grandsons. However, it cannot as yet be confirmed that William de St. Clair, who was granted Rosslyn in 1180 according to Nisbet, was his brother, but it seems very likely.

Three lines of descent originated with William, earl of Orkney, earl of Caithness, Lord St. Clair, and lord of Rosslyn, who died in 1480. The lords St. Clair descended from William (the Waster), his only son from his first marriage, the earls of Caithness descended from William, his first son from his second marriage, and the lords of Rosslyn descended from Sir Oliver, the latter William's brother.

In 1620, Sir Oliver's great great grandson, William Sinclair, settled in Ireland with his second wife and two children, George and William Sinclair, leaving his ancestors' inheritance in Scotland to his eldest son, Sir William St. Clair of Pentland.