480 CAITHNESS She was living 29 Dec. 1615. He d. Feb. 1642/3, in Caithness, aged 76.0 [William Sinclair, Master of Caithness, stykd Lord Berriedale,(*) s. and h. ap. He was for 5 years a prisoner for debt in Edinburgh, being released in 1621. He m. Mary, da. of Henry (Sinclair), 3rd Lord Sinclair [S.]. He was living Sep. 1623, but d. v.p.] [John Sinclair, stykd Master of Berriedale, s. and h. ap. of the abovenamed William, Master of Caithness, and Mary his wife. He obtained a charter, 27 July 1633, of the reversion of the Earldom to himself and the heirs male of his body, whom failing to his father and his heirs male and assigns whatsoever. He m., between May 1633 and Oct. 1634, Jean, yr. da. and coh. of Colin (Mackenzie), ist Earl of Seaforth [S.], by Margaret, 4th da. of Alexander (Seton), ist Earl of Dunfermline [S.]. He d. of fever, before his grandfather [the Earl], at Edinburgh, Sep. 1639, and was I^ur. at Holyrood House Chapel. His widow m. Alexander (Sutherland), ist Lord Duffus [S.], who d. 31 Aug. 1674, being the ist of his four wives, and d. 31 Mar. 1648. XXV. 1643. 6. George (Sinclair), Earl OF Caithness [S.], great- grandson and h., being s. and h. of John Sinclair, siy/ed Master of Berriedale and Jean his wife abovenamed. He was served heir to the Earldom, 21 Mar. 1644, and had a charter thereof, 10 June 1661, to himself, his heirs male and assigns. He m., 22 Sep. 1657, at Roseneath, Mary (tocher 22,000 pounds Scots), 3rd da. of Archibald (Campbell), Marquess of Argyll [S.], by Margaret, da. of William [Douglas], 9th Earl of Morton [S.]. Being childless and greatly in debt, he, in i672,(°) granted a redeemable disposition of his lands and Honours to Sir John Campbell, of Glenurchy, with a proviso for the assumption of the title of Earl, when (i.e. after six years) the right of the said Sir John to the lands became absolute. He d. s.p., May 1676, at Thurso Castle. His widow, who was b. after 1634, ;«., 7 Apr. 1678, as his 2nd wife, the abovenamed Sir John Campbell, who was cr. Earl of Caithness, (^c. [S.], in 1677, and subsequently Earl of Breadalbane, fsPc. [S.]. See next below. (*) He appears to have been of an oppressive and intriguing disposition. He was for many years deeply in debt. V.G. () This title appears to have been adopted by the family after the charter of 10 June 1606 granted to the 5th Earl, of lands forming the Barony of Berriedale, though the Master of Caithness, who d. v.p. in 1577 [before such charter), is designated (perhaps wrongly) as "John, Lord Berriedale," in the petition of the loth Earl in 1 77 1. (■=) The lands of the Earldom followed the title till 1545, after which time they were gradually alienated till 1672, when the residue was made away with.
