Re: Alexander Sinkler/Sinclair/StClair

[Robert Goff <rwgoff00@centre.edu>]

    I don't have the extensive knowledge that Niven has,
but I am working on tracing Alexander Sinclair from Virginia to Scotland. 
I know that he is listed as being from Glasgow, but during a rather turbulent
time in Scottish history, people probably moved around quite often. 
I have found another imigration record that actually says he indentured
in Liverpool before coming to Virginia.  Jean Grigsby has given me
tremendous help tracing related families, which has helped me greatly. 
I have treid to trace families that are connected with the Sinclairs, but
as I am not in Scotland, I have no way to check the Latter Day Saints records
or the assumptions I make.
    I searched the Latter Day Saints church records
and couldn't find a birth record for Alexander near Glasgow, but did find
a 1669 birth in Dundee, Angus.  This intrigued me as this particular
Alexander also had a brother, Thomas.  There was a Thomas Sinclair
in Stafford county at the same time as our Alexander, but Jean hasn't been
able to trace him.  I only found one record of him, an indenture to
a Mr. Monteith, who appears to be from Glasgow.  This Monteith family
may be traced to Angus after another generation.    
    In Dundee, Alexander and Thomas' father and mother
are listed as James Sinclair and Agnis Shields.  They have one other
child, Margaret, in 1675.  There is a Robert born in 1672, but only
a James is listed as his father.  After 1675, there are no Sinclairs
mentioned until the early 1700's.  It seems as though this family
may have moved, possibly to Glasgow.  James is recorded as being born
in 1645 in Dundee, Angus with only John Sinclair listed as his father. 
There is also a William and James Sinclair who get married and raise families
in Angus, James in 1640 and William in 1652.  Agnis Shields appears
to be from Midlothian.
           Now, I'm
sure those of you who are interested in Alexander may know of his connection
to the Scott family.  The Scott family that he is connected to in
Virginia is from Dundee, Angus.  I have also tried my best to trace
other families from Cavaliers and Pioneers that immigrated with
Sinclairs, but it is very difficult without tax records and land records
to back the birth records.  There are possiblities that many of these
families came from Angus also.  The other Sinclairs that migrate to
Virginia are also tough to trace as there are so many possibilities.
    I am willing to accept the Angus birth, at least
until I can get to Scotland.  Now I need to find the parents of James
Sinclair c. 1645 in Dundee, Scotland.  I am considering the possibility
of John St. Clair of Hermandston and Elizabeth Sinclair of Stevenston. 
I'm just trying to suggest a possibility.

Robert Goff