Katherine Sinclair

KATHERINE SINCLAIR (aka CATHERINE SINCLAIR)

Katherine Sinclair, here treated, is not the same person as Kattrine Sinclair

Katherine Sinclair, here treated, is the wife of Master William Mudie of Breckness and the mother of Adam Mudie of Breckness [Shetland Archives, reference NRS TD94/21]

It cannot be regarded as being certain but it is possible that Katherine Sinclair was a relative of Oliver Sinclair of Breckness. The possibility of this is suggested by the fact that she seems to have inherited half of the lands of Leirquhy in the Outertown of Stromness which might originally have belonged to the Sinclairs of Breckness. Moreover, her husband, William Mudie of Donra (Downreay), afterwards purchsed the mansion house of Breckness and the land associated with it from Oliver Sinclair of Breckness, who speaks of William Mudy of Donra (Downreay) as his well-beloved friend and kinsman. The degree of kinship between them cannot presently be explained but it is possible that Katherine Sinclair was Oliver's sister, or his aunt, perhaps. Records of the Earldom of Orkney

Marriage

Kattrine Sinclair married Master William Mudy of Donra (afterwards William Mudie of Breckness).

Children

1. Adam Mudie of Breckness
2. Francis Mudie of Melsetter
3. Thomas Mudie
4. Master William Mudie of Breckness

Evidence from the Shetland Archives

16 November 1595: Instrument of sasine at Breknes, 20 November 1595, following on feu charter in favour of Mr William Mudie of Breknes and Katherine Sinclair, his spouse, of 1 pennyland and 1 merk land in the isle of Gramsay, 3 merks land in [Thurwa?], in parish of Wawis and Hoy, 2 merks land in Utterstromnes, lying in parish thereof, 3 pennyland with the teindsheaves thereof in the utter town of Stromnes called the Uttertoun which sometime pertained to the sub-deanery of Orknay, the 8 pennyland lying on the west part of the burn of Donra, parish of Ra, Caithness, together with the lands of Schabuster in said parish, following charter by the king, 16 August 1591; and precept by Mr William Mudy of Breknes directed to Edward Sinclair in Lieger to give sasine to Mr William and Adam Mudy, his son, and Cristian Stewart, his spouse. Subscribed at Snelsetter, 16 November 1595, and witnessed by Robert Watson and Robert Wilsoun. [NRS, TD94/21]

Genealogy

1. Records of the Earldom of Orkney
2. The Moodie Book