CHAPTER I. 



THE ST. CLAIRS AND THOMSONS. 



HENRY ST. CLAIR, eighth Lord Sinclair, married, in 

 1680, Grizel, daughter of Sir James Cockburn of 

 Cockburn. He had two sons and two daughters. 

 His eldest son, John, Master* of Sinclair, never 

 assumed the title, being attainted for taking part 

 in the rising of 1715. He died in 1750, leaving no 

 issue, and was succeeded by his brother James, a 

 distinguished General, who also died without issue. 

 Grizel, his eldest daughter, married John Paterson 

 of Preston Hall, son of the Archbishop of Glasgow. 

 John Paterson died in the Fleet Prison, 1716, the 

 day before he was to have been executed, having 

 been concerned in the rising of 1715. He had one 

 son, Colonel James Paterson St. Clair, who succeeded 

 him, and one daughter, Margaret, who married, in 

 1744, John Thomson of Charleton. Colonel Pater- 

 son St. Clair dying without issue, his sister Margaret, 

 wife of John Thomson of Charleton, became heir- 

 general of the Lords Sinclair, and the estate of 

 Dysart went to his cousin, Sir John Erskine of Alva, 

 son of Catherine, second daughter of Henry, eighth 



VOL. I. I 



