Jean Sinclair facts for kids
Jean (or Janet) Sinclair was a Scottish nurse who cared for Mary, Queen of Scots when she was a baby. Sinclair also served Mary's older brother, Prince James, who sadly died very young in 1540. Sinclair's long service to the royal family is known from a letter she wrote in 1553 to Mary of Guise, who was Mary, Queen of Scots' mother.
A Royal Baby's Nurse
Mary, Queen of Scots, was born in December 1542 at Linlithgow Palace. Just a few months later, in March 1543, Mary of Guise asked Jean Sinclair to show the baby queen to the English ambassador, Ralph Sadler. Sinclair carefully unwrapped the baby from her swaddling clothes (special cloths used to wrap newborns) to prove that Mary was a healthy infant. This important moment was even painted by an artist much later!
Jean Sinclair was paid for her important work. For example, Cardinal David Beaton gave her £11 in December 1542 for her care of the baby queen.
Journey to France
When Mary was still a baby, she was moved to Stirling Castle in July 1543. Scotland was at war with England at this time, a conflict known as the Rough Wooing. To keep the young queen safe, Mary and her household, including her governess Janet Stewart, Lady Fleming, traveled to Dumbarton Castle by the River Clyde. From there, they sailed across the sea to France.
Life in France
Jean Sinclair continued to care for Queen Mary in France. In 1553, Sinclair wrote a letter to Mary of Guise from the Château de Blois, a grand castle. She signed her letter as "Jaine Syncler, nureis to our soveraine lady" (nurse to our sovereign lady).
In her letter, Jean Sinclair was worried because she hadn't received her payments from the royal household. She hoped that Mary of Guise could help her. Sinclair proudly wrote that she came from "honest folks" and would never leave Queen Mary's service, no matter what.
Around this time, Mary's governess, Françoise de Paroy, also wrote to Mary of Guise. She mentioned that more helpers were needed for the young queen, besides just the nurse. Mary's household in France was reorganized in 1554 to make sure she had all the care she needed.
Later Life
Jean Sinclair was given lands at a place called Cornton. Her husband was John Kemp. Jean (or Janet) Sinclair passed away sometime before 1557.
