William St. Clair, 6th Baron of Roslin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William St. Clair
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| Baron of Roslin | |
Sinclair, Baron of Roslin coat of arms
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| Successor | Henry St Clair |
| Died | 1297 |
| Noble family | Clan Sinclair |
| Father | Robert de Saint-Clair |
| Mother | Eleoner Dreux |
William St. Clair was an important Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 1200s. He was the 6th Baron of Roslin, a title that meant he was a powerful lord in the Kingdom of Scotland. He passed away in 1297.
Contents
Who Was William St. Clair?
Historians have different ideas about where William St. Clair came from. One old manuscript from 1690 says he was the second son of Robert de Saint-Clair from Normandy, France. This manuscript also says his mother was Eleoner, a French noblewoman.
However, more recent history books, like the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, suggest that William was the son of another William. These books also say that the people who owned the lands of Roslin before William St. Clair might not have been related to the St. Clair family at all.
William St. Clair's Jobs as Sheriff
William St. Clair held many important jobs for the King of Scotland. One of his main roles was being a sheriff. A sheriff was like a local governor or judge who helped keep law and order in a specific area, called a shire or county.
William St. Clair was sheriff in several different shires:
- He was sheriff of Haddington from 1264 to 1266.
- He was sheriff of Linlithgow in 1264 and again in 1290.
- He was sheriff of Edinburgh in 1266, and again from 1288 to 1290.
- He was also sheriff of Dumfries in 1288.
Some records say he became sheriff of Edinburgh for life in 1271, while others say it was in 1278. These records show he was a very busy and trusted person in the Scottish government.
Other Important Roles
William St. Clair had many other important jobs besides being a sheriff.
- In 1279, King Alexander III chose William to be a guardian for his grandson, Alexander, Prince of Scotland. This was a very important role, showing the king trusted him deeply.
- Around 1280, William St. Clair became connected to the lands of Roslin. It's not fully clear if his family owned Roslin before this time.
- He also gained land called Gourton from the Knights Templar, a famous group of medieval knights.
- William St. Clair was a member of the Scottish Parliament, which was a meeting of important people who helped the king make decisions. He attended a meeting at Scone in 1284.
- In 1285, he was part of a special group sent to France. Their job was to bring back Yolande of Dreux, who was going to marry the Scottish king.
- By 1290, William was also working as a justiciar of Galloway, which meant he was a chief judge in that area of Scotland.
Fighting for Scotland's Independence
William St. Clair played a part in the Wars of Scottish Independence, which were battles between Scotland and England.
- In 1291, he was asked to collect promises of loyalty (called "fealties") from people in Galloway.
- In 1292, King Edward I of England ordered him to collect loyalty promises from the Bishop of Whithorn.
- William supported John Balliol, who was trying to become the King of Scotland. He was there when Balliol promised loyalty to King Edward.
- Later, in 1296, William St. Clair fought against the English at the Battle of Dunbar. The Scots were defeated, and many, including William, were taken prisoner.
- He was sent as a prisoner to the Tower of London, a famous prison in England.
- Some historical accounts even suggest he was one of the leaders who helped defeat the English at the Battle of Roslin in 1302 or 1303.
William St. Clair's Family
William St. Clair was married to a woman named Agnes, who was the daughter of Patrick Dunbar, the Earl of March. After William died, his wife Amicia was given protection by King Edward I in 1299.
William St. Clair had several children:
- Sir Henry Sinclair: He became the next Baron of Roslin after his father.
- William Sinclair: He became a very important church leader, known as the Bishop of Dunkeld.
- Gregory Sinclair: He was the ancestor of another branch of the Sinclair family.
- Annabel Sinclair: She married two different noblemen, Robert Bisset and then Sir David Wemyss.
See also
