SINCLAIR, DAVID [SSNE 5380]
Text source
David Sinclair worked for the Danish-Norwegian Crown as the fogd, or bailiff, in Buskerud, Modum and Sigdal from about 1652. Sinclair soon became involved in disagreements with the locals and by 9 October that year Frederik III asked Nils Trolle to sort out the disagreement between Sinclair and Michael Clausson of Kolsrud. In July 1662, 24 citizens of Bragernes made a request to the king regarding trade with farmers and others outside their area especially with reference to corn and wood, and in association with some burgesses. They referred to their permission to trade, dated 5 November 1660, but pointed out to the king that since David Sinclair had control, their permission was useless. They therefore frequently requested full city privilages so they could have the right to trade freely. Despite ongoing conflicts with some of the citizens, Sinclair requested permission to settle and retire in Bragernes in July 1664, which he was granted due to his 12 years service in the post. As a perk he was told he could avoid some of the towns taxes, but still had to pay tolls on his goods. This move came after one of the king's farms, Haug, was transferred from Sinclair to Ove Skade. The farm had cost Sinclair 165 daler, but cost Skade 200 daler. Although Sinclair had left his post as bailiff in 1664, three years later he could still be found engaged in the king's service. On the 26 June 1667 Sinclair was approached by the king to help the lawman Peder Lauritsen in Tonsberg. Lauritsen had been instructed in January 1665 to organise the 'matrikkelkommisjon' or legal register for the Tonsberg area, but was unable to complete it. The king asked that, due to his 12-13 years of service in the area, Sinclair should take over Eiker, Modum and Sigdal in his old capacity as bailiff. Sinclair also carried on his own business and in July 1667 he was involved in a dispute with a burgess, Jorgen Philipsen, in Christiania. Mention was made of another dispute between the same men in march 1675 over two parts of a farm in Modum, and this probably was a continuation from the earlier reference. Sinclair also got involved with some of the farmers in Bragernes in December 1681. It is not yet clear exactley when Sinclair died, but his wife, Maren Andersdatter, was mentioned in records in 1686 as being a widow. Maren also found herself fighting claims for monies owed to Paul Eggers by Maren and their son Andreas Sinclair in June 1690 and she was still alive in 1693. David and Maren also had a daughter, Elisabeth Davidsdatter Sinchlar [SSNE 6841].
Sources: E. A. Thomle (ed.), Norske Rigsregistranter, vol. XI (Christiania, 1890), p.654; R. Fladby (ed.), Norske Kongebrev (6 vols., Oslo, 1962), I, pp.72-73, 85, 135, 247, 251; II, p.180; III, p.31; IV, p.49; V, p.44; V. Eriksen and R. Fladby (eds.), Norske Supplikker 1660-1662 (2 vols., Oslo, 1990), I, p.154.
Service record
- DENMARK-NORWAY, BRAGERNES, EIKER LEN, MODUM, NORWAY
- Arrived 1652-01-01
- Departed 1685-12-31
- Capacity FOGD, BAILIFF, purpose CIVIC ADMINISTRATION, ROYAL SERVANT