History Of Caithness
J T Calder
Contents

Chapter Two
The Original Inhabitants of the County
Standing Stones In Latheron
Subdued by Sigurd, the Norwegian Earl of Orkney
Battle of Clontarf
Death of the Earl of Orkney and Caithness
Remerkable Prodigy
Legend of the Piper of the Windy Ha
Thorfin, the celebrated Viking

Chapter Three
Cruel Death of the Norwegian Governor at Duncansbay
Tale of the "Poisoned shirt"
Sweyn, the famous Freswick Pirate
Siege of Bucholie Castle
Escape and Adventures of Sweyn
Earl Ronald , Founder of the Cathedral of Kirkwall, murdered at North Calder in the parish of Halkirk

Chapter Four
Battle on the Hill of Clairdon
Barbarous usage of the Bishop at Scraster by Wicked Earl Harold
William the Lion comes to Caithness to punish Earl Harold
Adam, the Bishop of Caithness, burnt to death in his own Palace at Halkirk
Alexander II. hastens from Jedburgh, enters the County, and executes nearly the whole of those that were implicated in the burning of the Bishop
Adam succeeded by the celebrated Bishop Gilbert Murray
Haco, King of Norway, on his way to Largs, levies an impost on the natives of Caithness

Chapter Five
Reginald Cheyne
Tradition respecting him and his two Daughters
The Keiths of Ackergill
Ackergill Tower
The ancestor of the Gunns settles in Caithness
Story of Helen Gunn the "Beauty of Braemore"
Battle of Harpsdale
Battle between the Keiths and Gunns at Tannach
Treachery of the Keiths at the chapel of St Tayre
Revenge of the Gunns

Chapter Six
The rule of the Norwegian Earls in Caithness terminates
The Sinclairs of Roslin
William Sinclair, the Chancellor, invested with the Earldom of Caithness
His son, William, second Earl of Caithness killed at Flodden
Tradition respecting what is termed the "Drum Head charter"
John, Earl of Caithness invades Orkney
Battle of Summerdale
Earl and all his men slain
Curious Orkney tradition
Sutherland of Duffus assassinated in Thurso

Chapter Seven
George Sinclair, fourth Earl - Banishes William and Angus Gunn of Berriedale, and siezes their Castle
The Earl of Sutherland and his Lady poisoned at Helmsdale
The Earl of Caithness becomes Curator of Alexander, Earl of Sutherland , then a minor
Alexander marries his Lordship's daughter - Flies afterwards to Strathbogie
Siege of Dornoch by the Master of Caithness and Mackay of Strathnaver
The Sutherland hostage cruelly put to death
Master of Caithness imprisoned and starved to death at Girnigoe
George, Earl of Caithness dies at Edinburgh
His Character

Chapter Eight
George, the fifth Earl of Caithness, kills with his own hand Ingram and David Sinclair, the keepers of his late father.
Series of Fights and Raids between him and the Earl of Sutherland
Town of Wick burnt
Battle of Clyne
Story of Arthur smith, the Coiner
Desperate Skirmish in Thurso between the Sutherland Commissioners and the friends of the Earl of Caithness, in which John Sinclair of Stirkoke is slain.
Criminal Process instituted by both parties
Melee in the high Street of Edinburgh

Chapter Nine
Tragical disaster which befell Colonel George Sinclair in Norway
The Earl of Caithness employed by Government to quell a species of Rebellion got up by Patrick, Earl of Orkney, and his natural son, Robert
Takes the diffrent posts occupied by the Insurgents and sends the prisoners to Edinburgh
Two serious charges, the one of Incendiarism and the other of being accessory to the slaughter of Thomas Lindsay, brought against the Earl
He is outlawed and denounced as a Rebel - Escapes to Orkney
Sir Robert Gordon, who is commissioned to apprehend him, has the keys to Castle Sinclair, etc delivered up to him
Lord Berriedale (son of William, Lord Berriedale) takes the National Covenant
Sir James Sinclair of Murkle raises a body of Caithnessmen and joins the covenanters
Mowat, the Laird of Freswick, espouses the Royal cause, and joins Montrose
Death of the old Earl
Affair between Macalister, the Freebooter and the inhabitants of Thurso

Chapter Ten
George, sixth Earl of Caithness, not distinguished by any remarkable qualities
Landing of Montrose in Caithness
He takes up his headquarters in Thurso
Compels the Heritors and Ministers to sign a bond of allegiance, which they all do except the Minister of Bower
Is joined by Sinclair of Brims, Hugh Mackay of Dirlet, and Hutcheon Mackay of Scoury
Lays siege to the Castle of Dunbeath, which soon surrenders
Is defeated on the confines of Ross-shire, apprehended by MacLeod of Assynt, sent to Edinburgh, and executed
Castle of Dunbeath retaken
Henry Graham, the brother of Montrose, makes his escape to Orkney
Cromwell plants a garrison in Ackergill Tower
Curious Extracts from the Session Records of Canisbay regarding some of his troops that were stationed there
Raids in Caithness by the Mackays of Strathnaver
Severe reprisal by the Laird of Dunbeath
The Earl of Caithness a supporter of the Government in suppressing Conventicles
Appears before the Presbytery in that capacity
His Death

Chapter Eleven
The late Earl before his death, sells property and title to John Campbell of Glenorchy
Glenorchy marries the countess dowager
George Sinclair of Keiss disputes the title
Battle of Altimarlach
The Sinclairs los the day
Anecdote of Gelnorchy's piper
Glenorchy hated by the inhabitants of Caithness
His estate in the county divided into several portions and sold

Chapter Twelve
John Sinclair of Murkle succeeds to the Earldom
Duel between Sinclair of Olrig and Innes of Sandside
Lord MacLeod, son of the Earl of Cromarty, enters the county with a party of Rebels for the purpose of procuring men.
Headquarters in Thurso
Several of the Proprietors in the county keen Jacobites
Alexander, now Earl of Caithness and George Sinclair of Ulbster, staunch supporters of the Hanovarian dynasty
Lord MacLeod having only got a few men to join him leaves the county
Achgillan and his band of robbers
Plot to murder and rob the Laird of Freswick
Story of Marshall, the Robber of Backlas
French Revolution and Rebellion in Ireland
The Caithness Fencibles

Chapter Thirteen
Prelature of Caithness
Bishop's Lands
Tradition regarding the Lews Chieftain and the Bishop's Daughter
Caithness intensely Popish before the Reformation
Dr Richard Merchiston of Bower, long after the reformation, falls martyr to his zeal against Popery
State of Education in Caithness
Edinburgh Caithness Association

Chapter Fourteen
Memoirs of Distinguished Caithness Clergymen
Different Religious Persuasions in the County
Anecdote of Sir William Sinclair of Keiss

Chapter Fifteen
Memoirs of Distinguished Laymen of the County
Sir John Sinclair
James Traill
James Bremner
John Finlaison
Richard Oswals and the Oswald Family

Appendix
Ancient State of Husbandry

Appendix
Handicrafts etc in Caithness
Memoranda connected to Public Roads in the county of Caithness
Superstition In Caithness
The Dwelling-Houses , Dress, Etc In Caithness
Extracts from Old Inventories of the Titles of the estate of Malcolm Groat or Warse
Valuation of the County in 1760 and 1798
Earls of Caithness of the Sinclair Family after separate Earldom
Armorial Bearings of the Earls of Caithness
The Earls Of Caithness Of The Sinclair Family
Pedigree of the Mey Family

Still to be added............
Pedigree of John Sinclair. Esq. of Barrock
Letter of Mr Sinclair of Forss to the Author
Pedigree of the Forss family
Testament of Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath, in Caithness
Mutiny of the High School boys
Young Sinclair of Mey

Postscript
Colonel George Sinclair
Caithness Proprietors and Wadsetters 1668
Liberties of the town of Thurso
The Caithness Fencibles
Lord Caithness's Steam Carriage
The Battle of Altimarlach
Gleanings from Douglas Peerage of Scotland, and other sources

Notes To Second Edition by T Sinclair M. A.
The Rev.Timothy Pont, M. A., Minister of Dunnet, and the Boundary of Caithness
Road Money under the Old System
Holborn Head
Mermaid Stories
Origin of the Groat Family
Gow the Pirate
Distinguished Caithness Students
Wick in 1608
First House in Pulteneytown
The Sinclairs of Lybster
Rev. Charles Cordiner and Oldwick Castle
Thurso Parish Register
Miller Institution
Bridge of Thurso
Mysterious Stories
Rent in Caithness in 1702
Evictions in 1810
Payment of M.P.'s in Scottish Parliament
Tumuli of Caithness
Treat of St clair
Standing Stones
The Swansons
The Gunns
The "Drumhead" charter
Earl John of Caithness
George, Fourth Earl of Caithness
Feuds between Caithness and Sutherland
The MacIvers and Gunns
Colonel George Sinclair's expedition to Norway
Burning of Sandside's Cornyard
Montrose's Invasion of Caithness
The Ulbster sinclairs
Contest for the Earldom of Caithness
The Tongside Duel
The Stevenson Family
The Ratter Family
An Ancient Legal Document

Miscellaneous
Early Notice of Caithness
Sketch of the Hill of Wick Case
Price of Farm Produce from 1750 - 1810
Livings of Caithness clergy
Copy of Wick charter
The "Swelchie" of Stroma
Castles Sinclair, Girnigoe and Mey
Dr Morrison, Canisbay
Archdeacon Barbour
an Old wick charter
John O'Groat's House
Late Botanical Finds
Distinguished Visitors
Members of Parliament since 1790
Provosts of Wick since 1790
Caithness Volunteers
Industrial and Arts Exhibitions
Caithness Association
Ornithology of the County

Caithness in 1887
The Telegraph
The Railway
Harbour Extension
Harbour Trust
Burgh Extension
Water Supply
Herring fishing
Manufactures
Local Taxation
New Buildings in Wick and Thurso
The New Cemetery
Education
Life Saving Appliances
Social Influences
Area, Rental and Population of Caithness
Agriculture
Fiar's Prices
County and Burgh Roads, etc.