Tracing your family history? Every year, the Trust receives many hundreds of enquiries from people who believe that they are related to Sir William St Clair, founder of Rosslyn Chapel. Unfortunately, we are unable to help with tracing a family tree. The Rosslyn Chapel Trust was set up to look after the Chapel and related buildings, and to educate the public about its history and architecture. So our focus is the building rather than the family itself. One of the difficulties for us, is that there are no surviving archives here that you can consult. Rosslyn Castle was besieged during the Wars of Scottish Independence and by Oliver Cromwell’s army in 1650. A later fire in the 18th century destroyed what records remained. For that reason, the family records are very limited. Researchers may find some information in the ROSSLYN Muniments, which are held in the Scottish Records Office. That is where all the surviving family papers are held. For your own family history research, we would highly recommend This carving is believed to be of Sir William St Clair, who founded Rosslyn Chapel in 1446. the official Scottish Genealogy resource – Scotlands People. You can find many records online at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. The online records go back to 1553, which is when baptism records began. The National Records of Scotland Archives hold a wide range of materials, including estate, court and church records, some dating back to the 12th century. There is an online catalogue, and you can contact them to get information that is not shown online. Members of the Clan Sinclair have set up a number of groups that share information about the family tree. Peter Sinclair looks at the English and Irish Sinclairs, through his website www.sinclairgenealogy.info. There is a Clan Sinclair Facebook group, and that may provide useful links to other groups or websites. These groups are largely about meetings and clan gatherings, but by contacting them you might come across people who have been researching similar family The St Clair family crest incorporates the engrailed cross lines to yourself. in the upper left quadrant. 1 Tracing your family history? Useful Sources Scottish Government’s Ancestry site www.scotlandspeople.org.uk The Scottish Genealogy Society https://www.scotsgenealogy.com/ The National Society of Genealogists http://www.sog.org.uk/learn The History Press https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/genealogy/?p=1&ps=9 Old Scottish (Midlothian section) https://www.oldscottish.com/midlothian.html Midlothian Council Local Studies https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/458/local_and_family_history/391/ local_studies/3 Lothians Family History http://www.lothiansfamilyhistorysociety.co.uk/ Heraldry information for Scottish families http://www.lyon-court.org/lordlyon/CCC_FirstPage.jsp www.rosslynchapel.com 2.