Genealogie of the Sainteclaires of Rosslyn

ii INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.
" Genealogie of the Hayes of Tweeddale," * to which work the
reader is referred. His mother, Jean Spotfwood, having, upon
the death of her firft hufband, George Hay, youngeft fon of Sir
George Hay, Lord Regifter, married James Saintclair of Rofslyn,
this conne&ion naturally afforded the fon-in-law accefs to the
muniments in the Rofslyn char ter-ch eft, and from thefe writings
he was enabled principally to compile this genealogy of the fa-
mily. It is to be regretted that the reverend gentleman was
fo carelefs in making his tranfcripts, as, in many inftances, va-
rious evident miftakes have crept in, which the abfence of
the original documents renders it fometimes difficult to cor-
rect. Fortunately thefe inaccuracies, generally fpeaking, are
of no very great moment ; and it will be always remembered
that Father Hay was no more faulty than the other Scotch an-
tiquaries and genealogifts of the period, who attached no im-
portance to that extreme accuracy which, in modern times, is fo
properly deemed effential to the tranfcription and publication
of ancient writings. Much, therefore, as we may defiderate
the too frequent occurrence of error, we muft be thankful that
copies of deeds of fuch value were taken, as no traces of the
original charters and other papers can now be found.
The male reprefentation of the family of Rofslyn terminated
in William Saintclair, who married Cordelia, daughter of Sir
George Wifhart of Cliftonhall, by whom he had three fons and
five daughters, who all died young, except his daughter Sarah. f
He died upon the 4th January 1778.
* Edinburgh, 1 835, 4to. t Douglas' Baronage, p. 249.