Subj: Date: 05/08/99 To: <A HREF="mailto:glaird@mozart.inet.co.th">glaird@mozart.inet.co.th</A> Graeme On re-reading your message and looking at the database for the Family Association, I realise you know about the Renfrewshire IGI! The records in Caithness go back further, partly due to the thoroughness of the Kirk in keeping records, the source of the IGI. I don't know if this points to Caithness as a point of origin for all Lairds, but it will work for many. Only noble families can trace their records back further, as their resources and the need to establish inheritance made it important. The Sinclair Chiefs can therefore point back towards Rognvald the Mighty, Jarl of More and Romsdal in 900 or so as their origin, but before that no-one seems to know where anyone was! I hope this helps. Yours aye Iain