Murkle

The name Murkle derives from the name Morthill, meaning Field of Death, so called because it was the site of a battle with the Danes in the early medieval period.{{cite book|last1=Groome|first1=Francis H.|title=Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography|date=1885|location=Edinburgh|page=3:84|url=https://archive.org/stream/ordnancegazettee03ingroo#page/n93/mode/2up|accessdate=9 April 2017}}

Members of Clan Sinclair associated with Murkle are as follows:{{cite book|last1=Henderson|first1=John|title=Caithness Family History|date=1884|publisher=David Douglas|location=Edinburgh|pages=[https://archive.org/details/caithnessfamily00hgoog/page/n62 24]–30|url=https://archive.org/details/caithnessfamily00hgoog|quote=murkle.|accessdate=9 April 2017}}

• James Sinclair (1567–1642), 1st of Murkle, who was the second son of John, Master of Caithness, and grandson of George, 4th Earl of Caithness. He married Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of Robert Stewart (b. 1533), Earl of Strathearn and Orkney, a natural son of King James V. He was followed by his son:
• Sir James Sinclair (d. 1662), 2nd of Murkle. He was followed by his son:
• John Sinclair (d. 1705), 3rd of Murkle, who succeeded as 8th Earl of Caithness in 1698. He was followed by his son:
• Alexander Sinclair (d. 1765), 9th Earl of Caithness, upon whose death the earldom of Caithness became a matter of controversy and passed from the Sinclairs of Murkle.

The original estate of Murkle, as possessed by James Sinclair, his wife Elizabeth Stewart, and their son, Sir James, was acquired at various times between 1586 and 1637, from four main sources: George, fifth Earl of Caithness; his son William, Lord Berriedale; the Bishops of Orkney and Caithness; and the Earls of Sutherland. The estate held by Sir James Sinclair consisted of Murkle (East and West) and Clairdon; one half of Ormlie, Thurdistoft, Acharascal, and Carnabiud, Lybster, and Borrowstone, all held of the Earl of Caithness; one half of Ormlie, held of the Bishop of Caithness; Pownreay, held of the Bishop of Orkney; and Broynach, held of the Earl of Sutherland. In the eighteenth century, the family also acquired Isauld (1723) and Brubster and Brims (1726–27).{{cite book|last1=Henderson|first1=John|title=Caithness Family History|publisher=D. Douglas|date=1884|location=Edinburgh|pages=[https://archive.org/details/caithnessfamily01hgoog/page/n64 24]–25|url=https://archive.org/details/caithnessfamily01hgoog|quote=I. James Sinclair, First of Murkle, was the second son of John, Master of Caithness, and grandson of George, fourth Earl of Caithness. He is frequently, but erroneously styled Sir James;.|accessdate=29 Aug 2017}}

It is said that a mermaid once fell in love with a local fisherman, who to this day holds him captive in a nearby loch.{{cite web |title=The jealous mermaid |url=http://www.holeinmypocket.com/blog/03%20Projects/stories/text5.htm |publisher=Hole in My Pocket |accessdate=29 July 2014 }}

It is also said in the 9th chapter of the Orkneyinga saga that "Ragnhilda, king Eric's daughter" had a husband called Arnfinn, the fifth son of Thorfinn the Earl. Arnfinn died at Murkle in Caithness leaving Ragnhilda a widow.{{cite web|title=Orkneyingers Saga|url=http://oaks.nvg.org/an6ra16.html|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091011231812/http://oaks.nvg.org/an6ra16.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2009|accessdate=30 March 2015}}

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Category:Populated places in Caithness

Category:Orkneyinga saga places

{{Caithness-geo-stub}}