SINCLAIR, FRANCIS (1797-1846) was the son of George Sinclair, of Prestonpans, Scotland (belonging to a Caithness branch). His father was a master mariner, and Francis shared some of his experiences in the French war. In 1824 he married Elizabeth McHutcheson. For some years he was a supervisor of the inland revenue at Stirling, and as the family increased he decided to emigrate. In 1840 he sailed with his wife and children in the Blenheim, arriving at Port Nicholson in Feb 1841. The land they had bought not being yet available, they took employment where it offered for a year or two. At the suggestion of Colonel Wakefield Sinclair visited Wanganui, taking his family in a whale boat and landing each night to sleep ashore.

Disappointed there, they leased a section from Fitzherbert at Richmond, on the Hutt river, and built the schooner Richmond, 45 tons. After visiting Taranaki they called at Nelson, Banks Peninsula, Waikouaiti and Otago. In 1843 Sinclair took the Deans family to Canterbury and his own family and the Hays to Banks Peninsula. Selling the Richmond to W. B. Rhodes for 30 cattle, they settled at Pigeon Bay, where they worked hard to establish themselves on their farm (Craigforth), milking cows and making butter and cheese for the Wellington market. Selwyn, Grey and Godley enjoyed the hospitality of their home, and admired their industry and courage. The Sinclairs built several schooners, and had one trading between Banks Peninsula and Wellington. In 1845 Sinclair and his son George sailed for Wellington with their farm produce in a new schooner, the Jessie Millar, which was lost at sea with all hands.

The eldest daughter, Jean Robertson, married Captain Thomas Gay; and the second, Helen McHutcheson, married C. B. Robinson (q.v.). A few years later Mrs Sinclair decided to look for a more promising country to settle her family. With this object they embarked in the Bessie, commanded by Gay, and visited several Pacific islands. In 1863 they spent a few months in Vancouver Island, but finding the climate too severe, they returned to Hawaii and eventually bought from Kamehameha IV the island of Niihau, containing about 70,000 acres. There they settled (Oct 1863). Some time later they purchased a similar area on Kauai, where Mrs Sinclair established her home and resided till her death in 1893. The family successfully developed their estate as a sheep and cattle station, and later as a cattle ranch and sugar plantation. (See C. B. ROBINSON, FRANCIS SINCLAIR)

Family information from Aylmer F. Robinson, W. McHutcheson, Eric Knudsen and H. C. Tennent; Cant. O.N.; Godley, Letters; Guthrie Hay; J. Hay; Deans; Woodhouse; Isabella Bishop, Hawaiian Archipelago, 1875.

Reference: Volume 2, page 155

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