Donald Mackay, who died towards the close of 1550, married Helen, daughter of Alexander Sinclair of Stempster , [ In the reign of King James V., Alexander Sinclair of Stempster had a charter under the Great Seal, dated 2nd November 1529, as follows:—" Alexandro Sinclair de Stamster et Elizabeth Innis, suae sponsae, terrarum de Dunbeath, Rae, et Sandside, in Baronian Dunbeth." Reg. Mag. Siff. and Blk. MS.] second son of William, Earl of Caithness.
Soon after Mackay obtained legal entry of his lands, he resigned a part of them to the Crown in order to secure for his wife a life-rent interest in the said part, viz., the lands of Balnaheglais and Golval, the lands of Straye, Armadale, Renowy, Melnes, Dirlot, Cattock, Broynoch, the water of Farr from the big ford to the sea, the water of Halladale from Bighouse to the sea, the water of Straye, the water of Hope from the loch to the sea. His wife, Helen, obtained a life-rent charter of these lands, dated 22nd February, 1545, which we give in our Appendix. The issue of this marriage was one son and two daughters :
* i. lye Du Mackay, who succeeded, and of whom an account follows.
* ii. A daughter, who married John, 4th Aberach Mackay chieftain, and had issue as given in our Genealogical Account of the Aberach Mackays.
* ii. Florence, who married Neil Macleod of Assynt and had issue, as see Douglas' Baronage, p. 392, as also the Blk. MS.
Pg. 93 THE BOOK OF MACKAY BY ANGUS MACKAY, M.A. (St. Andrews University) Minister at Westerdale, Caithness EDINBURGH : NORMAN MACLEOD, -25 GEORGE IV. BRIDGE CANADA : EDWARD MACKAY, ST. PETER'S MANSE, MADOC, ONT. M DCCCC VI
