Back in the 18thc large areas of land were held under leases from clan chieftains. These land holders were known as tacksmen and were powerful figures in their local areas. One such tacksman, for the area of Isauld, Reay, near Thurso in the far north of Scotland, Wiliam Sinclair, son of Donald “The Sailor”, owner and captain of “The Rose of Scarlet” was notoriously selfish and disliked by the populace of the region, and it is this man that is the focus of our story today.

William Sinclair, like his father Donald, profited greatly from the trade of grain, particularly oats. In the year of 1760 the crops failed and there was a shortage of grain. Many farmers barely had enough to support themselves and their neighbours, never mind to export for profit, but this did not stop William and Donald entering a contract (now at a greatly inflated price due to the shortages) with the government to provide oatmeal for the soldiers at Fort George.

William in particular was well aware of the famine that would beset the region should he fulfil the contract, but blinded by the promise of riches, he began loading his father’s ship at Port Isauld, gradually stripping the region of the oats it depended on for survival.

The people of Reay and Strathnaver had long been skeptical of William given his unscrupulous approach to his role as tacksman, profiting off the hard work of the local farmers regardless of the impact it may have on the local community, but now with the threat of famine looming large over the region that scepticism had turned to thinly veiled hatred.

Although the locals knew a great deal of suffering was likely in store for them, they did not believe this should infringe on their usual Autumn festivities, and so the Autumn Market went ahead in Reay. Being the local tacksman the people of Reay and Strathnaver knew that William would attend along with his father, for the purposes of buying up the corn harvest, and it was clear from the looks on the faces of the Stathnaver men when they set their eyes on William that they were there for more just buying and selling.

As the day drew on and people naturally began to congregate around the inn, competitions of strength ensued. First up was the shot put, consisting of throwing a large stone as far as possible. The Strathnaver men, being renowned for their strength, were putting all others to shame, that was until the tacksman William thought he may try his hand at it, and much to the discontent of the onlookers, proved himself to be an almighty force. In one shot William put the stone a foot further than the best of all the other men. This action, however, did not endear him to the community, rather it riled then more. Not only did this man think he was smarter, more important than them, he also needed to prove he was stronger – flaunt his power and status in front of those who may well starve due to his actions.

The next event was then selected, lifting the old cannon, washed ashore on a wreckage many years ago, and placing the cannon on a 5 foot tall wall. The Strathnaver men all tried it in turn but ultimately fell short of making it onto the wall. William, who had long since gone back to drinking, and dealing business in the inn, was then called out by the Caithness men. William, having already demonstrated his strength did so again, with ease lifting the cannon up onto the wall, receiving an applause from some of the Reay men and wealthier farmers, but the same seething look from the Strathnaver men as he had earlier.

It was as William turned to gloat about the ease at which he lifted the cannon, remarking they may need to hunt out something heavier for the next year, that the Strathnaver men began to heckle and curse him. As it grew louder, one particularly incensed Strathnaver man cast out a challenge to William. William being a man of status, bound by honour and having already displayed himself to be the strongest among the men readily accepted the challenge. Seconds were sought and soon the fight was under way. This was no genteel duel with pistols fired at 12 paces, no, each man wash given a cudgel to attempt to bash the others brains out. After a few rounds, William, as expected came out the winner, knocking out his opponent. Blood poured from an open wound and the heft of the final blow was thought to have broken the man’s skull. The clansmen knew a fatal blow when the saw one and so incensed by this action that the men of Strathnaver, joined by some of those from Reay took up arms and rallied around William bent on killing him. Fortunately for William, his horse close at hand was swift and aided in his escape. He galloped at full pelt away from the mob towards Isauld house, made some noise outside the house to let his men know he was safe before birling around and heading at break neck pace towards Port Isauld where he boarded his father’s ship, reaching safety therein.

The Strathnaver man, as expected, died shortly after the duel, and William, fearing for his life never returned to Isauld but instead sub let the farm to the MacPhersons.

It was said by the MacPhersons that for many years on the anniversary of that fateful day a wraith of a man on a white pony was seen racing along that same route as had been taken by William. The wraith’s journey was apparently put to an end by a godly man who in seeking to put the wraith to rest, on the evening of the anniversary of these events drew a circle in the sand near the point where the wraith would cross Isauld burn on the way to Isauld house. The wraith, when journeying along its yearly route, when reaching the shore of the burn, became stuck fast within the circle drawn. The godly man then spoke to the wraith and while what is said is not known, the wraith was never seen again.

Adapted from Folklore Gleanings and Character Sketches From the Far North by Reverend George Sutherland