Nicholas Sutherland, 1st of Duffus facts for kids

A charter (a formal document) from William, Earl of Sutherland, to his brother Nicholas, about the land of Torboll in 1360.

A charter from David II of Scotland in 1362, confirming the land grant to Nicholas Sutherland.

The Coat of Arms of Henry Sutherland of Torboll, Nicholas's younger son.

Nicholas Sutherland, 1st of Duffus was an important Scottish noble. He lived in the 1300s and 1400s. His home was Duffus Castle, a strong castle near Elgin in Scotland.

Nicholas Sutherland's Story

Nicholas Sutherland was the second son of Kenneth de Moravia, 4th Earl of Sutherland. Kenneth was the leader, or chief, of Clan Sutherland, a powerful Scottish family.

Nicholas married a woman named Mary. She was the daughter of Reginald le Chen (died 1345). Through this marriage, the important land of Duffus came back to Nicholas's family. His family, the de Moravia line, had owned it before. At this time, the Earls of Sutherland still used the surname de Moravia.

Land and Charters

Nicholas's brother, William de Moravia, 5th Earl of Sutherland, gave him a special document called a charter. This charter, dated September 13, 1360, gave Nicholas the land of Torboll.

Later, David II of Scotland, who was the King of Scotland, also confirmed this land grant. King David II issued his own charter to Nicholas on October 17, 1362. These documents showed that Nicholas legally owned these lands.

A Difficult Time

In 1370, Nicholas Sutherland of Duffus was involved in a serious conflict. This dispute took place at Dingwall Castle. It involved the leaders of Clan Mackay, Iye Mackay and his son Donald Mackay. Sadly, this conflict led to their deaths.

By 1408, Nicholas Sutherland was officially known as the Lord of the Castle of Duffus.

Nicholas Sutherland's Family

Nicholas Sutherland and his wife Mary had two sons:

• John Sutherland, 2nd of Duffus: He was the elder son and took over the Duffus lands after his father. He lived from about 1408 to 1427.
• Henry Sutherland of Torboll: He received the lands of Torboll. His uncle, Robert Sutherland, 6th Earl of Sutherland, gave him these lands after Nicholas gave them up. Henry married Margaret Mureff or Moray. Their son, Alexander Sutherland, 3rd of Duffus, later inherited both Torboll from his father and Duffus from his uncle.

See also

• Lord Duffus