William Sutherland, 10th of Duffus facts for kids
William Sutherland, 10th of Duffus (who passed away in 1626), was an important member of the Scottish nobility. He belonged to a branch of the powerful Clan Sutherland family.
Contents
About William Sutherland, 10th of Duffus
His Early Life
William Sutherland was the son of William Sutherland, 9th of Duffus. His mother was Margaret, who was the daughter of George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness. We don't know exactly when she died. His father later married another woman, also named Margaret, who was the daughter of William Mackintosh.
Becoming the Laird of Duffus
William Sutherland, 10th of Duffus, officially took over his father's lands on April 30, 1616. These lands included the barony of Skelbo, located in the earldom of Sutherland. From this time on, he often had disagreements with his neighbors.
One of his first disputes was with Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet. William Sutherland also had strong opinions about the tithes from the lands of Proncy. Tithes were like a tax, often a part of the harvest, paid to the church or a lord. He tried to stop these payments from going to the young Earl of Sutherland. He even took the Teind-Sheaves (bundles of grain from the harvest) to his own barns. However, the Sheriff of Sutherland made him give them back.
The problem with the tithes went to the Court of Session, which was a high court. The court decided against William Sutherland. But he agreed to discuss other disagreements through a process called arbitration. This meeting was set for October 1617 in Elgin, Moray.
In 1621, he got into another serious argument, this time with John Gordon from Embo. William Sutherland was the first to use violence, attacking Gordon and causing a small injury. This started a long-running feud, or serious quarrel, between the two families. The feud became very intense in 1625. Both sides went to court but refused to make peace. Then, William Sutherland, 10th of Duffus, suddenly died in October 1626. After his death, the two families finally made up.
His Family Life
William Sutherland married Jean Grant on September 19, 1612. She was the daughter of John Grant of Freuchie. Jean survived him and later married Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscarden.
William Sutherland, 10th of Duffus, and Jean Grant had several children:
- Alexander Sutherland, 1st Lord Duffus, who inherited his father's titles and lands.
- William Sutherland, who was mentioned in his brother Lord Duffus's will in 1674. William had a son named James Sutherland, who also had a son named James Sutherland. This second James had a son named Lieutenant Hugh Sutherland.
- John Sutherland, who was named as his brother's representative for the county of Elgin in 1649. He married Isabella, the oldest daughter of David Ross of Balnagowan, but they did not have any children. His brother William inherited his lands.
- Anna Sutherland, who married Patrick Grant. Patrick was the brother of James Grant of Freuchie.
See also
- Lord Duffus
