"Earldom" on Nicholas (1st Laird of Duffus)

Nicholas was the second son of Kenneth, 4th Earl of Sutherland. Nicholas' brother William became the 5th Earl of Sutherland. Nicholas married Mary Cheyne, bringing Duffus castle back into Sutherland hands, and became the 1st Laird of Duffus. He was born in 1314 and died sometime after the murder of Aodh Mackay and his son Donald Mackay in about 1372.

"The same yeir of God 1360, this William Erle of Southerland gave unto his brother-germane, Nicolas Sutherland, the barony of Thoroboll and Pronsie, to be halden to the Earles of Southerland in warde and relieff, as it is at this day. This charter was granted by Erle William, at Aberden, the thirteinth day of September this yeir of God 1360. From this Nicolas Southerland the hous and familie of Duffus is descended, who doth at this day possesse the lands in the cuntrey of Southerland, and reteyneth yet the surname of Southerland. This Nicolas mareid one of the daughters of Reynold Chein, wherby he became Laird of Duffus." (p. 52)

"The yeir of God one thowsand thrie hundred thriescore-and-four, the disposition of the lands of Thoroboll and Pronsie (maid by this Earle William to his brother Nicolas) wes confirmed by King David, by his charter of confirmation, dated at Edinburgh the seaventeinth day of October, the thertie-fourth yeir of King David's raigne, and of God one thowsand thrie hundred thriescore-and-four." (p. 52)

Nicholas marries the daughter of Reginald Cheyne:
"In this William Erle of Southerland his dayes, lived Renold Cheyn, a Catteynes man, who, dureing his tyme, wes a great commander in that cuntree; of whom many fables are reported amongst the vulgar sort of people, and cheiflie concerning his hunting, wherein he much delighted. Doubtles the Cheins had sometymes many possessions, and were once of greatest command and power in that cuntrey; yet they were never earles therof. All the lands apperteyning to this Reynold Cheyn were divyded among his daughters, which wes confirmed unto them by King David Bruce his charter of confirmation. One of Renold Cheyn his daughters wes mareid to Nicolas Southerland, (this Earle William his brother) with whom Nicholas had the Cheines third of the lands of Catteynes, and the third of the lands of Duffus, in Morray, wherby he became laird of Duffus, which his posteritie doth enjoy at this day. Bot the thirds of Catteynes were given by ane accord and aggriement with a daughter from the Southerlands to the Oliphant, who manie yeirs afterwards did sell and alienat these lands to the Sinclars." (p. 54)

On Henry and Alexander, and the Barony of Thoroboll:

"About this tyme the Scottsmen invaded Ingland agane with fyre and suord, wasting all befor them, evin to Pontefract castell, in Yorkshire; wher Robert Erle of Southerland behaved himselff valiantlie. In this journey, Nicolas Southerland did resigne, at Pontefract castle, into the hands of his superior, (Erle Robert) the baronie of Thoroboll, in favors of his sone Henrie Southerland." (p. 61)

"The tuelft day of Julie, the yeir of God one thowsand four hundred and fourtie and four, Jone Earle of Southelrand (immediate superior) entered Alexander Southerland unto the lands of the barony of Thoroboll, upon the presenting of a resignation, which had been formerlie made by Nicolas Southerland, of the saids lands, in favors of his sone Henry, (the father of the said Alexander), into the hands of Robert Earle of Southerland, at Pontfract castell in Yorkshire in England, as is set donn at lairge in the said precept of clare constat." (p. 70)