The Sutherlands of Kilphedder (Killipheder) were a minor noble Scottish family and a branch of the ancient

Clan Sutherland Clan Sutherland also known as House of Sutherland is a Highland Scottish clan whose traditional territory is the shire of Sutherland in the far north of Scotland. The chief of the clan was also the powerful Earl of Sutherland; however, in the ear ...

, a Highland

Scottish clan A Scottish clan (from Scottish Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared heritage and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure r ...

. They were seated at Killipheder, in the county of

Sutherland Sutherland () is a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland. The name dates from the Scandinavian Scotland, Viking era when t ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

History

Alexander Sutherland, 1st of Killipheder was a younger son of John Sutherland, 8th Earl of Sutherland, (chief of

). Alexander Sutherland's legitimacy has been questioned and 17th-century historian,

Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun (14 May 1580 – 1656) was a Scottish politician and courtier, known as the historian of the noble house of Sutherland. Early life Born at Dunrobin Castle, Golspie, Sutherland, on 14 May 1580, he was the fourt ...

, stated that Alexander was definitely illegitimate.

Dispute to the Earldom of Sutherland (16th-century)

John Sutherland, 8th Earl of Sutherland was succeeded firstly by his eldest son,

John Sutherland, 9th Earl of Sutherland John Sutherland, (died 1514) was the 9th Earl of Sutherland and chief of the Clan Sutherland, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Early life He was the son of John Sutherland, 8th Earl of Sutherland. According to 19th-century historian ...

who died without an heir in 1514. Before his death, the 9th Earl of Sutherland had already declared that his sister Elizabeth Sutherland and her husband Adam Gordon (younger son of George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly, chief of

Clan Gordon Clan Gordon is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the most powerful Scottish clans. The Gordon lands once spanned a large territory across the Highlands. Presently, Gordon is seated at Aboyne Castle, Aberdeenshire ...

), as well as their children, were his nearest heirs. In 1517 the

Battle of Torran Dubh The Battle of Torran Dubh also known as the Battle of Torran-dow or the Battle of Torran Du was a Scottish clan battle that was fought in 1517 in Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands. There are two very different accounts of this battle. The fi ...

took place in which it is claimed, by Sir Robert Gordon, that Elizabeth persuaded her younger brother Alexander Sutherland (1st of Killipheder) to lead the Clan Sutherland against the

Clan Mackay Clan Mackay ( ; ) is an ancient and once-powerful Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan from the far north of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old Mormaer of Moray, Kingdom of Moray. They supported Robert I of Scotland, Rober ...

whom they defeated. However, the historical accuracy of this story has been questioned by historian

William Fraser William Fraser may refer to: Military people *William W. Fraser (1844–1915), American Civil War soldier and Medal of Honor recipient *William Archibald Kenneth Fraser (1886–1969), British army officer *William Fraser (British Army officer) ( ...

who stated that Alexander Sutherland was in prison for the whole year of 1517 when the battle is said to have taken place. Some time after this Alexander Sutherland, 1st of Killipheder married a sister of John Mackay, the chief of the clan he had allegedly fought against at Torran Dubh. Mackay then apparently ''tampered'' with Alexander Sutherland to claim the Earldom of Sutherland for himself, which he did, rebelling against his sister Elizabeth and her husband Adam Gordon. Alexander Sutherland, 1st of Killipheder was killed in the resulting

Battle of Alltachuilain The Battle of Alltachuilain (or Ald-Quhillin was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1518 or 1519 in the parish of Loth, county of Sutherland, Scotland. It was fought between factions of the Clan Sutherland in a dispute over the Earldom o ...

in 1518 and the Earldom of Sutherland remained with the descendants of his sister Elizabeth and her husband Adam Gordon. In 1550 or 1551, Alexander Sutherland's son, John Sutherland, made an attempt on

Dunrobin Castle Dunrobin Castle is a stately home in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland, that serves as the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland, Chief of Clan Sutherland. It is located north of Golspie and approximately south of Brora, overlo ...

, seat of the Earls and Countesses of Sutherland. However, he was killed in the garden of the castle. This had come about because the people of Sutherland disliking the restraints put on them by the Gordons, placed John Sutherland at their head and proceeded to attack Alexander Gordon, brother of

John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second Ep ...

, while he was attending church. Alexander Gordon gathered his men and the attackers were dispersed. William Murray of the family of Pulrossie subsequently murdered John Sutherland on the Nether Green in the west corner of the garden at Dunrobin. However, William Murray was later killed in revenge for this by Sutherland, the laird of Clyne.

Later conflicts

In 1586, William Sutherland of Killipheder, grandson of Alexander "the heir", fought in support of the Gordon Earls of Sutherland at the

Battle of Leckmelm The Battle of Leckmelm was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1586, in the Scottish Highlands. It was fought between the Clan Gunn against the Clan Sutherland, Mackays of Aberach and the MacLeods of Assynt. Background The Battle of ...

against the

Clan Gunn Clan Gunn () is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan associated with lands in northeastern Scotland, including Caithness, Sutherland and, arguably, the Orkney Isles. Clan Gunn is one of the oldest Scottish Clans, being descended from t ...

. In 1623, Alexander Sutherland of Killipheder held joint command of the left wing of

's army that marched into Caithness and took the surrender of

George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness George Sinclair (died 1643) was a Scottish nobleman, the 5th Earl of Caithness and chief of the Clan Sinclair, a Scottish clan based in northern Scotland. Early life George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness was the eldest son of John Sinclair, Ma ...

who had been declared a rebel.

19th century

The chief of the Clan Sutherland was the Earl of Sutherland. However, upon succeeding to the Earldom in 1766, Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, infant daughter of the 18th Earl and later the Duchess of Sutherland, could not succeed as chief of the clan which could then not descend to a female. William Sutherland of Killipheder (d.1832) enjoyed a small annuity from the Countess and was regarded as the eldest male descendant of the original earls. However, John Campbell Sutherland of Forse was then considered the real chief of the clan.

Killipheder

The descendants of Alexander Sutherland, 1st of Killipheder occupied the lands for generations on payment of a nominal rent to the Earls of Sutherland. The ruins at Kilphedder are now more immediately connected with one of his descendants: William Sutherland of Kilphedder who was a man of gigantic strength and stature who repaired and extended the residence of his ancestors.

List of Lairds of Killipheder (incomplete)

*Alexander Sutherland, 1st of Killipheder. *William Sutherland, 2nd of Killipheder (his two younger sons were Hugh and Angus Sutherland). *William Sutherland, 3rd of Killipheder. *Hugh Sutherland, 4th of Killipheder *William Sutherland, 5th of Killipheder

Descendants

According to volume VIII of ''

The Scots Peerage ''The Scots Peerage'' is a nine-volume book series of the Scottish nobility compiled and edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, published in Edinburgh from 1904 to 1914. The full title is ''The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Rober ...

'' which was published in 1911, the descendants of Alexander Sutherland, 1st of Killipheder continued until 1829, "and may still exist".

References

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