Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sutherland, William (d.1325)
SUTHERLAND, WILLIAM, second Earl of (d. 1325), eldest son of William, first earl, succeeded his father in infancy in 1248. The first earl was the son of Hugh Freskin, who obtained the district of Sutherland from William the Lion in 1196. The second earl was present at the parliament of Scone on 5 Feb. 1284, and he also attended the convention at Brigham on 14 March 1290 (Documents illustrative of the History of Scotland, i. No. 129). In 1292 he gave his oath to aid Robert the Bruce in his claims to the crown (Cal. Documents relating to Scotland, i. No. 643); and although on 28 Aug. 1296 he did homage to Edward I at Berwick-on-Tweed (ib. ii. No. 196), he shortly afterwards took part in excursions against England. He also fought on the side of Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314, and he subscribed on 6 April 1320 the letter of the Scots nobles to the pope asserting the independence of Scotland. He died in 1325, leaving a son, Kenneth, who succeeded as third earl, fell at Halidon Hill in 1333, and was father of William, fourth earl of Sutherland [q. v.]
[Documents illustrative of the History of Scotland, ed. Stevenson, vol. i.; Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, ed. Bain, vols. i. and ii.; Gordon's History of the Earldom of Sutherland; Douglas's Scottish Peerage (Wood), ii. 571.]