Eric Sutherland, 4th Lord Duffus

Eric Sutherland, 4th Lord Duffus (son of Kenneth Sutherland, 3rd Lord Duffus)

Eric, who succeeded as titular Lord Duffus, was baptized 29 August 1710.

In 1734, after his father's death, he presented a petition to King George II. narrating the facts of his father's detention in Hamburg, and disputing the ground of his attainder. The House of Lords decided against the claim, and declared that he had no right to the title.[1] He seems, however, as appears from letters both by himself and his wife, to have assumed the title, and it was acknowledged by his neighbours.[2]

He is said to have held an ensigncy in Colonel Disney's regiment in 1731. During the insurrection of 1745 he remained loyal, and sent intelligence of the rebels to the Earl of Sutherland, though he did not take part in any military operations, residing at his house of Ackergill during the troubles. His relations with the Earl's family were extremely friendly.[3]

He died on 28 August 1768, at Skibo, it is said, but more probably at Skelbo, where he had a house.[4] He married his cousin Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Dunbar of Hempriggs, who survived him, dying on 21 July 1800. They had issue:--

• 1. James, in whose favour the title was restored by Act of Parliament 25 May 1826, was born in 1747, and in 1770 was retoured heir-general to his father.[5] He was an officer in the army. He died 30 January 1827, unmarried, in Harley Street, Marylebone. He was buried on 7 February in Marylebone Church, and was succeeded in his title by his cousin, Sir Benjamin Sutherland Dunbar.
• 2. Axel or Axley Sutherland, who died s.p..
• 3. Elizabeth, married, first, to Captain Alexander Sinclair, son of Sir William Sinclair of Keiss - issue, one son, who died v.p., s.p.; secondly, to Charles Sinclair of Olrig, issue a son, who died s.p., and three daughters; and thirdly, on 5 December 1772, to the Rev. James Rudd, B.A., rector of Newton Kyme and Full Sutton, Yorkshire, by whom she had issue:--

• (1) The Rev. Erick Rudd of Thorne, near Doncaster, who claimed the title as heir of line of his uncle James, 1827.
• (2) James Sutherland Rudd.

• 4. Charlotte, married to Sir John Sinclair of Mey, by whom she had issue James, twelfth Earl of Caithness.
• 5. Anne, married to George Mackay of Skibo, and had issue.
• [1] House of Lords Journals, 18 March 1733-34 and 5 April 1734.
• [2] Sutherland Book, ii. 258, 269, 270.
• [3] Ibid., 269, 270.
• [4] Cf. Ibid., i. 418.
• [5] Services of Heirs.

Sources: Balfour Paul, J. (1906) The Scots Peerage, vol. 3. Edinburgh: David Douglas.

http://www.geni.com/projects/The-Pedigrees-and-Heraldry-of-the-Murrays/12890

http://www26.us.archive.org/stream/heraldryofmurray00john#page/10/mode/2up Page 10 No. 55

(55) Eric (titular), fourth Lord Duffus, died 28th August 1768. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Dunbar of Hempriggs, who died 21st July 1800. They had issue:

• 55(a) James (No. 56 below).
• 55(b) Axel or Axley Sutherland, died s.p.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Sutherland