[3] According to 19th-century historian William Fraser, the first mention of John, 7th Earl of Sutherland was in 1408 by Andrew of Wyntoun in his Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland.

Before the commencement of the Battle of Baugé in 1421 in France where the Scots defeated the English, the Duke of Burgundy knighted several of the squires and the first of these was John of Sutherland.

[3] The earl is found back at his own seat of Dunrobin Castle in Sutherland in May 1448 where he issued a presentation in favour of Alexander Rattar to be chaplain of St Andrews chaplainry at Golspie.

The earl also resigned the earldom into the hands of James II of Scotland in 1456, for a re-grant to his second son, John, and his heirs, but reserving the aforementioned lands to himself and his countess.

[2] According to historian D. M Rose, the 7th and 8th Earls of Sutherland did little to advance their family's reputation, leaving their kinsman the Murays of Culbin, Pulrossie and Aberscross to fight their battles.