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ROSS William
Birth:          ABT 1203 
Death:          May 1274 

Notes
familysearch.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_I,_Earl_of_Ross
William, Earl of Ross (Gaelic: Uilleam; d. 1274) was ruler of the province of Ross in 
northern Scotland.

William appears as early as 1232, witnessing a charter as the son of Ferquhard, Earl 
of Ross. He succeeded his father as Earl around 1251. He played a pioneering role in 
the Scottish reconquest of the Hebrides, which had been under Norwegian control. 
Indeed, in many ways, he may be regarded as the instigator of Scottish aggression. 
Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar tells us that in Norway:

"In the previous summer [i.e. that of 1262], letters came east from the Hebrides ... and 
they brought forward much about the dispeace that the Earl of Ross ... and other 
Scots, had made in the Hebrides, when they went out to Skye, and burned towns and 
churches, and slew very many men and women ... They said that the Scottish king 
intended to lay under himself all the Hebrides." 1

Uilleam's attacks on Norwegian possessions earned him the ire of King Haakon, who 
planned an expedition against him. However, William escaped this expedition. He was 
probably rewarded with Skye and Lewis after the Scottish reconquest of the Hebrides, 
a reward secured when the conquests were ratified by the Treaty of Perth in 1266.

William married Jean Comyn, daughter of William, Earl of Buchan. So far as is known 
he had only one son, also named William, who succeeded him as Earl. William died in 
May 1274 at "Earles Allane", likely the site of modern Allanfearn or Allangrange.

Parents
ROSS Ferquhard (Fearchar) (ABT 1180 - Jan 1251)
----- ----- ()

Siblings
ROSS William (ABT 1203 - May 1274)

Marriage To COMYN Jean (ABT 1198 - ABT 1274) m. ABT 1220 Notes Parents COMYN William (1163 - 1233) FITZ HUGH Sarah (ABT 1155 - ABT 1204) Children by COMYN Jean ABT 1198 - ABT 1274
ROSS William II (ABT 1240 - 1323)
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