Descendants of George Leslie of Burdsbank

Grant gives an account of the Leslies of Burdsbank, in the parish of Cullen, Banffshire (ref. 9, pp. 180-184). In it he states that George Leslie, 1st laird of Burdsbank, was the second son of Robert Leslie, 1st laird of Findrassie, in the parish of New Spynie, Moray. According to Col. Leslie's account of the Leslies of Findrassie (ref. 10, pp. 159-176), this Robert Leslie was a son of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes. This webpage only attempts to trace the family starting with the generation that acquired Burdsbank.

George LESLIE (the younger) of Burdsbank, m. Christian BAIRD. Sheriff-clerk of Banffshire, i.e. clerk of the sheriff's court, 1675-1682 or later. [ref. 1,3a,3c,6]

William LESLIE, chr. 11 Jun 1668 at Cullen, Banffshire. [ref. 3c]
Helen LESLIE, chr. 25 Aug 1669 at Cullen. [ref. 3c]
Christian LESLIE, chr. 10 Aug 1671 at Cullen. [ref. 3c]
John LESLIE, chr. 6 Jul 1674 at Cullen. [ref. 3c]
George LESLYE, chr. 9 Dec 1676 at Cullen. [ref. 3c]
Jean LESLIE, chr. 22 Jul 1679 at Banff, Banffshire. [ref. 1,3a]
Alexander LESLIE, chr. 15 Jun 1681 at Banff. Alexander BAIRD, merchant in Edinburgh (relationship unknown) witnessed the baptism. [ref. 1,3a]
Patrick LESLIE of Melrose, chr. 15 Dec 1682 at Banff. In 1697, a witness at the baptism of Peter LESLY, son of Alexander LESLY of Kininvie (below, relationship unknown). Sheriff-clerk of Banffshire, at least 1707-1709. [ref. 1,3a]
1. Mary LESLIE, chr. 1 Nov 1707 at Banff. Had an aunt Mary RAMSAY. Note that James RAMSAY of Melrose was admitted burgess of Banff, 1654. [ref. 1,3a,8]
2. William LESLIE of Melrose, chr. 31 May 1709 at Banff. Witnesses at the baptism included William BAIRD of Auchmedden and William BAIRD his son (relationship unknown) and "William LESLY of Birdsbank deceas'd [sic]" (who is this?). Sheriff-clerk of Banffshire, to 1726 (?). [ref. 1,3a,6]
  1. William LESLYE. Baptism witness 1738. [ref. 1]
  2. Jean LESLIE, b. and chr. 3 Apr 1739 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
  3. Alexander LESLIE, chr. 31 Mar 1741 at Banff (twin with Henriet). His baptism was witnessed by Alexander LESLIE of Findrassie (relationship unknown). [ref. 1,3a]
  4. Henriet LESLIE, chr. 31 Mar 1741 at Banff (twin with Alexander). [ref. 1,3a]
  5. Patrick LESLYE. Baptism witness 1743. [ref. 1]
  6. Mary LESLYE, chr. 2 Jan 1743 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
  7. John LESLYE. Baptism namesake 1750. [ref. 1]
3. Bathia LESLIE, chr. 11 Jan 1711 at Gamrie, Banffshire, m. 21 Aug 1742 at Banff, James Kenneth SAUNDERS, d. 31 Jan 1793 aged 82. [ref. 2,3a,3b,6]
4. Elizabeth LESLY, chr. 12 Dec 1711 at Gamrie. [ref. 3b]
5. Christian LESLY, chr. 11 Jan 1713 at Gamrie. [ref. 3b]
6. George LESLIE, chr. 5 Mar 1714 at Gamrie, m. Margaret LAWSON (dau. of Patrick LAWSON, merchant in Banff). Bailie of Banff, 1738 and 1742. Merchant in Banff, 1743, and after that in Kristiansund, Norway. Together with John RAMSAY and William GORDON, introduced a new method of curing fish in Kristiansund; they became wealthy in this business. [ref. 1,3b,5]
  1. William LESLIE of Dunlugas, chr. May 1738 at Banff, d. 27 Mar 1811. A successful Norwegian proprietor and merchant. Had no children; left Dunlugas to his nephew Hans. [ref. 1,3a,6]
  2. Jean LESLYE, chr. 6 Mar 1742 at Banff (twin with Margaret). [ref. 1,3a]
  3. Margaret LESLYE, chr. 6 Mar 1742 at Banff (twin with Jean), d. 1806. [ref. 1,3a,6]
  4. Patrick LESLYE, chr. 6 Dec 1743 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
  5. A son, possibly Patrick above. [ref. 6]
    1. Hans George LESLIE of Dunlugas, d. by 1868, bur. at Alvah, Banffshire. Educated at Banff Academy. A "most liberal-minded country gentleman". [ref. 6]
      1. Hans G. LESLIE of Dunlugas. Captain, East India Company. Sold Dunlugas in 1877 to Sir Robert ABERCROMBY of Forglen for £60,000. [ref. 6]
7. Margaret LESLY, chr. 18 Dec 1714 at Gamrie. [ref. 3b]
James LESLY, chr. 8 May 1685 at Banff. (This baptism appears in ref. 3a but was not found in ref. 1. It may be an error, or it may appear out of chronological order in ref. 1.) [ref. 3a]

Other Leslies Possibly Related

With connections to Banff:

LESLIE. (Related how to the above?) [ref. 8]
1. Alexander LESLY of Kininvie, m. Janet HAMILTONE. Admitted burgess of Banff by Provost GORDON, 1680. Provost of Banff, 1690-1691, 1695-1699, and 27 Sep 1701-1704. Effigy in the church at Mortlach, Banffshire. [ref. 1,3,6,7,8]
  1. William LESLY, chr. 14 Oct 1685 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
  2. Helen LESLY, chr. 4 Dec 1686 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
  3. John LESLY, chr. 28 May 1689 at Banff. John LESLY of Kininvie (perhaps his uncle?) was a witness at the baptism. [ref. 1,3a]
  4. Alexander LESLY, chr. 8 Jun 1693 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
  5. Peter LESLY, chr. 1 Oct 1697 at Banff. Witnesses at the baptism included Patrick Count LESLY of Bucgaine and Patrick LESLY son to Burdsbank (above, relationship unknown). [ref. 1,3a]
2. John LESLIE. Admitted burgess of Banff, 1690. [ref. 8]
William LESLIE. In 1718, living at Laughagain. In 1721, living at Boghead. In 1725, living at Lachagain. [ref. 1,3a]
1. George LESLY, chr. 14 Jul 1716 at Banff, m. Rachel RAMSAY. In 1746 and 1749, living at Culbirnie. [ref. 1,3a]
  1. Jean LESLYE, chr. 15 May 1746 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
  2. James LESLYE, chr. 29 Dec 1749 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
  3. Margaret LESLYE, chr. 5 Jan 1753 at Banff. [ref. 3a]
  4. Anne LESLYE, chr. 2 Oct 1756 at Banff. [ref. 3a]
2. James LESLIE, chr. 24 Dec 1718 at Banff. In 1746 and 1749, living at Culbirnie. [ref. 1,3a]
  1. William LESLYE, chr. 18 May 1746 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
  2. Anne LESLYE, chr. 16 Feb 1749 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
  3. James LESLYE, chr. 20 Feb 1754 at Banff, m. Anne MURRAY. [ref. 3a]
    1. James LESLYE, chr. 3 Oct 1777 at Banff. [ref. 3a]
    2. George LESLYE, chr. 23 Dec 1778 at Banff. [ref. 3a]
3. John LESLY, chr. 9 Jun 1721 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
4. Anne LESLY, chr. 29 Jan 1725 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a]
Robert LESLIE, m. 20 Feb 1719 at Banff, Helen BROKIE, d. 17 Aug 1755. In 1719, a mariner in Banff. In 1722 and 1724, a shipmaster there. [ref. 1,3a,4]
1. John LESLIE, chr. 29 Oct 1719 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a,4]
2. Robert LESLIE, chr. 4 Mar 1722 at Banff. (Ancestor of Russell Lesslie of ref. 4.) [ref. 1,3a,4]
3. Margaret LESLIE, chr. 28 Mar 1724 at Banff. [ref. 1,3a,4]
John LESLIE, m. Jane WATT (d. Jul 1843 aged 54), d. 9 Apr 1836 aged 48. [ref. 6]
1. Charlotte LESLIE, d. as a child. [ref. 6]
2. John LESLIE, d. as a child. [ref. 6]
3. Charles LESLIE, d. as a child. [ref. 6]
4. Another daughter, m. George SHEARER (clothier, d. 28 Oct 1886 aged 86). [ref. 6]
  1. John SHEARER, d. as a child. [ref. 6]
  2. Leslie SHEARER, d. as a child. [ref. 6]
  3. Solomon SHEARER, d. as a child. [ref. 6]
  4. Jeanie SHEARER, d. as a child. [ref. 6]
  5. Alexander Watt SHEARER, d. as a child. [ref. 6]
Anna LESLIE, m. Alexander ANDERSON (cooper in McDuff, Banffshire). [ref. 6]
1. Alexander ANDERSON, d. 26 May 1794 aged 13. [ref. 6]
2. James ANDERSON, d. 7 Sep 1794 aged 19. [ref. 6]
LESLIE. [ref. 6]
1. James LESLIE, d. 24 Apr 1820 aged 44. Sergeant in the Royal Artillery for 21 years. [ref. 6]
2. Anne LESLIE, d. 17 Aug 1829 at Banff aged 51. [ref. 6]
3. Isobel LESLIE, d. 16 Mar 1845 aged 59. [ref. 6]
LESLIE, m. Helen (d. 21 Nov 1819 aged 97, bur. at Banff). [ref. 6]
1. Isabel LESLIE, b. 1 Jun 1745, m. Robert DUFF (b. [sic, should be d.?] 5 May 1810, bur. at Banff), d. 9 Jan 1813, bur. at Banff. [ref. 6]
  1. William DUFF, m. Sarah REID (d. 1 Aug 1851 aged 70), d. 27 Dec 1842 aged 69. Of Liverpool. [ref. 6]
The Honorable General LESLIE. Admitted burgess of Banff, 22 Mar 1794. [ref. 8]
Andrew LESLIE, captain lieutenant. Admitted burgess of Banff, 2 Sep 1640. [ref. 8]
John LESLIE of Petcapell, captain. Admitted burgess of Banff, 2 Sep 1640. [ref. 8]
Thomas LESLIE. Burgess of Cullen and macer to the court of justiciary. Admitted burgess of Banff, 1730. [ref. 8]

Sources

Parish registers of Banff (LDS microfilm 0990815). See excerpts.
Saunders Pedigree (London, ca. 1884).
International Genealogical Index, online at FamilySearch.
1. batches C111472 and M111472 (parish registers of Banff)
2. batch ??? (parish registers of Gamrie)
3. batches C111502 and M111502 (parish registers of Cullen)
Information from Russell Lesslie, Killara, New South Wales, Australia.
Information from Knut Bryn, Norway.
William Cramond, Annals of Banff (1891). Includes a list of monumental inscriptions from the churchyard of Banff.
Donald Findlay, Banffshire Churches (Banffshire Field Club, 1994).
Frances McDonnell, The Burgess Roll of Banff, 1549-1892 (St. Andrews, 1994). This book "consists mainly of honorary burgesses, and is based on the town council minutes and the roll of burgesses, 1763-1826."
James Grant, Records of the County of Banff 1660-1760: One Hundred Years of County Government (Aberdeen, 1922)
Colonel Leslie of Balquhain, Historical Records of the Family of Leslie from 1067 to 1868-9, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1869)

content last revised 17 Oct 2011